Rice, wheat, barley, lentils, buckwheat, and most small legumes in kernel form
A.Before purchase – At the store, check if there’s a great deal of powder at the bottom of the bag, or grains hanging by sticky webbing from the inner walls of the bag (can easily be seen when the bag is held up and turned from side to side). If any of the above signs of infestation are found, do not buy the product (Illustrations 95-99b).
B.Straining – Strain the kernels, dry, in a rice strainer over a white surface, so that the kernels remain in the strainer and small insects or pieces of insect fall through (Illustrations 100, 101). Examine the surface. If only powder fell through, proceed to Step C. If many small worms, booklice (light-colored small bugs) or mites (tiny bugs that look like grains of sand) are found, do not use the product (Illustration 294).
C.Checking visually – Spread out the legumes on a white surface and check between them (Illustrations 102a, 102b). Look for white moth larvae (Illustration 295) [webbing is a sign of their presence], or small black or brown insects (Illustration 296). If many insects were found, or if you see many holes in the kernels, it is preferable not to use the legumes (Illustrations 99a, 99b, 297, 298).
Kernels with black spots, different-colored kernels, or cracked kernels, do not have to be removed, since these defects are not caused by insects
(Illustration 299).
Legumes that have been found perfectly clean until this point do not require any further steps.
If only slight infestation was found, proceed to step D.
It is advisable to proceed to step D for brown rice, wheat and barley even if they have been found clean.
D.Floating in salt water – Put twice as much water as the amount of legumes into a bowl, add one tablespoon of salt for each cup of water, and stir. Pour in the legumes and stir immediately with a circular motion. Problematic kernels will float to the surface. Scoop out and discard the floaters The rest of the legumes may be used after being rinsed in a strainer, (Illustrations 120-126).
This floating method is not effective for heavy legumes like dry beans, chickpeas, and split peas. Nor is it effective for buckwheat (kasha), bulghur wheat, quinoa, millet, and other small legumes.
Bug-free grains and legumes
Grains and legumes that are marketed as “insect-free” under the supervision of a high-quality kashrus organization with experience and expertise in food infestation may be presumed to be clean and do not have to be checked. These products are subject to strict quality control. They undergo special cleaning procedures which ensure their cleanliness, and are then packed in air-tight packaging, such as vacuum-sealed bags or hermetically sealed jars, to prevent re-infestation either by new insects developing inside the package or by insects coming from the outside. After the package has been opened, it should be kept refrigerated. If the vacuum broke and air got in, the grains or legumes should be checked in the way that is usual for that product.
