So last time I tried frozen crickets, they turned black and yucky as they defrosted. I've read elsewhere about this problem.
This time I boiled the crickets briefly, just like I do with frozen fruit flies, and hey presto, they didn't turn black. I left them out for a couple hours due to having to go somewhere, and they still looked great. I cut them up and served them to ants, and they still looked great. The ants didn't turn up their dainty little noses to it, either (like they did with frozen crickets).
If you ask why freeze/boil, I do it to kill mites and parasites. I have had problems with GRAIN mites overrunning both tubes and formicaria, and I never ever want to go through that again.
ETA: I suspect boiling destroys whatever enzymes or whatever cause the blackening to happen.
Edited by OhNoNotAgain, October 24 2021 - 7:55 PM.
