Long before the existence of technology and modern methods of preserving food, our ancestors have come up with several ways to preserve staple food, especially raw grains from pests.
Grains like rice, wheat, oat and maize are major staple food for most the world's population as they not only provide good sources of carbohydrate but also sources of energy. One of the common features of staple food is that it can be stored in bulk for consumption throughout the year. However, most staple foods which normally contain starch, are prone to be infected by fungi and attacked by pests.
Here are five ancient ways to preserve raw staple food, i.e. grains without the use of modern technology. However, first and foremost, the first rule to remember in preserving raw grains is to keep them absolutely dry and to store them in a cool, dry place.
- Place some sun-dried red chilies (5-10 pieces) inside the container containing grains
- Clean a couple of kaffir lime leaves with water and leave them to dry in the hot sun. Place the dried leaves (10 or more pieces) inside the container containing grains.
- Alternatively, you can also use the leaves of star fruit plant. Clean a couple of leaves with water and leave them to dry in the hot sun. Then, place the dried leaves (2-3 pieces) inside the container containing grains.
- Lemon grass is known for its anti-bacteria properties and also a natural insect repellant. Clean a couple of lemon grass with water and leave them to dry in the hot sun. Place the dried lemon grass (about 3-5 pieces) inside the container containing grains.
- In India, dried neem leaves are popularly used to preserve raw rice from pests. Place a couple of dried neem leaves (5-10 pieces) inside the container containing grains and then, secure the lid of the container.
For item 2 to item 5 above, alternatively, you can also place the leaves in a pre-heated oven (set at 250 degrees F”) for about 5-7 minutes to dry them up instead of drying them under the hot sun.
