Transfer food to airtight hard-sided containers

What to Do

Transfer all dry goods — flour, rice, oats, cereal, pasta, sugar, spices, and pet food — into airtight, hard-sided containers made of glass, thick plastic, or metal. Cardboard boxes and thin bags offer zero protection.

Why It Works

Pantry pest larvae chew through cardboard, paper, thin plastic bags, and even foil. Hard-sided containers with rubber gasket seals create a physical barrier that insects cannot penetrate. Even if one item becomes infested, the problem stays contained.

Tips

• OXO POP and Rubbermaid Brilliance containers are popular airtight options
• Mason jars with two-piece lids work well and are inexpensive
• Ziplock bags alone are not sufficient — larvae can chew through them
• Label containers with purchase or open dates to rotate stock