How long can I expect a 25 pound bag of rice to remain edible? What is the simplist way to increase the storage life of rice? I want to buy more rice but I hear the storage life is rather short. Please I would like to hear from someone with first hand experience.

-- Rob Carroll (flyingred@montana.com), December 10, 1999

Answers

I've kept rice, in the original 20# bag, stored for over a year...and it was still perfectly edible.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), December 10, 1999.

White rice in a nitrogen atmosphere/sealed plastic bucket will easily last five years. I've eaten it eight years out and it tasted fine. A caveat though: this is for white rice only, the oils in brown rice can go rancid in a year.

-- Choirboy (choirboy@hellzchoir.edu), December 10, 1999.

I have a 5#bag of Basmati rice that a friend brought 3 years ago. Has a poly bag and then a burlap zippered bag. She bought it 'cause the bag was cute. I use this rice on a regular basis. It's just fine and I would expect it to continue to be. It is just stored in a bottom cupboard--although house is 120 yrs old and not insulated so rice does get frozen regularly. I have rice my mother stored in glass jars (old instant coffee jars) close to 10 yrs ago and it seems just fine. I plan to use it as part of my preps! It too has been frozen a number of times. Perhaps like flour the freezing helps. Pam

-- Pam (jpjgood@penn.com), December 10, 1999.

If it's white rice you're talking about, all you really need do is keep it dry and protected from insects. Storage life is indefinite.

Brown rice is more problematic but even it can be stored for a long time.

I cover how to store virtually any grain, bean or dry food in the FAQ, if you're interested.

...........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@sprintmail.com), December 10, 1999.

Now thats what I call first rate service.

Thanks to you all.

-- Rob Carroll (flyingred@montana.com), December 10, 1999.

I have mine divided into gallon sized ziplock bags, double bagged. In the first bag I added a tablespoon of salt to kill bugs that may be too small as of yet for me to see.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 10, 1999.