Even though rice lasts a long time, it’s best to use it sooner rather than later. This will work for brown rice as well, but it will only stay fresh or 6 months in the pantry and 1 year in the refrigerator or freezer. If you often wash and reuse plastic storage bags, make sure the bag is completely dry before putting the rice in—any moisture can cause mold to grow on the granules.
You can buy food-grade storage bins online or from any superstore with a cookware section. Stored this way, brown rice will last 6 months and while rice will last up to 10 years. However, you should always check it for signs of spoilage (discoloration, odd smell, weevils) before cooking it. Pests can be the biggest menace when storing large amounts of dried goods like rice, so take the time to thoroughly examine the container for holes or cracks before pouring your rice into it.
This is a great option if you’re looking to save space in your pantry—you can pile multiple vacuum-packed bags into a large basket or bin to keep them organized. Toss the vacuum-packed bag of rice into the freezer to make it last 30 years or more. This isn’t a good option to store brown rice because the natural oils will cause it to spoil.
For smaller bags that only hold 3 to 5 cups of rice, use 1 (100cc) oxygen absorber. Larger bags require 3 to 5 oxygen absorbers (300cc to 500cc) to work properly over a long period of time. This is a good option if you’re planning to store rice for 30 years or more. Don’t put brown rice into mylar bags—the oils will seep out of the granules and cause the rice to spoil.
Stale or stagnant air could increase the humidity in the room and can cause the rice to go bad faster. Use a dehumidifier if you live in a hot, humid area—especially if you’re storing the rice in a garage or separate storage facility outside of your home. Check the room for any signs of condensation, leakage, or moisture.
If you’re storing the rice in your garage, make sure it’s away from any sources of heat like laundry machines, heating units, or generators.
It’s especially important to store the containers off of the ground if you live in an area that’s prone to flooding.
If the container or bag is damaged in any way or if the lid has come loose, inspect and smell the food for signs of spoilage. If it’s still good, put it in a new container. If you notice condensation on the containers or anywhere in the room, check to make sure the rice is still good and, if so, transfer it into a new container and store it in a different area.
You should also check the lining on the perimeter of the door to make sure there’s a tight seal. Throw out any spoiled foods that might cause bacteria and moisture to get trapped inside the unit.
Don’t overpack the shelves; pack them evenly so there’s good airflow inside the unit. If you notice any frost or signs of a leakage (inside or out), it may be time to call a professional or get a replacement.
The door of your refrigerator or freezer is the warmest spot and experiences more temperature shifts, so don’t put the rice there. Don’t store the rice in crisper drawers because they retain some amount of moisture that can cause the rice to spoil faster.
For instance, 20 pounds (9. 1 kg) of rice can fit into 6 1⁄2 US gal (1. 9 L) jars.
The water-vinegar steam will sterilize the jars.
Let the jars cool down in the oven after the 20-minute drying session.
The heat will help sterilize the lids.
It may help to slightly shake the jars to even out the rice so you can pack more in.
This extra heat will kill off any pests or eggs that might be in the rice.
The jars will be hot so don’t try to use your bare hands to screw on the lids!
You can also check by looking at the lid from eye-level. If you see a slight, concave indentation, the lid is good to go! If it’s flat or bulging, it’s not air-sealed.
Once the green light shows up or the vacuum sealer stops, remove the vacuum-sealer attachment and screw on the outer ring of the jar.
If you have a sub-zero temperature deep-freezer, put the rice in there for at least 24 hours and up to 1 week to kill off pests and eggs. If you don’t have room in your freezer for bulk rice, divide it into smaller freezer bags.
It may help to have a friend hold the mylar bag or to set it upright inside of a bucket while you pour the rice in. If you plan to use some of the rice in the near future, use smaller mylar bags to hold single or double servings of rice. Mylar bags come in sizes ranging from 4 in (10 cm) by 6 in (15 cm) to 20 in (51 cm) by 30 in (76 cm). You can easily store 20 pounds (9. 1 kg) of rice in 3 large 1-gal (3. 7-litre) mylar bags.
You can buy a pack of 100 individual 100-cc oxygen absorbers to use for smaller mylar bags. You can also put several packets into each larger bag to meet the cc-requirement. You’ll still feel air inside the bag—that’s the nitrogen that the oxygen absorbers can’t remove.
If you’re using an ironing board, you may want to change the cover or lay down a sheet you don’t care about because some of the plastic on the inside of the mylar bag can seep out when you seal it up. As an alternative, use a flat-iron made for straightening hair. [24] X Research source
You should only need to go over the edge once. However, if you see any bubbles in the bag near the freshly-sealed edge or the corners, go over it again. Repeat this for all the filled bags.
You can buy food-grade buckets or bins online or at most home hardware stores.
It’s okay if the temperature inside the storage room wavers in small degrees—just make sure there are no large drops or spikes.
