White Rice is one of the best-dried staple foods you can store in long-term storage because it is highly nutritious, versatile, and lasts 30 years or more if packaged correctly. White rice is the backbone of my long-term emergency stores. Keeping rice long-term is simple, but it does need to be repackaged from store-bought packaging for maximum shelf-life.
Long-term storage of rice
Store rice in long-term storage by re-packaging it into containers that protect rice from oxygen, moisture, heat, light, and bugs such as plastic buckets, Mylar bags, polypropylene, and vacuum pack bags. Keep bags protected from rodents by storing them inside plastic buckets or bins.
Short-term storage of rice
Store rice in airtight containers for short-term storage and keep the containers in a cool, dry location. It will keep for 1 to 2 years stored this way.
How to store rice to prevent bugs
Store rice in an oxygen-free container, like a Mylar bag with oxygen absorbers and you do not need to freeze the rice before packaging it. An oxygen-free container will kill bugs, eggs, and pupae within 2 weeks.
Check out the Ready Squirrel article, “Should You Freeze Rice Before Long-term Storage”
Warning: Before repackaging, the rice should contain 10% moisture or less. Dry foods packaged in an Oxygen-free environment with a moisture content above 10% puts the food at risk for anaerobic bacteria, namely botulism.
Repackaging Rice For Preservation: Tools and Equipment
When re-packaging your white rice things will go a lot smoother if you stage your gear before you start pouring rice. Following is the list of tools I use to repackage white rice and other dried goods like hard grains and dried beans. Hopefully, this will help you get set up for a painless session of storing rice.
- 18″x28″ Mylar bag(s) (this is the size I use) or 20″x30.”
- 5-gallon food-grade bucket with a cheap lid (when using Mylar, you don’t need a lid with a seal)
- 1-gallon Mylar bags for over-flow
- Standard Clothes Iron to heat-seal the Mylar bag
- Permanent Marker to mark the package with the packing date and food type
- 2000cc Oxygen Absorber(s) for a 5-gallon bucket lined with an 18×28″ Mylar Bag
- 300cc/500cc Oxygen Absorber(s) for 1-gallon overflow bag (s) for extra rice that won’t fit in your bucket
- Wood board is used to place the top of the bag over when you seal it with the iron
- Scissors to cut open the rice bag, scissors make a clean cut, so it’s easier to pour the rice out of the bag.
Oxygen Absorbers Needed To Preserve Rice
I typically use a 500cc oxygen absorber for 1 gallon of white rice. Some of the lists show 300cc, but I like using a little extra to account for how long the absorber is exposed to the air as I package the rice. Following is a
Chart #1 How many oxygen absorbers do I need (Rice)
| Container Size | CC Oxygen Absorber(s) For White Rice |
| 1 Quart (1/4 gallon) Mylar Bag | 100cc |
| 1/2 Gallon | 200cc |
| 1 Gallon | 500cc |
| 1.5 Gallon | 1000cc |
| 2 Gallon | 1000cc |
| 5 Gallon | 2000cc |
| 6 Gallon | 2000cc |
Check out Ready Squirrel’s most popular article on rice as survival food, “Best Way to Store Rice Long-term”
Mylar Bag Thickness For Rice Storage
My go-to Mylar bags are 5 mils. They keep light out, and they are tough enough when stored in a plastic food pail or a lidded plastic bin. Mylar thickness over 5 mils is more challenging to seal, and bags that are less than 5 mils are easily damaged and may let light into the package leading to light oxidation of the rice.
Rice Storage Tip: When storing rice in smaller Mylar bags, you still want to protect them, so place them inside a lidded bucket or in a lidded plastic bin to protect rice from bugs, rodents, and physical damage.
Cost To Feed One Person For a Year: Apocalypse Food
Food-grade Pails and Plastic Buckets
You can use non-food-grade buckets to store rice as long as they are lined with a Mylar bag. You don’t want your rice to come directly in contact with non-food-grade plastic because the chemicals and dies used to manufacture them are toxic.
Chart #2 How many pounds of rice are in a container?
Each size of Mylar bag or bucket will hold a specific amount of rice by weight and volume.
| Container Size | Rice (Pounds) |
| Quart | 1.6 |
| 1/2-gallon | 3.2 |
| #10 Can | 5.5 |
| 2-gallon | 12 |
| 5-gallon | 35 to 36 |
| 6-gallon | 44 to 45 |
White Rice to store Per Person
According to Utah State University, you should store 25lb to 60lb of white rice per person for a year’s supply. Rice is one of the many grains they suggest storing to make up the 400lb grain storage suggested per person for a one-year supply.
Type(s) of Rice To Store For Long-Term Storage
If you are prepping to preserve rice for long-term storage, focus on the various varieties of white rice like long-grain, Jasmine, Basmati, Arborio, or instant rice. Brown, black and purple rice contain natural oils that cause them to go rancid within 18 months regardless of how they are packaged.
Following is a chart with the maximum shelf life of various rice types of rice.
Chart #3 Long-Term Shelf Life Of Rice Varieties
| Varieties of White Rice | Rice Shelf Life in Storage Packaging | Rice Shelf Life Repackaged Into Oxygen-Free Container(s) | Shelf Life In The Freezer |
| Long-grain | 5 years | 30+ years | 30+Years |
| Jasmine | 5 Years | 30+ years | 30+ Years |
| Basmati | 5 Years | 30+ years | 30+ Years |
| Arborio | 5 Years | 30+ years | 30+ Years |
| Minute Rice | 5 years | 30+years | 30+ years |
| Other Types of Rice | – | – | – |
| Brown | 3-6 months | 18 months | 12-18 months |
| Black/Purple | 3-6 months | 18 months | 12-18 months |
Ideal Storage Environment for Rice
When preserving rice for maximum shelf-life, pay attention to storage temperature, humidity, Oxygen-free storage containers, rice moisture content before packaging, and protection from heat and light.
Storage Temperature
The ideal storage temperature for rice can be tough to achieve, so do the best you can. One thing is for sure you want to avoid storing long-term foods, including rice, in areas that aren’t environmentally controlled. Store rice or other dried foods in a hot garage, and you’ll shave off decades of shelf life.
The ideal temperature for the long-term storage of white rice is 75° Fahrenheit or less but above freezing.
Storage Humidity for White Rice
The humidity or amount of moisture in the air in your long-term storage pantry should be as low as possible. Moisture destroys food and packaging. Moisture is the #1 spoiler of grains like white rice, causing bacterial and mold growth.
The ideal humidity for the preservation of rice in long-term storage is 15% or less. If you live in a high-humidity area, consider using a dehumidifier in your food storage pantry.
Rice and other dried foods soak up moisture in the air like a sponge. This isn’t as much of an issue if you are storing rice in Mylar and sealing it as long as it is 10% moisture or less before re-packaging.
If rice sits in a high-humidity environment it will mold, mildew, and acquire off odors and flavors.
Moisture Content
Rice and other dried foods like wheat, beans, and other grains should be 10% or less in moisture before re-packaging for long-term oxygen-free preservation.
When storing grains with moisture higher than 10% in an Oxygen-free container, you’ve created the prime environment for anaerobic bacteria like botulism to form. It’s a rare type of food poisoning, but it’s deadly.
Protection From Heat & Light
Light oxidizes rice, so avoid clear containers unless you plan on covering them or storing them in a dark cupboard or pantry. Also, avoid storing rice near heat sources like a stovetop, wood stove, or any appliance that gives off heat.
6 Containers For Rice Storage (Oxygen-free)
Here are 6 storage containers you can use to preserve rice in long-term storage. Some are better than others, but I wanted you to see the most common options so you can choose the container that fits your situation or budget.
Storage Tip: To Preserve Rice and dried grains for long-term storage, use oxygen absorbers in all of these containers to create an oxygen-free environment.
#1 Ball Jars
Glass jars provide an excellent oxygen barrier but they break easily and they don’t protect rice from light oxidation.
#2 Soda Bottles (PETE Plastic)
If you are on a budget sterilized soda bottles are an option. Some preppers swear by soda bottles but I’ve never used them.
If you re-use soda bottles to repackage rice, make sure you sterilize the bottle and the cap before packaging. And make sure they are super dry before packaging food in them. iI you put rice in wet bottles, the rice with head south in a hurry.
The reason I’m not too fond of soda bottles for rice storage: the bottle plastic isn’t that tough, it’s not a true oxygen barrier, and soda bottles don’t protect rice from light. If you decide to re-use bottles like this, avoid anything that stored dairy products.
Scott Ready Squirrel
#3 Buckets (food-grade)
Buckets don’t provide an oxygen barrier so it’s best if you package food in buckets lined with sealed Mylar bags. Food-grade buckets are excellent for storing foods that don’t oxidize like sugar and salt.
#4 #10 Cans
#10 cans are the best storage container for rice and other dried grains. The cans are tough and protect dried foods from light and oxygen and they keep an excellent seal compared to bucket lids.
If you use cans as a storage container keep your pantry area dry because a high moisture environment will rust the cans.
If you don’t have the equipment to dry can staple foods you can buy them professionally packaged.
Another minor issue is the cans may impart a tinny flavor to the rice stored in them. This has mostly been remedied because modern cans have a food-safe lining of acrylic or R enamel which creates a barrier between the metal and food.
#5 Mylar Bags
Mylar bags are hands down the best “do it yourself option” for repackaging rice for long-term storage. Most of us can do it relatively inexpensively. Mylar is excellent because it keeps oxygen and moisture out and protects rice from light oxidation.
The downside of Mylar bags is they are somewhat weak and easily damaged when compared to food-grade buckets.
Mylar is also extremely susceptible to damage from rodents.
This is the perfect trifecta for rice and dry grain storage.
The mylar bag is the best DIY oxygen barrier. The bucket and lid are excellent armor for the Mylar, and the Oxygen absorber removes oxygen leaving just nitrogen in the bag.
Choosing Rice For Preservation
- Pick only White Rice For Long-term storage, avoid brown or colored rice because its natural oils greatly reduce shelf-life
- Uncooked Fresh rice does not have a strong scent.
- Avoid rice with bugs, crushed rice grains, or discolored grains
- Avoid powdery rice, or if rice grains are crushed or broken, this may be a sign of insect infestation
- Rice should be hard to the touch. Soft rice has been exposed to moisture. Avoid it
- Avoid rice that smells musky or moldy
- If you see or smell anything that doesn’t seem “right,” avoid the rice.
Thanks for stopping by Ready Squirrel. If you have any questions please leave them in the comments.
Keep on prepping!
Best Regards, Scott
