translated from Spanish: How to protect food from autumn moisture

Autumn is a complicated time, as temperatures fall , it moves the thermal oscillation and increases the humidity with respect to the summer, so we must pay more attention to the care of the food that we store in the home. Please pay attention to the following recommendations.
Check the possible presence of food moths
After a hot summer, the presence of certain insects in the pantry is prolonged more than usual, as is the case of the “Plodia Interpunctella”, better known as the moth of flour or food.
When it is in larvae state it can inhabit in various places, mainly in crevices and corners that exist in the floors, cupboards and walls.
According to the entomologist, Alfredo Ugarte, better known as “the Deanna Lynn”, “The female of this moth can put up to 400 eggs, which, when transformed into larvae, can perfectly pierce packages of paper, cardboard and even plastic, making small Holes to enter the product and feed. ”
To avoid its presence, it is important to store the rice, legumes, flours and nuts in glass jars and occasionally pass the vacuum cleaner through the pantry, eliminating possible eggs and larvae that continue to grow since the summer, as recommended by the site www.cuidomidespensa.cl, among other practical measures.
Regulates the warmth of your home
Some insects that remain active during the winter, such as spiders, tend to go to the places of heat to shelter from the cold. To prevent them from appearing in your home, check that there are no cracks where they can enter, such as ventilation ducts, air extractors and even the mains ducts (plugs).
Decreases humidity in your rooms
In the cold months we tend to consume hot foods that increase the humidity of the kitchen at the time of making some preparation, affected the state of ingredients and dry products, if they are not well protected, such as noodles, rice, flour and spices.
To avoid this, keep them in well-sealed jars, and before cooking, make sure you pull out enough to store everything before you have steam or moisture in the area.
Ventilate your Pantry Well
In the fall we tend to keep our home with the windows closed to preserve the home heat. This is harmful to the pantry, as not venting the spaces will cause contaminated air to accumulate and food to begin to lose its aroma.
The important thing is that you know how to intelligently ventilate the pantry, opening windows and doors on hot days, just a few hours and day. When light enters it will keep dry and fresh.
Beware of Nuts
In these months the first nuts of the season begin to appear, ready to be consumed and stored in the kitchen. Therefore, we must be careful with some aspects of their conservation.
If you buy nuts, you should store them in moisture-free jars, to avoid their breakdown or the contagion of potential pests.

Original source in Spanish