The Seasonal Gourmet

If you have a fruit bowl, you could be at risk for fruit flies!

This week’s kitchen tip is not quite as appetizing as previous tips but it’s no less useful. Today I’m going to share with you my trick for getting rid of fruit flies.  Fruit flies are mysterious creatures – I never see them until there is older fruit around and then they multiply like crazy.  Where do they come from?  Are they hiding behind the fridge, waiting for fruit?   It’s as though the materialize right out of the fruit.  Anyway, I was away over the weekend and left some plums out in a bowl on the counter so now I have to get rid of them.  There are many different ways to do this but this is the technique that has worked for me:

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

1.  The first and most important step is to get rid of the offending fruit. They are attracted to old fruit and fruit juices, including alcohol. Refrigerate or throw out (if it’s past its prime) any fruit you have on the counter. Wash counters to make sure there is no sticky residue from fruit or spilled drinks. If you have a recycling bin in your house, make sure all bottles and cans are rinsed out before putting them in the bin so you don’t attract any unwanted pests.

2.  Make a fruit fly trap:  Pour about half a cup of orange juice into the bottom of a small bowl.  Cover bowl tightly with saran wrap.  Poke some holes in the saran.  Leave out on the counter for a couple of days.  The flies will be attracted to the fruit juice but will get trapped under the plastic.  Within a short time, you should be able to get rid of them all.   

An easy way to get rid of fruit flies

With all the fruit and berries that are in season now, you’re bound encounter a few flies. Yes, the whole thing is a bit disgusting but fruit flies are a fact of life and now you know how to deal with them.  Next week, I’ll return to showing you something delicious instead of pest control pointers!