MealWorms

Live mealworms, raised entirely on organic, food grade wheat bran and organic carrots, $25/#.

There are 3200 mature mealworms in a pound and they come with enough bran to keep them fat and healthy in your fridge for many weeks, simply replace their moisture source (carrot).

To prepare for oven roasting to dry them for long term storage, simply sift them from the bran with a kitchen colander, allow them to munch on carrots for a day, sift again, then place in the freezer for several days until frozen solid. (up to three months). If leaving in the freezer long term, move to an appropriate, freezer safe container.

When ready to roast, put worms in colander and give it a few shakes to remove any remaining frass, then rinse lightly. Add to an appropriate sized pot of boiling water, let it return to a rolling boiling, then drain very well.

Spread drained worms in a shallow layer onto a cookie sheet or similar and roast at around 250ºF for 60-90+ minutes, depending on your oven and how thick your layer of worms is. Do not stir for at least 30 minutes because the worms will stick. Once they start to dry, turn them with a pancake turner every 30 minutes or so until dry.

Make sure they are VERY dry, just as you would for any dried vegetable because too much moisture will result in mold and ruined worms.

Allow to cool thoroughly before packaging to prevent moisture from steam causing mold. :)

If you decide they're not dry enough after they've cooled, just put them back in the oven until they are.

PS Dehydrator not recommend. Worms blow all over the place. I know this from experience. :)