making silkworm chow from leaves?

[ealizard]

Hi I'm Eric and I would like to find a way to make silkworm chow from leaves , so I can put up for winter ,I am about to get some in and I can do leaves while their on trees, so any help would be great ??

 

[AngieL]

I don't know how to turn the leaves into chow but I but powdered chow that you can just mix as you need if that helps. You can just use a couple of spoons mixed with boiled kettle water to form a paste then keep it in the fridge.

I hear that mulberry leaves will also keep quite well in the fringe do maybe you could freeze a few leaves to make them last longer? Idk if that would work though, just an idea

 

[Benton1576]

You cant freeze them. The cells will explode when frozen as they expand, when you defrost them it will turn into mush. Save yourself the hassle and time by buying the powdered chow and mixing it up, but remember, getting them to go from chow to leaves is easy, but from leaves to chow is near impossible!

 

[AngieL]

You cant freeze them. The cells will explode when frozen as they expand, when you defrost them it will turn into mush. Save yourself the hassle and time by buying the powdered chow and mixing it up, but remember, getting them to go from chow to leaves is easy, but from leaves to chow is near impossible!

I did wonder if freezing would ruin them! Never used leaves myself.

I didn't know it was hard to get them from leaves to chow either! Thanks for the info

Luckily the ones I buy are raised on the chow I get from the same place!

 

[ealizard]

ok thanks for the info. I was hoping I could have dehydrate the leave and then crush them to power, then keep in freezer , guess Ill have to try . was tring to save some money on feed, thanks again

 

[pssh]

You can blanch the leaves before storing them. I can't remember if you're supposed to freeze them or just put them in the fridge though. Do a search for blanching the leaves and see if you can find anything.

 

[Miss Lily]

I asked about preserving mulberry leaves a while ago - here's a link to my thread. https://www.chameleonforums.com/preserving-mulberry-leaves-46452/

 

[ealizard]

Well thanks Ill try that blanching ,when the time comes .

 

[James45]

Just a thought but what about dehydrating the leaves, then crushing them up " mortar & pestile" into a powder and rehydrate when needed with water and cook?