Does cous-cous go stale?

That's what I thought but it tastes rancid!? I have it in a small

plastic container 'cause I live in Fl. and we have to deal with bugs but I've never had that problem before with pasta. All my pasta in the cupboard is in plastic containers and any extra is in the extra fridge, for bug purposes only.

 
I do the same thing with grains, plus I put bay leaves in the containers just in case. >>

I'm surprised it tastes rancid. I keep whole wheat couscous in plastic containers for a long time, and have had no problems. How old is your couscous?

 
Yeah, bay leaves keep weevils away. I put them in the containers and on the shelves.>>>

A year should be okay. Any chance the container was not airtight and some moisture/humidity got in?

 
Thanks for the tip on the bay. I'll do it and I'm pretty sure it

is air tight but who knows. Oh well, it's not an expense just surprised. Out it goes.

 
I guess I use up my pastas fast enough but we don't eat

couscous as often. Plus we like the Israeli couscous even more so we use it even more. Now, I have a huge container of the Israeli. Maybe I should keep it in the fridge? Hmmmm......

 
Meryl, the bay does not flavor the contents of the packages you place them in? I need

to do this, if so. I've had so much trouble with Indian Meal moths.

The bay leaves on/in the shelves has helped in the past, but now it seems like I've gotten some stubborn ones and I can't figure out where they are coming from.

 
so sorry about those weevils. You have to carefully inspect everything

for webs and if in the slightest doubt throw it out. I agree with Meryl. Put the bay leaves all over the shelves. I haven't used them in containers since I don't use much pasta or coucous. When in doubt, throw it out. It isn't tenderloin! smileys/smile.gif

 
Lisa, I was worried about that too, at first, especially in flour for baking, but

the bay leaves don't add any flavor whatsoever. I use them in flour, couscous, pasta, rice, cornstarch, etc.

 
Apparently, the best thing to do is to put grains in the freezer directly from the store, which

will kill any eggs. Then, after defrosting, add bay leaves. I don't bother to freeze anything first, mainly because I don't have any room in my freezer. So far, just the bay leaves inside the containers and on the shelves have worked well.

 
No...not true. I had problems with buggy flour here in FL & put the next bag unopened directly into

the freezer. When I opened it a few weeks later, the little buggers were still moving. I was shocked! And disgusted Not to mention creeped out. Didn't bake for a long time after that.

 
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