How to Store Rice Properly at Home

Rice is a staple in many households around the world and is used in various culinary traditions, especially Southeast Asian. The versatile carbohydrate is used in countless dishes in cuisines from places like China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and many more, making it a kitchen essential for anyone who loves to cook oriental-inspired recipes at home! Buying rice from an oriental supermarket and storing in bulk can come in handy when you want to prepare your favourite authentic meal when the cravings strike. Ensuring you know the best ways to store rice at home and make it last as long as possible is important if you want your dishes to be as tasty as they can be!

Storing Different Kinds of Rice

This is the first thing to consider as not all types of rice will behave the same in storage or have the same shelf life. When stored properly, uncooked white rice can last for months or even years, making it a great staple! You can have it tucked away at the back of the cupboard, in a large container that you can dip into. Uncooked brown rice can go bad slightly quicker than white rice as it is less processed, with fatty acids that oxidise and spoil it. However, when stored correctly, it will still last for up to six months. Cooked rice won’t last beyond around five days when kept in the fridge, so it’s best to eat what you’ve cooked as soon as possible to avoid wasting food.

Keep Rice Away From Moisture

Ensuring that your rice is stored in a dry and cool place is one of the most important things you can do. Any moisture in your rice will breed mould and bacteria, making it unsuitable and unsafe to eat. Moist rice can also attract small brown mites known as rice weevil that will feed on the rice. If you come across any evidence of rice weevils or moisture, it is best to throw away all the rice that was in that container and take more care when storing the next batch.

Using Containers

Before filling any container with rice, make sure it is clean and completely dry - you don’t want your rice to absorb any residual flavours or liquids. Your rice containers should also always have a sealed lid to prevent any moisture from entering. You can buy specialist food containers designed with long term rice storage in mind, but usually, any kind of food-safe container with a tightly securable lid will do.

Freezing Rice

Rice can be stored in the freezer for up to six months, but this method isn’t really applicable to bulk storage of raw rice and instead makes more sense for the storage and preservation of cooked rice in the form of leftovers. You can simply put your rice into a freezer bag to easily store it. If you’d like to make any tasty rice dishes of your own, remember to check out our online oriental supermarket to get everything you need for authentic-tasting dishes at home! We stock Nishiki premium grade rice that ideal for a range of Asian dishes.