7 unique ways to protect pulses (dals) from insects

Worried about insects and bugs spoiling the pulses in your kitchen? Worry no more as here are seven useful tips and tricks that will not only prevent insect manifestation but will also keep bugs at bay. If you have encountered the problem of insects damaging a whole jar of dal, then these methods are just for you. Do give them a try and store your pulses safely. (all image credits-istock)

Using dry neem to ward off insects is an age-old method that has been handed down through the generations and is still the most effective way to keep pulses insect-free. You can keep a whole stem of dry neem in your jar of pulses and this will prevent an infestation of insects in the pulses. Not just pulses, dry neem can also be kept in cupboards to prevent silverfish from eating into and damaging woollen clothes.

Another great hack for keeping insects at bay is by keeping some unpeeled garlic cloves in your box of dal. You can keep 4-5 cloves of garlic in one box of dal and once they dry out, you can replace them with fresh ones.

Cloves not only help in increasing the flavour of pulses but can help in protecting them from insect attack. All you need to do is, add 8-10 cloves to a single jar of dal and make sure that the container is airtight.

If you have spotted a bug in your jar of dal, then just spread it on a large plate or cloth and place it under direct sunlight for at least 2-3 days. Since insects proliferate in dark and cool places, putting pulses under the sun will ensure that they flee away. Even if your pulses have not been infested by insects, you can make it a habit to keep the pulses under sunlight once a month to ensure that the bugs stay away.

Putting dry chillies in the box of pulses is another effective method of preventing insects. Place 2-3 dry red chillies and be assured that your pulses won’t be the target of insects and bugs.

You can easily find insect repellent tablets at any grocery store that can be used to prevent insects from damaging the pulses. These tablets look like any other medicinal pill and contain certain chemicals that keep the insects away. You can add 2-3 pills in a single jar but make sure you wash the dal well with lukewarm water before using it.

If you have space in your fridge, you can store pulses in small quantities in the refrigerator as well. This will not only keep the insects at bay but will also keep the pulses fresh for longer periods of time. You can either store them in airtight containers or ziplock packets.

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