What’s the Best Rice for Long-Time Storage?

Whether you’re already well-versed in the activity of prepping, or you simply harbor a growing interest, you likely already know the importance that stockpiling non-perishable foods plays in preparedness efforts. The reality is that there is a multitude of reasons why logical thinkers choose to prep in order to sustain themselves and their families in the future. While some certainly do put in the legwork in case of a future total societal collapse, other reasons for prepping could include if you live within an earthquake zone or in an area susceptible to major weather events, or even to be prepared in the wake of job and income loss. Whatever your personal reasons for prepping, you should definitely consider adding parboiled rice to your list of must-haves. Read on to learn all that you need to know about this easily stocked powerhouse food.

If you haven’t previously put a lot of thought into the idea of prepping and why people choose to participate in it, perhaps you’ve only looked at it from the standpoint of preparing for a significant doomsday-type scenario or event.

Rice for Long-Time Storage

While there are a plethora of foods that are wonderful choices for packing away, some of the first that typically come to mind for most people include canned meats, fruits and veggies, protein bars, dry cereal, and peanut butter. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t also consider rice, particularly the parboiled variety.

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Rice holds several attributes that make it an excellent choice for storing. One of the largest draws is that it can be stored for an incredibly long period of time: up to 30 years for some varieties. Not only is this starch readily available for purchase in bulk quantities, but it’s also relatively inexpensive. Storing this versatile meal staple can be quite simple with just a bit of know-how on the best methods. As you will want to take into account the quality of food you store away, rice becomes a great option. Thanks to its ability to provide crucial vitamins and minerals, making it an excellent source of energy.

4 Types of Rice for Home Storing

If I’ve convinced you that rice must be tucked away on your storage shelves, read up on the different types before running out to begin your rice prepping. It can be tempting to stockpile different kinds of rice in an attempt to keep things interesting. If the time comes that you must use it, that could prove to be a mistake.

While most varieties provide certain benefits and are well suited to different types of food and cooking, not all of them are created equal when it comes to long-term storage. Below we compare four of the main varieties of rice you’ll come across on store shelves.

1. White Rice

One of the most widely used types of rice, white rice is the inner grain that remains after processing.

• The milling process for white rice dictates that the hull, bran layers, and germ are all removed from the grain.
• Because most of the healthful nutrients are stored in these parts and layers, this does, unfortunately, mean that white varieties are less nutritionally dense than their brown counterparts.

• Where white rice lacks some of the nutritional value packed into some other types, it more than makes up for it with its ability to be stored for impressively long lengths of time.
• In fact, if you pack this rice away from water and keep it oxygen-free, it can be stored for up to 30 years.

2. Brown Rice

Often sought-after for its superior vitamin and mineral content compared to white varieties, brown rice is considered a whole-grain superfood.

• This choice is widely thought of as a healthier option due to the difference in the way it is processed. The only part that is removed from this rice is the outer fibrous hull, which is inedible anyway.
• The grains are left whole, with the rice retaining the germ and bran that is removed from white rice. Remember that these rice components store the majority of the nutrients in the rice. Therefore, consuming brown rice transfers these nutrients along to you when consumed.
• Because of the health benefits of eating brown rice, it can certainly seem tempting to store away this variety during your prepping.
• This is where there’s an obvious downside to brown rice: it’s only recommended for storage for up to six months.
• While some preppers have attested that they’ve managed to store their brown rice for up to a year, or longer, with no obvious consequence, it may not be worth the risk.
• Imagine the heartbreak if there comes a time when you need to dip into your reserves, only to find that your rice has become rancid and rendered unusable.

3. Instant Rice (Pre-Cooked Rice)

This type of rice has been precooked and then dehydrated. It means it takes quite a bit less time to prepare. Keeping this in mind, here is another variety that is tempting to stock up on when beginning your preparation efforts.

• Often sold in boxes at the grocery store, the biggest downside to instant rice is that most of them are labeled to have a shelf life of about a year.
• This one isn’t completely out of the running for a good prep option, however.
• As it is simply dehydrated cooked rice, it will likely keep for longer than the recommended one year. It would be best to not rely solely on instant rice, just in case.

4. Parboiled Rice

This brings us to the parboiled variety, the type that experts recommend you stock when you start prepping.

• This rice undergoes a special steam-pressure process before it is milled, essentially cooking the rice. This forces many of the nutrients into the endosperm of the rice or the part of the grain that we consume.
• This makes parboiled rice more nutritionally similar to brown rice, rather than white.
• Not only is it closer in nutrient levels to brown rice, but it has the amazing shelf life of white rice. It lasts up to 30 years when properly stored.
• Parboiled is truly the best of both worlds, making it a perfect food to fit a prepper’s needs.

Where to Stock Your Parboiled Rice Supply

Now that you’re probably convinced that prepping parboiled is the way to go, you’re probably wondering where you can acquire your own supply.

It’s possible that your local conventional grocery chain stocks this rice on its shelves. If you find that they don’t, many stores will accept requests for products to be ordered. Some retailers with brick-and-mortar stores as well as online ordering. This includes Walmart and Target, which carry it on their websites, if not in the store.

Warehouse stores, such as Costco and Sam’s Club, also oftentimes stock it in larger bags of about 12 pounds or more. If you are still unable to find it at a store near you, a search on Amazon will return you to several options that can be delivered straight to your door.

Storage Matters: The Key to Successful Prepping With Rice

While storing rice is an easy way to ease into prepping, success will require more than stacking your purchased bags of rice on a shelf for later use. Follow these tips and suggestions so you can get it right the first time.

Tools Needed for Proper Rice Storage

There are really only a few key items that you’ll need to get your parboiled rice properly prepped and stored:

• 5-gallon buckets with lids;
• 5-gallon Mylar bags;
• Oxygen absorber packets;
• Bag sealer (or iron will also work).

How to Store Your Parboiled Rice?

Once you’ve acquired the tools you need to store your rice, prepping it becomes a relatively simple process.

• Begin by washing and drying your buckets. Place a Mylar bag inside your clean bucket and drop one oxygen absorber packet into the bottom.
• Pour your rice into the Mylar bag. Shake it around every once in a while to make sure there are no empty pockets of space.
• Drop in a second oxygen absorber packet. Leave a small air gap of about one to two inches at the top. Use a sealer or an iron to seal the Mylar bag after pushing any remaining air out.
• Place the lid on the bucket before storing it in a cool and dry location, such as a closet or basement.

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Final Thoughts

Due to its combination of nutritional density and exceptional shelf life, parboiled rice is the foodstuff of a prepper’s dreams. Whether you’re new to the thoughtful preparations found in the prepping lifestyle or have already been fully immersed, you know that storing food is imperative. Parboiled rice will prove to be an excellent choice.

After purchasing your rice and supplies, you’ll find that it only takes a few minutes to provide peace of mind for your future. No matter the event or emergency that would cause you to dip into your rice reserve, you’re sure to appreciate the sustenance and energy that parboiled rice will provide to yourself and those close to you.

Last update on 2024-05-09 at 04:39 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API