Sanitizing pine cones

[Leih]

Suggestions on how to do this? I just can't spend money on them when they're everywhere here. I was thinking of brushing them out, putting them in the freezer in baggies for about a week. Then maybe bake?

 

[Shezbug]

I just freeze mine for a while to kill any bugs then spray well with F10 to kill germs and let sun dry. I do not like baking them.

 

[Toy]

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Let cool to room temp before moving. Use caution, as the sap gets real hot & can burn you. Once totally cooled store them in a Ziploc bag. Baking will kill an insets & fungus, etc. My U2 loves these.

 

[jeansie1988]

I'm following... I just saw a thread with someone doing this for their little bird and thought what a great idea!

 

[Leih]

I just freeze mine for a while to kill any bugs then spray well with F10 to kill germs and let sun dry. I do not like baking them.

I'm apprehensive about baking because don't most ovens have a nonstick lined interior? Is F10 what I'm seeing as veterinary antiseptic?

 

[Shezbug]

I'm apprehensive about baking because don't most ovens have a nonstick lined interior? Is F10 what I'm seeing as veterinary antiseptic?

F10 is the vet grade disinfectant. I’m not sure if our pine cones are from different types of pine trees but even the stores that sell them here don’t seem to bake them.

 

[Momo & Mido]

I'm apprehensive about baking because don't most ovens have a nonstick lined interior?

Never seen an oven or microwave with a non stick interior, only metal. You silly Americans!

(Hope i'm not offending anyone, was just a joke)

 

[peggopanic]

Are these out in the wild? The trees that is. I ask as where I had recently moved to also has pine trees and cones everywhere! However, I’m in a planned community so there’s a very good chance management uses pesticides so I’m not touching any of them. I’d read somewhere it to skip them if so.

 

[Shezbug]

Are these out in the wild? The trees that is. I ask as where I had recently moved to also has pine trees and cones everywhere! However, I’m in a planned community so there’s a very good chance management uses pesticides so I’m not touching any of them. I’d read somewhere it to skip them if so.

Where I get mine there are no pesticides used on them. If they had any pesticides I certainly would not be using them. There are many places near my home where I can safely forage for pesticide free branches and other bird supplies.

 

[peggopanic]

Where I get mine there are no pesticides used on them. If they had any pesticides I certainly would not be using them. There are many places near my home where I can safely forage for pesticide free branches and other bird supplies.

Yeah I was quite disappointed. Legit I was like free toys! Nope, not so easy. I’m now in the middle of the desert and before that, NYC. Never lived anywhere I could forage for free toys

 

[Momo & Mido]

Can you maybe cook them? Or would that not be hot enough?

 

[Leih]

Can you maybe cook them? Or would that not be hot enough?

The pesticides would still probably leave toxic compounds or break down into toxic compounds. Without knowing exactly what pesticide and the concentrations well as being a confident chemist haha not worth the risk.

 

[Leih]

Never seen an oven or microwave with a non stick interior, only metal. You silly Americans!

(Hope i'm not offending anyone, was just a joke)

I'm not sure if ours do have non stick interiors, just being cautious I know you're joking, you've told me lots of goofy things about the Dutch, people are silly

 

[Leih]

Are these out in the wild? The trees that is. I ask as where I had recently moved to also has pine trees and cones everywhere! However, I’m in a planned community so there’s a very good chance management uses pesticides so I’m not touching any of them. I’d read somewhere it to skip them if so.

We have a huge park here that stretches through multiple counties, and there are parts near me, so that's where I'd be going.

 

[Ali]

Could you boil them?

 

[Leih]

Could you boil them?

Hmmm.... I don't know that boiling water is hot enough plus then I'd have to be careful to get them totally dried out. I like all this thinking though!

 

[Toy]

If there is any chance they may have been sprayed with pesticides do not use them. You can not bake or boil pesticides off pine cones.

Oven interiors are usually enamel, not non-stick.