I have been unfortunate enough to get a 4Kg batch of expensive rice which turned out to have Rice Weevil eggs in it. While I did keep it in a plastic box to keep the mice out, it also meant I didn't see the Weevils until they had hatched and started to multiply!
I don't want to throw the rice away as it is imported Brown Jasmine Rice from Spain and there is 4Kg of it worth about £20. I have had it long enough that I cannot in fairness send it back for a refund so I have to deal with it myself.
It is currently in its airtight box in the freezer for a few days to kill off the adults and eggs. They are not harmful to ingest and do not carry diseases so fall under the "peck of dirt" category but I was still wondering... is there a way to separate the adults from the rice once the box is defrosted?
I cannot blow air on them because the rice will scatter too. I cannot sieve them because the adults are only a little smaller than the rice. I cannot wash the entire box of rice because it will then need extremely thorough drying. I suspect I will simply have to wash a portion of the rice before cooking and trust that the dead weevils will float.
So... any tips for separating the weevils in advance or do I just have to wait and wash a portion at a time?
Yes I am sure they are Rice Weevils and while I do have a picture I will protect the potentially squeamish!
