Did you know that rice is one of the most consumed foods around the world?
Rice can be used as a main dish, side dish, or mixed directly into a lot of different recipes. Some cultures eat rice daily and sometimes it is even served with every meal.
Like flour, beans, and other staple foods, rice has made its way into the prepper’s pantry as an item to stockpile for emergencies.
But why is rice a popular food to have? What is the best type of rice for preppers to have? And how should you go about long-term rice storage?
I’m going to break these items down, starting with the benefits of storing rice, some popular options, how to store rice long term, and wrapping up with some FAQs.
SKIP AHEAD
Why Rice Should be Stored
Personal preferences aside, dry rice is a great food item to store and have for several reasons. Here are just a few reasons why this simple food should be in every pantry.
Price
Rice is incredibly affordable. At the time this article was written the average retail price of rice was $0.71/lb. At that price, a 50-pound bag would cost $35.50. Being so affordable, you are able to get almost as much rice as you want without breaking the bank.
Rice Shelf Life
Depending on the type of rice and how it is stored, it can last anywhere from 12 months to decades. This will give you a long-lasting and versatile staple item in your emergency food storage.
Less is More
A little bit of rice goes a long way. A general rule of thumb is that uncooked rice will triple in amount when it becomes cooked rice. So, one cup of uncooked rice will produce roughly three cups of cooked rice. This means it does not take a lot of stored rice to feed several people.
Neutral Flavor
Generally speaking, rice by itself does not have any flavor to it. This is a great characteristic because it can be added to almost any recipe, and it will take on the flavor of that dish. This makes rice a great supplement for bulking up meals and stretching supplies further.
Types of Rice to Stockpile
While there are many kinds of rice I will be sticking with white rice and brown rice because they are the most widely used, and therefore the most popular and readily available.
White Rice
White rice is the most popular kind to eat. This is probably because it is the cheapest and has a long shelf life (up to 12 months on the counter).
Short-grained white rice is sometimes used in the making of sushi, which is why you might hear it referred to as “sushi rice.”
White rice is also referred to as “polished rice” because the germ and bran have been removed from it, giving it a bright white appearance.
This process strips away some of the nutrition from the grain but gives it a much longer shelf life. White rice can last around 12 months sitting on the shelf. When stored under proper conditions and in a sealed container, white rice can last for decades.
Brown Rice
Brown rice derives its name from the grain’s color. The husk and bran are left on the grain which gives it a brown appearance.
Additional nutrients are found in this outer brown layer which is why brown rice is often a better food option to consume over white rice.
However, brown rice does not come without a downside.
Because there is more oil in this type of rice, the potential for brown rice to become rancid is higher. Brown rice can last roughly six months sitting on a shelf.
Best Rice for Survival: Top 4 picks
Bulk White Rice
Buying white rice in bulk is going to provide the best cost to servings ratio. It will also enable you to store it in several different ways.
Most grocery stores sell rice in 1lb, 5lb, and sometimes 10lb bags. The higher end of this range will allow a person to easily build up a rice stockpile rather quickly without having to go to a specialty store or order online.
Pros
- The cheapest way to build a rice stockpile for long-term storage
- Readily available at most food stores
- When stored properly, white rice can last decades
Cons
- Will require additional steps and resources for proper long-term storage
- Less nutritious than other varieties of rice
Bulk Brown Rice
Much of what was said above about white rice can be said for brown rice. It can be found at most food stores, it’s affordable and local stores often offer bags in a variety of sizes.
However, the biggest difference with brown rice is that it is more nutritious and creates heavier, thicker flour when used in that manner. You definitely want to store brown rice in the freezer or in special rice containers to increase its shelf life.
Pros
- The cheapest way to build a rice stockpile in your food storage
- Readily available at most food stores
- More nutritious than white rice
- When stored properly, brown rice may last several years
Cons
- Much shorter shelf life than white rice
Bags of plain rice tend to take the spotlight over this choice, but I think boxed rice products (instant rice types) should not be overlooked. Here are a few reasons why.
Pros
- The shape of the box is incredibly easy to organize and store
- They can have a shelf life of several years. According to the Minute webpage, Minute Rice can last up to two years from the date of manufacture.
- Generally, boxed rice cooks faster
- Different varieties and flavors are available
- Affordable and sold at most grocery stores
Cons
- Rice stored in boxes is not ideal for long-term storage because it is not an airtight container, nor is it waterproof
- Depending on the brand or variety, the rice may have undesirable additives that can shorten the shelf life and aren’t as healthy
Ready Wise Mango Sticky Rice
This is a freeze-dried rice option that comes in a resealable mylar pouch (oxygen-free container) and provides two- and one-half servings per pouch.
Preparation is incredibly easy as it only requires the addition of roughly one cup of boiling water and a fifteen-minute “cook” time.
As the name suggests, the grains of rice stick together, and the mango flavor gives it a hint of sweetness. If you find that you can’t finish it all in one sitting, you can keep the cooked rice in the resealable container for later.
Pros
- Easy to transport
- Mylar bags provide an airtight seal
- Having gone through a freeze dryer, it has an extremely long shelf life
- Requires very little water to prepare
- Ready to eat in fifteen minutes
- Cooked rice can be saved in the pouch
Cons
- The biggest downfall of freeze-dried products is the cost-to-servings ratio is quite high.
Augason Farms Long Grain White Rice
If you are interested in companies that sell survival foods, a bucket of long-grain white rice from Augason Farms would be an affordable choice.
One of their buckets of white rice weighs in at approximately forty-two pounds. After doing the math at the current price, that comes out to a price of roughly $1.80 per pound.
While this is still costly as far as rice goes, you get much more bang for the buck when you buy in bulk over individual pouches.
Pros
- After purchase, it requires no additional steps for long-term storage
- Reasonable price point
- The food-grade bucket provides extra storage protection
- Food-grade buckets stack and are easy to organize
- The carrying handle and the size of the bucket make it easy to transport
- Up to a seven-year shelf life guaranteed
Cons
- More than double the cost of rice bought at the store
How To Store Rice Long Term
Moisture and air are going to be the two main enemies of storing rice long term.
Ideally, you should store rice long-term in food-grade containers that are both airtight and waterproof.
Additionally, once you decide on a container to store rice long-term in, you should place that container in a cool, dark place, out of direct sunlight.
Different Containers For Storing Rice, Long Term Food Storage
Food Grade Buckets
Food-grade buckets are great for storing bulk rice. A food-grade bucket looks like most buckets but it is made from food-grade, or food-safe material. This means that the food stored inside can come into contact with the bucket without worrying about contamination.
Food-grade buckets can be a bit pricey, but they are the best containers for storing rice and other consumables.
Vacuum sealed Bags
Vacuum sealing used to only be able to be done on a commercial level, but you can now easily and affordably do it at home.
The “bags” come on a roll as a plastic sheet that you can cut into customized sizes or premade vacuum sealer bags can be purchased.
Once you have the amount of rice you want to be stored in the bags, the open end is placed into a vacuum sealing machine. The machine will clamp down, suck all the air out, and create an airtight seal at the end of the bag.
The great thing about vacuum sealer bags is that you can easily see what’s inside, write on the outside of them, and vacuum-sealed bags can be placed into the freezer. Once you vacuum seal rice, the bag should be placed in a cool, dry location, out of direct sunlight. This way your vacuum-sealed rice will last years.
Mylar Bags
Mylar bags are a great option for either bulk rice or for storing rice in smaller portions. A mylar bag is made from plastic with a thin coating of metal. This makes mylar bags excellent storage containers to store food in because they provide an oxygen and moisture barrier.
Once you have placed your rice inside, use a sealer or a flat iron to melt and seal the mylar bags.
These bags can also be placed in the freezer, which provides two benefits. One, like most foods, when you freeze rice it will last much longer. And two, some people are concerned with rice weevils which is a pest that shows up in rice. Freezing rice should eliminate that worry.
Mason Jars/Glass Jars
Mason jars or canning jars, are another great option that many people use for storing food in, including rice. If you don’t want to go through the canning or heating process, simply place the rice in the jar, add oxygen absorbers, and seal the lid.
If you don’t know what oxygen absorbers are I’ll hit on that briefly in the next section.
Oxygen Absorbers
The addition of oxygen absorbers may also help to prolong the shelf life. Oxygen absorbers are little packets that absorb the oxygen around them. Remember, air (oxygen) is an enemy of food preservation, so reducing the amount of oxygen around a food product, the longer it should last.
Oxygen absorbers have a limit on what they can absorb so they should only be added to containers that are airtight, like mylar bags or mason jars.
FAQs
How much rice should be stored?
A rule of thumb is to store roughly 100 pounds of rice per person per year. By storing this amount, it will allow a person to eat at least one serving of cooked rice every single day.
How long can rice be stored?
Rice sitting on the shelf under normal conditions can last up to one year.
White rice has the longest shelf life and sealed rice can remain good for decades when properly stored.
How can I tell if my rice has gone bad?
Because rice has a neutral smell, if a rancid odor or any other type of smell that turns your nose up is detected, the rice has probably gone bad.
Additionally, anything that visually does not look right about the rice is also a good indication that it has gone bad. This can include discoloration, spots on the grain, or any type of growth.
It is always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to putting anything into your body. If you have doubts about the safety of a food item, it is better to throw it away than to risk becoming ill.
Wrap Up
I usually suggest storing a mixture of products when it comes to food prepping. This is primarily because it gives a prepper more options when it comes time to eat and helps to prevent menu fatigue.
However, bulk white rice is going to be one of the best options around because of its low cost and more importantly, its long shelf life.
Ultimately, the best type of rice for prepping is going to be what best suits you, your tastes, your budget, and your storage capabilities.
Thanks for reading and stay prepared!