Freeze susceptible foods for one week before storing

What to Do

When you bring home flour, rice, cornmeal, whole grains, dried fruit, or birdseed, place the sealed package in the freezer for 7 days before transferring to pantry storage. This kills any eggs or larvae that may have entered the food during processing or at the store.

Why It Works

Most pantry pest eggs and larvae are killed at 0°F (-18°C) within 4-7 days. Since many infestations originate from pre-infested grocery items, freezing acts as a quarantine step that prevents new introductions.

Tips

• One week at 0°F is more reliable than shorter durations — some species are cold-tolerant in early life stages
• Freezing does not affect the quality of flour, rice, grains, or dried goods
• This is especially important for bulk-bin purchases and products from natural food stores with less packaging