Flour mites Need Storage Idea

HappyIdiotTalk

We keep getting flour mites in our flour and despite my best efforts to thwart the little blighters they keep coming back. I cant stand the little sods and if I see so much as one crawling around the flour gets thrown out. I know you can stick the flour in the freezer for a day to kill em, but I cant stand the thought eating something made with it after they've had there fun in there.

So I've been looking for something airtight and moisture proof to store my flour in. My mother in law has some great flour bins that look older than me. But they have rubber lids which form a tight airtight seal. I've been looking for something similar everywhere but shops dont seem to sell anything suitable. Theres plenty of lunch box type contains and cereal containers. But I need something tall and volumous. Preferably cylindrical.

I was in Debamhams today and spotted a great looking metal storage container that looked just the job. It had a rubber seal and a metal bar that you pushed to really get a tight seal in place (like a Grolsch bottle). Picked it up, looked at the price tag and physically swore... £18! £18 for a bit of shaped metal with a fancy lid... You've got to be kidding, defintely not OS.

So anyone know where I could get something. I've been keeping my eyes open for weeks now but have still not found a suitable container. Thought it was time to call in the cavalry!

BrandNewDay

Have you considered the possibility that they come in the flour when you buy it? Some people freeze flour as soon as they get it home from the store so they know that they've killed off anything that may be in there.

I store mine in square/rectangular plastic tubs that have the lid with the sides that click down. They're very airtight. You can get them big enough to hold a regular large bag of flour.

vivaladiva

You can get some big acrylic jars with a rubber seal and a clip at Homebase for about £10 I think. You can see what's in them and should survive the kitchen floor - I have 4 kids so have to think of these things.

newlywed

Ikea do glass jars with the rubber seal and grolsh like lid and they're well cheap compared to other places. I think woolworths did the small ones at about £5 each and Ikea sold them for £1.50!!

Just re-read your post and not sure if they're big enough for what you want. The jars I've got don't quite hold a normal size bag of flour.

wishingonastar_3

i have two of these from woolworths, they only have a screw top, but i've not had mites since i been using them. (i say crossing my fingers)

http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50312205

woas

newlywed

Found the link for them:-

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?cattype=sub&topcategoryId=15570&categoryId=16468&parentCats=15570*15671*15964&storeId=7&catalogId=10103&langId=-20

HappyIdiotTalk

BrandNewDay wrote:

Have you considered the possibility that they come in the flour when you buy it? Some people freeze flour as soon as they get it home from the store so they know that they've killed off anything that may be in there.

I had thought they might be in there to start with, perhaps as eggs. But I'd assumed it was moisture in the air that activated them. Freezing the flour on the day of purchase is a good idea though, I'll give that a bash! Thanks.

Bizzimum wrote:

You can get some big acrylic jars with a rubber seal and a clip at Homebase for about £10 I think. You can see what's in them and should survive the kitchen floor - I have 4 kids so have to think of these things.

We're off to mother in laws the weekend and they have a home base a couple of minutes walk away, I'll have a nose.

wishingonastar wrote:

i have two of these from woolworths, they only have a screw top, but i've not had mites since i been using them. (i say crossing my fingers)

http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/pr...l?pid=50312205

Debenhams had that one too. Didn't look at the price of it though as I was so disgusted with the price of its mate! But it was more than a fiver though.

newlywed wrote:

Found the link for them:-

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...103&langId=-20

Perfect. Looks like a trip to Ikea is in order. Pity I didn't ask a couple of weeks ago, my OH could have picked a few up when she went to buy DD's first bed.

Thanks all.

mummyof3_2

I have used Tupperware storage containers for years to put flour in. They are about the size of a small cereal box. They have a pully off lid. Betterware do them not sure if lakeland do them or not but you should be able to find similar ones in Wilkinsons, poundland, instore etc....
Lets hope you get no more of them! x

Penny_Watcher

newlywed wrote:

Found the link for them:-

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?cattype=sub&topcategoryId=15570&categoryId=16468&parentCats=15570*15671*15964&storeId=7&catalogId=10103&langId=-20

I bought some of these last week and they really are excellent. The seal is good and tight. I sifted a new bag of flour into the clean jars. Only time will tell if there are eggs already in the flour *shudders*

tiff

I've been looking for cheap tins to put some home made fudge in for Christmas presents for my kids teachers. Found some nice screw top canisters in Matalan today with a small window in at £3 but didnt get any. Those ikea jars look great, think I'll get some of them.

Horasio

I seem to be collecting old glass coffee jars. You can decant flour or anything else dried into those. Wipe the top with a damp cloth and dry throughly.