Problems With Flour

[FoxLee2]

Years ago I would buy big bags of flour, keep unused part in bag or container and it would always be okay. Now I'm always throwing away flour because of the flour mites. I only buy the smallest bag on the day I need it and by the next day, the mites are there. It's really frustrating. Does anyone else have this problem? And is there anything I can do about it? I recently took a bag of flour back to Tesco as when I opened it, it already had the mites crawling about in it.

[atalanta]

Keep flour in the freezer. I do. No weevils. Flour comes to no harm

[gness]

Fox....I took flour back because of this and though they refunded they said all flour had these mites....we just don't always notice.
Now I bake without my specs on!

But I'll try Atlanta's tip...which should be good for pastry and scones too..x

[Retrochic]

You must have mites in your cupboards. You will have to take everything out and wash or spray with bleach based kitchen cleaner, and wipe down containers or packaging with dried goods in. I must say I've never even seen a flour mite but there is plenty of advice on the net how to get rid of them.

[Retrochic]

gness I think from now on I will sift all my flour this has given me the creeps. I once found live parasites (worms) in some cod from ASDA. I took it back and they refunded then gave me a sheet on the life span of a fish worm and said although they tried to get rid of them when preparing the cod that all cod had worms and they would not harm humans. OMG I've never eaten Cod since.

[gness]

Retro....I experimented to see if they were in my cupboard......that wasn't the problem...

They can be almost invisible but if you buy a bag that has lots you then start to look for them...

Okay pressing down on the flour then using a magnifying glass is extreme I admit....but if you do that with a newly bought bag that hasn't been in your cupboard....they can be there....little devils....x

[kloofnek]

Og God,this has really put me off flour.Just looked at mine but cannot see anything,should I look with a magnifying glass.
Never heard of flour mites before.

[maggiebee]

Don't think it's always to do with cleanliness of cupboards Retrochic. Many moons ago I was a clerical worker in the catering department of a large teaching hospital. The manager was a maniac when it came to cleanliness yet bins of flour were occasionally infested with flour mites. I wouldn't expect a new bag of flour from a supermarket to already be infested with these creatures.

[Sqad]

Mrs sqad says:

Yes, she has "bits" in the flour everytime she opens a packet and all she does is to sieve the flower in a very fine sieve, but only that which she is going to use for immediate use..

[gness]

Retro...these mites are too small for sifting out.....they look like the tiniest fleck and you have to stare for ages to see them go under the flour you have pressed on...or rise to the top....

I sound flour obsessive now....☺...but the size fascinated me...

Now off cod.... :-(

Fox....are my mites the same as your mites?.....That's not something I thought I would ever ask someone.....☺

[gness]

Try a magnifying glass, Kloof...it's interesting...☺

I doubt a new bag would be infested...just a couple to start off the infestation if you keep the flour too long...x

[kloofnek]

I don`t find it "interesting"..makes me feel creepy all over!!!

[FoxLee2]

The one I took back was a brand new bag - opened it at home and saw the mites/weevils. You don't have to look hard, they crawl about the bag, just tiny little black lines. When I took it back, the woman at Customer Services said she had the same problem and only bought flour in small quantities. She said the eggs can be in the flour and then you get the little blighters. I got a new bag and opened it right away in the shop to make sure it was okay. So I don't think it's a problem with my cupboard. I shall try atalanta's tip of keeping flour in the freezer - does it all clog together and then need defrosting before use?

[gness]

Little black lines is right, Fox...and yes I suppose the eggs can be there...x

[RATTER15]

I dont think we have ever had this problem and we keep flour for months sometimes. I suggest you ensure your flour is kept in airtight containers, specifically dont allow dampness to get to the flour, cold damp kitchens will be much more hospitable to them.

I used to work in a grain processing plant and we would spray all the grain that came in with chemicals to kill these mites (yes even the organic grain) thousands of tons every year!

[237SJ]

I found some of these in a bag of rice once and a friend of mine who was a food scientist said they are Psocids. http://www.homeprideflour.co.uk/images/ask-fred/Psocid-Leaflet.pdf

[RATTER15]

the larger black ones are grain weevils.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm sure they are edible ;-)
I understand you can get lifeforms in other foods too. Cheese commonly being mentioned.

[diddlydo]

I often keep flour for months in plastic lidded containers. I've only once found flour weevils and guess where the flour was from - Tescos! Moral - don't shop there.

[atalanta]

Flour which has been kept in the freezer is exactly the same as new flour which hasn't been kept in the freezer, only much colder. No clogging has ever occurred in mine, and I keep it in the freezer for years.
But if you want to freeze strong flour for bread, let it warm up for an hour or so before you use it.