How to Store Rice Correctly
Rice is the staple food of most of the world’s population. That’s why we always buy rice, sometimes buying in large quantities to save costs and for some people in the interior it is very profitable for them to have difficulty accessing the store to buy rice. However, whatever the reason you buy rice, we must know the correct way of storing rice, otherwise the rice will appear maggots or beetles and this will reduce the quality of the rice.
See also: Does Rice Turn Into Maggots?
Fortunately, storing rice for a long period of time is not difficult, especially if it is only for short-term storage. Rice storage is done by putting the rice in a plastic bag that can be sealed. You can use a mylar bag that can absorb air. If it’s only for short-term savings, you can store it in the original bag of rice products and then put the original packaging in a plastic cover. Another thing you should pay attention to is to store rice only in a dry and cool place.
If you store the rice incorrectly, your rice will have maggots, small black beetles appear. They make your rice dirtier and lower its quality. Well, if it’s like this, who will eat it, it can still be eaten and cooked, but most people don’t have the appetite to enjoy it anymore.
The Rice is Best Food to Store
Rice is a versatile food that can be served with a variety of food menus. Rice is a filling and nutrient-rich food. In addition, rice is also a cheap food in the market compared to other staple foods such as dates, wheat, grapes and so on.
Cooking rice is also very easy, it can be boiled, or steamed. Can be enjoyed alone or with a variety of delicious side dishes. Now there are many types of rice and how to process them, there is fried rice with various recipes, there is nasi lemak with various flavors and various other recipes made from rice.
It is also the reason why rice is good for storage, because it is a healthy food and provides energy for humans on this earth planet. Rice is good for physical and mental health. That is why rice is the staple food of most of the world’s population.
Can you boil water on the stove?
Everyone can cook and boil water on the stove. This means that it is as easy as that we can cook rice. Does not require special skills but can produce nutritious and filling food. If you wander into the forest, you only need to bring rice and a pot, after being hungry, you look for water that is probably everywhere and just boil it, done. As simple as that you can cook rice. This is why rice is the best food to store.
In various disasters and conditions, rice can be stored and become food. Rice is the most extraordinary food on the surface of this earth. Serving it is very easy, you can eat it directly or by adding a little salt, it can be with side dishes such as seafood shrimp, or with other Chinese leaf vegetables.
Well, now you know why rice is the best food for us to keep. Not only that, the advantages of rice, even in some sources it is mentioned, that rice is the healthiest food on the planet where we live.
If you can’t eat carelessly because of allergies, or are gluten sensitive, with rice you don’t have to worry because this is a gluten free food. With a cheap price, you can buy it in cash, if you buy other food you have to pay in installments, you don’t need to be afraid of rice, the cheap price is also one of the advantages of rice that we must admit.
So, you are not afraid to buy rice in bulk. because rice is important for us to stockpile and store in food warehouses. Every now and then you can buy in bulk, this not only makes you have to go to the market every month, but can also save your shopping. Buying in bulk will usually be cheaper than buying in small quantities.
You don’t know how to store rice for the long term?
Don’t worry because we will explain to you how. Not only how to store for the long term but also how to store rice for the short term.
Before we start storing rice in bulk, we must first know how long the rice can last. This is very important to know, we may not be hoarding rice in large quantities if the rice itself cannot last long.
How long can rice last?
Rice is divided into two, there is white rice and there is brown rice, both of which are commonly used as food. White rice is a type of rice that can last a very long time. If stored properly, white rice can last 25-30 years.
Unlike the case with brown rice, this is a type of rice that is healthier than white rice. Brown rice does not last long, if you store it properly, this rice can only last about 6 months.
So, it is important to know how to store rice properly so that you can stockpile a lot of rice for various purposes. If you really want to store rice for a long period of time, there are two things you must understand, both of which are:
- Pests that can get into the rice and eat the rice before you can enjoy it
- The humidity in the storage area makes your rice moldy and rotten.
Storing rice must be careful because it is high risk if you don’t know how to store it. The stored rice often appears beetles or maggots because there are larvae in the rice. This is natural because rice is a type of grain that comes from rice fields or fields.
In addition, if you store rice in an airtight container, it can sweat and make the rice moist and eventually rot or mold. Well, because of the various risks like this, then you really have to know how to store rice properly so that it can last for years.
How long does instant rice last?
Instant rice is unnatural rice or rice that has been processed in such a way with added flavor. Instant rice if stored properly will last for 2 years.
The best place to store instant rice is a dry and cool place. Just like ordinary rice, you can store it in the cupboard, in the pantry. But you need to know that instant rice is not as healthy as you think.
For those of you who pay attention to health, instant rice is a food that is not good for consumption. Instant rice contains additional ingredients such as preservatives so that it lasts a long time. In addition, instant rice also contains sodium which is added to enhance the taste of the rice. This is also an important thing to know for those of you who are concerned with health.
How long does cooked rice last?
Cooked rice will not last long, if stored properly in the refrigerator, rice can last for 4 to 7 days.
But if you store it at room temperature, it only lasts for a few hours. Cooked rice should be eaten immediately or at least for two or 4 hours. It is easily damaged due to high humidity. When the rice is moist, the bacteria called Bacillus cereus can easily cause someone who eats the rice to experience vomiting. Bacillus cereus is a bacterium that is naturally present in cooked rice.
If you want to store cooked rice, then the best way to store cooked rice is in the refrigerator.
If you don’t want to throw it away, you can give your leftover rice to your cat or to your pigeon. They seem to be more resistant to rice conditions that are already moist or smelly.
Storing rice has two purposes, there is for the long term and there is also storage for the short term.
Also see: Benefits of Rice and Similar Plants for Humans
How To Store Rice Long Term
Storing rice for a long period of time must be done carefully and with full preparation so that your rice remains in top condition for many years.
Here are some important steps to save rice with long term goals.
1. Use the right container
Usually we choose airtight containers to store a lot of food. but is it the same for rice storage? If you want to store rice for the long term, think again if you want to use an airtight container.
Airtight containers are by no means the best choice for rice storage. An airtight container will generate heat in the rice and this will cause the rice to be sweaty, damp and moldy or rotten. If you think an airtight container is good for storing rice, it won’t take long to rot. In just a few days or weeks your rice will rot.
Also read: The Dangers of Instant Noodles: 10 Side Effects of Eating Instant Noodles
However, the best container for storing rice is a container that can provide air circulation or does not make the rice airtight. All food-grade containers made of plastic can work well for rice storage.
2. Use Mylar Bags To Store Rice Up to 30 Years
There are other best ways to store rice so that it lasts longer. Use a Mylar bag and this can make your rice last up to 30 years.
Mylar bag is a special container designed to store something for a long time, it is a food grade bag that is suitable for long term storage. Using mylar bag, you are very easy to save rice for your future.
What makes mylar bags so great, mylar can protect the rice from contact with the elements and doesn’t cause the rice to heat up so no steam occurs.
If you buy a mylar bag in a store, you have to be careful because it is not a good quality mylar bag, sometimes there are counterfeit or counterfeit goods that cannot maintain the shelf life of rice well. False mylar sometimes has poor stitches, loose, and does not use quality materials in producing mylar bags.
3. Use Oxygen Absorbers for Preventing Rice from Damaging
In addition to using food grade bags and using mylar bags, you can also try to store rice for the long term by using an oxygen absorber so that the rice does not steam.
Well, using this oxygen absorber you can also use it in a mylar bag so there is no possibility and potential that makes your rice damaged.
This oxygen-absorbing or oxygen-absorbing product is in small form like sugar packets in fast food packages.
If you want to have an oxygen absorber, you can buy this online, as well as buying a myral bag.
See also: Best Portuguese Sweet Rice Recipe
Stash Uncooked Rice in the Freezer
Another way is to use a freezer, you can store uncooked (raw) rice in the freezer for a shelf life of up to 30 years. But this is not an effective and easy way.
If you use the freezer, you will not be able to store large quantities because it is impossible to store all the rice in the freezer.
How To Store Rice Short Term
For those who eat rice as their staple food, of course they always buy rice at least once a month and we cook it every day to meet their daily needs.
For purposes like this, you can save short-term rice. Even for the short term, we still have to store it properly so that the rice remains prime and can become fragrant and delicious rice to eat.
If you just bought packaged rice, if you don’t use it now, don’t open it first because storing rice in the package can last quite a long time too. Place the rice in a dry and cool place and away from hot air so as not to cause sweat.
The rice packaging should also be placed in another container such as placing it in the pantry before its use period.