This article was co-authored by Brandon Runyon and by wikiHow staff writer, Bailey Cho. Brandon Runyon is a board-certified Entomologist based in Evansville, Indiana. He has over 18 years of experience as a Pest Control professional, and is the Technical Director of Swat Pest Management. Swat Pest Management serves areas throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, where they provide safe, cost-effective solutions for client’s pest control needs. He authored Bugged by Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide to Pest Control, a user-friendly guide to commercial pest control practices in hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Entomology, and received a MS in Entomology from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also received an MBA from Western Governors University.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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You’ve been craving some warm, fluffy rice for dinner. It’s finally time to prepare your meal but… you see some small maggots crawling around the rice bag. Yuck! It’s common to see these worm-like creatures in your pantry. Like us, maggots love dry foods like cereal, spices, and rice, and there’s been a lot of speculation on whether rice turns into maggots. Although the grain doesn’t actually transform into these critters, keep reading to figure out how they keep appearing in all of our favorite pantry foods!
Things You Should Know
- Rice does not turn into maggots! Insects lay their eggs on rice grains, and the eggs hatch into larvae (known as maggots).
- Maggots are usually hidden inside the rice grains. If you suspect your rice is contaminated, place the bag in the freezer for 4 days to kill any eggs or larvae.
- It’s safe to eat maggots in rice, as long as the rice is properly cooked.
Steps
Getting Rid of Maggots in Rice
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Spread the rice evenly on a sheet tray and heat it with a hair dryer. Make sure the sheet tray is large enough so there is only one flat layer of rice. On high-heat, run a hair dryer over your rice (2-3 times) to thoroughly heat the grains. Concentrate on spots that show discoloration or movement.[8]
- If you don’t have a hair dryer, pour boiling water over the rice to kill the maggots and wait 5 minutes. Maggots cannot survive extreme temperatures, so you can cook the rice after draining the water.
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Pour the heated rice in a large bowl and cover it with hot water. Dump the rice from the sheet into a bowl and let it rest for 5 minutes. Add the boiling water and wait a few minutes for the maggot larvae to rise to the surface of the water. Use a small cup to scoop them out and immediately cook the soaked rice to avoid bacterial growth.[9]
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat other insects eat rice?Brandon RunyonBrandon Runyon is a board-certified Entomologist based in Evansville, Indiana. He has over 18 years of experience as a Pest Control professional, and is the Technical Director of Swat Pest Management. Swat Pest Management serves areas throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, where they provide safe, cost-effective solutions for client’s pest control needs. He authored Bugged by Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide to Pest Control, a user-friendly guide to commercial pest control practices in hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Entomology, and received a MS in Entomology from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also received an MBA from Western Governors University.
Entomology and Pest Control ExpertVarious insects and pests feed on rice, considering it a valuable food source. Among them are black bugs and rice weevils. Black bugs are a common pest in rice fields, capable of causing significant damage to crops. These insects feed on rice plants at various stages of growth, from seedlings to mature grains, often leading to yield losses if left unchecked. Rice weevils, on the other hand, are notorious for infesting stored rice grains. They lay eggs inside the rice kernels, and the hatched larvae consume the grain from within, rendering it unfit for consumption. Controlling these pests is essential for safeguarding rice production and preserving grain quality.
Tips
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Brown rice has a shorter shelf life than white rice because its outer layer contains more oil. Store brown rice in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life.[11]Thanks
Expert Interview
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References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Xg4YPX7gBng?t=93
- ↑ https://www3.ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7452.html
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/ingredients-additives-gras-packaging-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-defect-levels-handbook
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/product-and-houseplant-pests/pantry-pests-insects-found-stored-food#moths-55710
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/selecting-storing-cereals-grains
- ↑ https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8478&context=etd
- ↑ https://www.pctonline.com/article/-fly-control--maggots-in-human-tissues
- ↑ https://youtu.be/5CG_8H6bkOQ?t=35
- ↑ https://youtu.be/5CG_8H6bkOQ?t=65