What to do when walnut kernels get infested with bugs

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, walnuts from all over our country flood the market, and many people buy some to take home, shell them and make all kinds of desserts, but walnut kernels do not keep well and will get bugs, so what should you do when walnut kernels get infested with bugs?

1. What to do when walnut kernels get infested with bugs?

Once walnut kernels have bugs, do not eat them; you can just throw them away. This is because bugs in walnut kernels mean they are already past their expiry and have little nutritional value left. If you feel it is wasteful, you can grind them into powder to feed poultry.

2. How should walnut kernels be stored so they do not get bugs?

1. Dry storage of walnut kernels

Place walnut kernels with the green husks removed in a dry, ventilated place to air-dry. When the outer skin of the walnut and the kernel are no longer easy to separate and are uniform in color, they can be taken out for storage. Then put them into a burlap sack or a sandbag, keeping the inside clean. Then place it in a ventilated, breathable spot, preferably under conditions where it will not be crushed. It is also necessary to prevent damage from rodents, insects and similar problems.

2. Wet storage of walnut kernels

In a dry plot of land with good drainage, dig a hole 1 m long and 1 m wide, then place clean gauze on the ground, then put the walnut kernels in, and cover them with another layer of gauze. Then place a thin tube every 5 cm among the walnut kernels for ventilation. Then dig a drainage ditch nearby to prevent too much rainwater from causing the walnut kernels to go moldy, and then fill the opening of the hole with wet sand; generally they can be stored for one year.

3. Plastic bag storage

Walnut kernels are a kind of dried fruit food. If handled improperly, oxygen in the air can oxidize the walnut kernels and cause mold and similar problems. Generally, choose a plastic bag, put the walnut kernels in, then let the plastic bag puff up, and then flush in carbon dioxide gas to lower the oxygen concentration. Then place it in a low-temperature environment, and also make sure the air humidity is low.

4. Refrigeration

Walnut kernels can also be stored by refrigeration, because in spring and summer they are prone to getting bugs and spoiling. It is best to put the walnut kernels in a burlap sack, because burlap sacks have good ventilation and breathability, and then place them in a low-temperature refrigerator for cold storage. This can ensure that the kernel tissue inside the walnut kernels is not oxidized, achieving the best storage effect.

Overall, once walnut kernels have bugs, do not eat them. If you feel it is a pity to throw them away, you can grind them into powder to feed poultry.