Bugs and stored beans

[grahamhobbs]

For the first time we grew enough bollotti beans to save a good quantity. We saved them in an air tight jar but have just gone back to them to find that they are smothered in bugs!

How can this be prevented?

[Jandra]

That's happened to me, too, a few years ago. Sorry for you

here's a solution f you have a freezer: Dry you beans really well (well enough for long time storage). Put them in your freezer for at least 48 hours. This'll kill the bug larvae and eggs. Then dry them again while they defrost (spread them out on a paper or trays or whatever) or you might introduce moisture and have the beans go mouldy on you in storage. Then store in bug-proof containers.

Since I do this, I have been able to eat my own beans and have not had any bugs in them

Jandra

[theabsinthefairy]

I dry my borlotti beans on the stalk, when the pods go that lovely mottled purply colour, cut the stalk at the base and then leave the plants alone for at least another 4 or 5 days so the whole thing withers, then I spread the beans themselves on a tray and leave them to dry on the plate rack of the Rayburn for at least another 24 hours, before sticking them in an airtight Kilner jar.

If you dried then airtight sealed and still got bugs, they are probably something that was in your plant already, so Jandra is quite right - freezing would kill them off.

[Millymollymandy]

Eeeks better go and check my dried borlottis - still eating the frozen ones at the moment!

[grahamhobbs]

Thanks for your advice, I'm sure the bugs/eggs were in the beans when picked - so a quick freeze in future it will be. Thanks again.

[grahamhobbs]

Further to Jandra's solution, freezing for 48hours, I've done a bit of surfing on this problem. Recommendations vary - freezing for 4 days, putting in an oven at 180deg for 15mins or 130deg for 30mins.
Either method seems easy enough - but it is definitely something I will be doing from now on before storing them luvely beans.

[Millymollymandy]

Mine look fine but what kind of bugs are you talking about - maggoty things or beetley things?

[frozenthunderbolt]

Alternatively once dry mix with Diatomaceous earth (which you must sift off before consumption) which will dessicate and kill bugs, eggs and larvae or flood dried beans with carbon dioxide gas using dry ice on a saucer in a LOOSELY sealed container which is then made airtight once the dry ice is fully sublimated.

[grahamhobbs]

MMM, the bugs were very small crawly insects, about fruit fly size.

[Millymollymandy]

nice!