How To Store Rice Long Term

Today I’m going to share with you exactly how to store rice long term. In fact, it’s not that difficult and it’s something that many preppers want to get moving on right from the start. So if you want to learn how to store rice, you’ve come to the right place.

Today we are going to look at the following:

• Items You will need
• Why you should store rice long term
• Biggest threats to storing rice long term
• What is the best type of rice to store?
• And ultimately how to store rice long term including correct containers, proper storage, and much more!

So let’s go ahead and get started to understanding some of the basics of storing rice long term and then we will get down to the actual “how-to” part of this article below.

Why Should You Store Rice Long Term?

Storing rice for the long term is a great idea for preppers. Rice is one of those foods that are easy to store and food that you can almost survive on just on its own. It’s always been popular among preppers and it’s the first thing that people hoard in any disaster situation.

The recent pandemic of the COVID-19 caught everyone by surprise. During the lockdowns, we saw people had to go for days without having food. Stored food items can be extremely helpful in such conditions. One of the main reasons for storing rice is its long-lasting nature. Rice is one of those food items that can last for 10-20 years without any issue.

Did you know that there are over 40,00 different varieties of rice?! Not every one of them can do well in storage so you need to pick wisely. We will discuss that below.

Another reason for saving rice for extended periods is that rice is healthy and easy to cook during a crisis because all you need to do is boil some water then add the rice. If you have plenty of rice you can easily cook it and fulfill your daily requirement without any issue.

Biggest Threats To Rice Storage

While storing rice for the long term you need to be careful about a few things. There are many issues such as heat, bugs, moisture, etc that can ruin the quality of rice. Any one of these issues can cause your rice to spoil so I can’t stress enough how important learning how to prevent spoilage is for storage.

Let’s look below at these issues in more detail.

Heat

Heat is one of the biggest threats to rice. If you want to store your rice for the long term without getting spoiled them you need to maintain the right temperature. Rice at higher temperatures can sweat which can attract pests.

Even if you have taken care of the pests then the higher temperature may spoil the rice. Apart from that, studies show that rice can survive for 20 to 30 years when frozen.

In colder areas, the rice can survive more than the mentioned lifetime. It is because lower heat prevents so many problems such as the chemical reactions, formation of micro-organisms, and bugs.

Bugs

Another important thing that you need to take care of is bugs. Not only with rice, but when storing any kind of food item you should have bug prevention first on your checklist. It’s because these tiny creatures can do much more damage than any other item on our list.

If you are storing rice for the long term make sure you have kept it somewhere safer. Make sure that the container has no opening or window for bugs. Sometimes bugs may also lay eggs in the food content. These eggs stay there until they are able to hatch and most of the time this causes the main problem.

Moisture

Having moisture around your rice storage cache is always a bad thing as well because the moist environment can spoil the rice and reduce its quality. Moisture can easily grow fungus or mold in the rice and as a result, it will not be useable at all. Therefore you need to maintain an appropriate moisture level for storing uncooked rice.

Lights

Light also poses a threat to rice and other food items. It is because it may sometimes trigger unwanted photo-activated chemical reactions. As a result, the rice may lose its flavor or even its nutrients.

Sometimes it can completely spoil the rice. Apart from that, even if you have kept the rice in a container away from bugs the rice may have eggs. When these eggs are exposed to light they may hatch and the bugs will ruin all of your efforts.

Air

The last threat to rice storage is air. You need to put your rice in airtight containers because you don’t want it to be exposed. It is because the fatty acid inside the food items can react with air. As a result, it may change its taste and spoil the whole food item.

What Is The Best Type/Variety Of Rice To Store?

There are over 40,000 different kinds of rice available. If you want to store it for the long term you need to pick the right type of rice carefully. According to some studies, various types of rice perform better for survival storage as compared to other types.

Basmati rice, jasmine, and arborio tend to perform better for storing. It is because they have less oil content inside as compared to brown rice.

The brown rice, on the other hand, performs well inside a refrigerator or freezer. But on a regular shelf, its lifespan is much shorter than the others. So the number one rule of thumb for preppers is always to store white rice!

How To Store Rice Long Term

If you’re serious about prepping for a SHTF situation then you need to master the art of storing food for long terms. Rice is something that usually a lot of people store because it is healthy, easy to cook, and when stored the right way, and it can survive anywhere from 25-30 years if stored properly and even much longer in some cases.

The most common method of storing rice is in bulk in 5-gallon buckets so today I’m going to show you exactly how to do that along with sharing some important tips and considerations that you need to pay attention to when starting your storage project.

So without any further ado, let’s learn how to store rice for the long term.

Step 1: Gather The Necessary Items

You are going to need a few items before you get started. Below is a list of things you can quickly buy in order to be able to properly store rice long term:

• 5-gallon (18″x 28″) mylar food storage bags
• 5-gallon food-grade buckets (with gamma lids optional)
• Oxygen absorbers (2- 1000 cc size) (make sure to get large enough ones for 5-gallon capacity)
• Moisture absorbers (silica get packets for 5-gallon bucket)
• Rubber mallet for properly sealing regular lids
• Device key to open bucket lids (trust me, after you seal them, you can’t get them open without this tool!)
• Mylar bag sealer (this is the one I bought on Amazon, but you can buy what you want or use one you already have)

Step 2: Place Mylar Bag Inside of 5-Gallon Bucket

Once you have all of the necessary items needed for storage, the first thing you are going to do is grab your 5-gallon bucket and place your mylar bag inside of the bucket. Simply take your hand and push the mylar bag so it fills the bucket as best as possible. It makes it easier in the next step to pour the rice in the mylar bag.

Step 3: Add Rice To The Mylar Bag

Once you’ve placed the mylar bag in your 5-gallon bucket, go ahead and add your rice into the mylar bag.

Step 4: Add Oxygen and Moisture Absorbers

In this step, you are simply going to throw on top at least 2 1000 cc- sized oxygen absorbers. In this case, I added 3 just for extra protection. Then go ahead and add a single desiccant for extra moisture absorption.

Important Tip: Once you open the original packaging that the oxygen absorbers came in, you will only be using a few at a time, yet there might be extra left in the pack. If you don’t put them in an air-tight container, they will lose their effectiveness quickly. Make sure you store any extra oxygen absorbers in an air-tight mason jar.

Step 5: Push Any Excess Air Out Of Bag Then Seal

In this step, you are going to try and get any excess air out of the mylar bag before you seal it with your heat sealer. So go ahead and take your sealer and begin sealing the mylar bag, but instead of sealing the whole thing, you will seal about 75% of it and then push the remaining air out of the open corner.

Step 6: Seal Bucket Lid Using Rubber Mallet

The final step is to completely seal your 5-gallon bucket using the rubber mallet that you purchased. It is extremely important that you hammer hard and completely seal the lid so that no extra air gets in. Once you’ve done that, make sure you store in a cool, dark place and you will be all set for the next 30 years! Great job!

Best Containers For Storing Rice Long Term

I wanted to make sure and discuss other container options that work well for long erm rice storage as well. There are a lot of different containers available for keeping your rice safe for longer periods. Each one of these has its own set of pros and cons. Therefore, you need to pick the one that suits your needs.

Mylar Bags

Mylar bags are one of the most efficient containers for storing rice. The structure of these bags keeps the rice safe for extended periods without any issue. It is because they consist of metalized polyester which helps in maintaining the right temperature.

Apart from that, these bags are also opaque in nature which means no photoactive chemical reactions will occur. In addition to this, the opaque nature of these bags also protects the rice from bugs.

These bags are easy to seal so that the food stays inside isolated without any interaction. However, standalone mylar bags aren’t suitable for food storage. You will need to buy mylar bags that fit into 5-gallon buckets so that you can store the rice properly.

If you’re going to use 5-gallon buckets and mylar bags to store your rice, you’ll also need a heat sealer to seal in the rice. You can easily get one on Amazon. You can see the one that I bought here.

But you don’t have to buy that expensive of a heat sealer. You may be able to get away with something like the Mini Food Bag Heat Sealer, but it might not be quite big enough to properly seal those larger mylar bags you will be using. Just a word of caution. I went ahead and invested in the nicer one because I knew that I was going to be doing a lot of bulk food storage.

#10 Cans

#10 cans are also quite popular for saving food for a longer amount of time. These cans are quite interesting as they keep the food items safer inside. In addition to this, they are opaque and have lids that properly seal them. It can be a little tougher to find them, but if you prefer #10 cans, then by all means go for it!

There are a lot of companies that will offer their products in #10 cans such as My Patriot Supply and BePrepared. You can purchase the food items, use them and then reuse the #10 cans.

By using #10 cans, the content inside them stays safe from external threats such as humidity, air, and bugs. These cans are available in different sizes which means you can select the one that fulfills your requirements.

Another great feature of these #10 cans is their build quality. They are made of aluminum which doesn’t react with the content inside the container. Thus there will never be any unwanted chemical reactions and as a result, the food can survive for up to 10 years without any issue inside.

However, you need to keep these cans somewhere safer as they may protect the food inside but they are prone to rust and damages themselves. They aren’t that sturdy to withstand the harsh challenges of the environment.

Glass Jars

You may have used glass jars for storing pickles and other food items. However, they are quite useful when it comes to rice storage as well. These glass jars are airtight and prevent the air and moisture from reaching the rice inside them. This way the rice stays fresh and in shape for a very long period.

Another great thing about glass containers is that they prevent bugs. A good container will prevent all kinds of bugs and keep them away from the food items inside it. If you are living in a place where there are a lot of mice then you should use plastic bottles.

Mice can’t eat or damage these bottles unless they drop it from somewhere high. This way your food will stay safe from not only bugs and other elements but also from mice.

Check out Mason Jars Marketplace as they are offering a pretty unique technology called “Recap” and it’s an awesome twist on the classic mason jar storage technique. You can get this recap technology in a large 16oz. mason jar size which I love! So if you like mason jar storage, check them out.

2-Liter Soda plastic bottles  (PETE bottles)

PETE are plastic bottles that consist of polyethylene terephthalate which is a kind of polyester that is recyclable in nature. Unlike the highly concentrated polyethylene bottles, they aren’t toxic. Such features make the quite amazing for rice storage.

You can place your rice inside the bottles and close the cap. It will protect the content inside for years without any issue. You won’t face any air, moisture, or bug issues. However, you still need to take care of temperature and light.

5-Gallon Buckets

Another recommended and more commonly used container for storing your rice is the 5-gallon bucket with gamma seal lids. This is my favorite way to store my rice. If you have a bunch of these laying around in your house don’t waste them. They can make great food storage because of their protective nature.

However, you need to use only food-grade plastic buckets. In addition to this, you still need to use something to make a separation between the walls of the bucket and the food items.

These buckets usually consist of plastic which may react with the items inside. As a result of these unwanted chemical reactions, the food inside will spoil. That’s why you should always use something such as a mylar bag inside.

This will prevent any unwanted reaction and keep the food items away from the toxic material of the bucket. It also makes the storing quite easy as they have more space and provides better protection against different kinds of threats such as mice. 

Preparing The Right Environment

Once you have packed your rice, you need to make sure that you are storing it correctly. I’ve already explained a few factors that can reduce the lifespan and quality of the rice. These factors include humidity, temperature, oxygen, and bugs.

If you fail to provide a safer environment to the rice then it won’t even survive for a month. So you need to make sure that everything is in perfect condition before moving your rice to the place.

Proper Storage

Just as I mentioned earlier appropriate environment is the backbone of storing food for an extended period. You can create proper storage by taking care of a few things that I am going to explain. These things will help you store the food for extended periods and stay in shape without any problem.

Oxygen Absorbers

Oxygen absorbers are the right tool for protecting your food if you want to store it for a longer duration. They are quite effective which is why thousands of people around the world are using them. The main purpose of the oxygen absorber is to remove all the available oxygen inside the food storage container and preserve the food as long as possible.

Oxygen-free storage allows the food to stay in much better shape for years. It is because most of the time oxygen reacts with the components of the food items. As a result of that oxidation reaction, the food no longer stays in its original shape. Therefore removal of oxygen is just before you save rice.

You will need to choose the appropriate size of oxygen absorbers for your needs. Yes, they aren’t universal and the size of it depends on how much rice are you going to store. If the quantity is more then you may need a bigger absorber.

Using Dry Ice

If you want to go for a much cheaper option then you can use dry ice for food storage. Dry ice can be a great alternative for storing food. Apart from that, it is easily available on the market. Having that said, you need to use it in the exact quantity necessary.

If you use too much dry ice then a huge amount of pressure will build-up due to the release of carbon dioxide. It will result in the burst-opening of the lid and exposing the food to other threats such as bugs and light.

The main advantage of the dry ice is its extremely cold nature. It maintains a suitable environment for the rice and at the same time displaces oxygen. As a result, your rice will stay fresh for extended periods.

Another amazing quality of the dry ice is that it prevents the hatching of insect eggs. If there are any eggs in the rice then the low temperature will deprive them of enough energy. As a result, they won’t hatch at all.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is quite popular among people for protecting food for the long term. People use it to protect the grains and prevent bugs and other threats away. You can use the DE to increase the shelf life of your rice and protect it from bugs and other issues.

You will need to make sure to select the right quantity of the diatomaceous earth when storing your rice. You need to use an adequate quantity depending on how much food are you storing.

It is recommended by diatomaceousearth..com that you use 1 teaspoon of diatomaceous earth for every pound of food (or 1 cup of DE for every 50 lbs. of food, if you are storing large quantities). If you are putting food items into long-term storage, they recommend increasing the amount of DE to 1½ or 2 teaspoons for every pound of food.

Studies show that the right amount of DE not only kills bugs but it also reduces the moisture level. Thus the chances for survival are increased for not only rice but almost every food item that you are storing.

Silica Gel Packs

Silica gel packets are another widely used item for preserving the quality of different substances. You may have seen its bags in different packaging such as medicine etc. You can also use silica gel to enhance the shelf life of your rice.

This amazing chemical compound has a feature that allows it to absorb the moisture in the air. Thus it reduces the level of moisture significantly. As a result, the item stays fresh for years without any issue. However, you need to be extremely careful while using silica gel, especially for food preservation.

It is because there are two types of silica gel. One of them is nontoxic while the other one is extremely toxic. You need to get the food grade silica gel only to prevent any accidents. Apart from that, you shouldn’t eat the silica gel as it may be harmful the health.

Temperature

Temperature is the most important requirement of storage. Providing sufficient temperature and keeping it to a safe value will make the food stays fit for longer. If you want to store rice you need to understand the temperature requirements of different kinds of rice.

According to my research, almost all kinds of rice needs a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit if you want to store it for up to 30 years. Keeping the temperature as low as possible will make the rice to survive for up to 30 years without any issue. However, it depends on the area where you are living.

On the other hand, people who are storing rice in colder places will have much better results. Lower temperature allows you to store rice for more than 30 years. It is because lower temperature prevents the hatching on eggs and kill larvae of bugs.

Moisture

The last thing to maintain inside your storage is the overall humidity level for the rice. If you want your rice to survive for seriously long periods then you need to maintain a humidity level less than 10 percent. You will need to implement additional methods such as using silica gel.

Once you manage to provide the required amount of humidity level, you’ll be able to store rice for a very long time. You will get amazing and rewarding results. Lower humidity will prevent the formation of bacterial effect and fungus.

Apart from that, it will also keep away the bugs as bugs are highly attracted to humid areas only. Therefore, most experts recommend drying the food items before storing them for longer periods.

Related Questions And Answers

Can You Freeze Rice?

Yes, you can freeze both cooked and uncooked rice. It will reinforce the storing process as the extreme freezing temperature helps getting rid of insect eggs. If there are any eggs then freezing the uncooked rice will completely eliminate the threat.

Apart from that, the lifespan of different kinds of rice increases once you freeze them. You can store uncooked, white rice, in the freezer almost indefinitely. However, you shouldn’t freeze the brown rice. The composition of the brown rice isn’t suitable for extremely low temperatures, and as a result, it may not do well.

Do You Have To Freeze Rice Before Long Term Storage?

Freezing the rice before long-term storage isn’t a must. However, it will enhance the process and provide better results. If you freeze the rice it will prevent many problems such as bugs and pests. Apart from that, it maximizes the overall shelf life of the rice which is extremely helpful when preparing for survival situations.

However, freezing a large quantity of rice can be cumbersome as you can imagine. It will be nearly impossible to freeze a ton of rice or even 10 to 20 sacks of rice. It is because larger quantities may require bigger freezers.

Does Rice Ever Go Bad?

Yes, rice can go bad especially when you fail to provide the right storage environment for it. Among all the different types of rice, brown rice has the shortest lifespan. It can only survive for 1 to 2 months. However, this period can be extended when you place the rice in a freezer.

It goes for both cooked and uncooked rice. However, other types of rice can survive for way more extended periods. You can store them for up to 30 years without any issue provided that you have taken all the safety measures before storing it.

How Long Do You Freeze Rice To Kill Bugs?

If you want to kill the adult bugs and get rid of their eggs you need to freeze the rice for at least 4 days. However, I recommend keeping it in the freezer all the time and remove it only if you are cooking it. There is nothing bad about freezing the rice for a longer duration as it doesn’t spoil the taste or any nutrients. While the freezer will keep it safe from external threats too.

How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Rice Last?

Vacuum sealed rice can last for up to 1 year because at that point there isn’t any air that can cause any harm to the contents Air contains oxygen that triggers oxidation reactions with the nutrients of the rice. As a result, it can lose its color and taste.

Having that said, vacuum-sealed rice has extended shelf life as compared to simple storage. Therefore, I highly recommend using vacuum-sealed containers.

Final Thoughts About Storing Rice

Rice is one of the best prepping foods that you can have on hand. It’s one of those foods that you can live on and that’s why it’s a popular topic among the prepping community. Hopefully, this article has helped with understanding how to store rice long term.

You can improve the shelf life of rice by taking a few extra precautionary measures such as freezing it. Moreover, using the appropriate environment for the storage will always be helpful.

If there’s anything you would like to add to this post or any insight you have on this subject, please feel free to comment below.