16 methods of rice storage

How to store rice can be summed up in two words: dry and cool. These two factors must be followed in order to protect rice. Rice is stored in two places: the house or the dry and cool warehouse. Keeping these places is done in several ways. In this Mojdeh-Food article, we discuss both the correct methods of storing rice and how to store rice at home and in the warehouse.

Why should we store rice?

The question that arises in storing rice is: Why do we store rice more than other grains?

Especially in our country, rice is one of the main foods on the household table. Some people use it every day in their meals. Others have rice in their meals at least three times a week. So this food item is an integral part of the table and is bought in large quantities due to its daily use. Below, we briefly mention the reasons for storing rice, so that we can go to how to store it more quickly.

Reasons for storing rice:

1. This food doubles or more in volume when cooked. So it takes less space during storage.
2. It is easy to cook and you can have a complete meal in less than 40 minutes.
3. If it is cooked without oil, it is free of cholesterol, sodium and fat.
4. It is a filling food.
5. It is considered a cheap food.
6. Does not contain allergens.
7. If rice is not stored properly, pests and weevils will attack.

Important points before buying rice

• Before buying rice, you should pay attention to an important point to make it easier to maintain.
  The rice you buy must be dry to make it easier to store rice. The drying time of rice is approximately 60 hours, and dryers are used for this purpose. With the ever-increasing demand for buying rice and its high consumption by households and restaurants, the drying time of rice has decreased. Producers need to respond to customers’ needs sooner, so the approximate drying time of rice has been reduced to 50 hours or even less.
• Buying rice that you can be sure is dry, especially in sealed packages, is not an easy task. So when buying, buy from reputable stores or from people who are reliable. Because if you prepare rice that is not completely dried, after a while it will get lice or worms.
• If you have a large amount of rice and you don’t have detailed information on how to store rice in the warehouse, stay with us. To store rice, you must first make sure that the rice is dry. For this, you can spread the rice in a place where direct sunlight does not shine, for example, in the shade and in the open air, until it dries completely. Sunlight should not be used to dry rice, see the reason below.

Is sunlight harmful for drying rice?

Sunlight causes rice grains to break. Because sunlight affects the starch in rice and causes the starch to react. Rice that has been exposed to direct sunlight will be crushed during cooking and will be so-called “shuffa”. So, to dry the rice or to get rid of rice weevils, do not put it in direct sunlight.

How to store rice in the warehouse

Try to keep rice bags more than 20 cm above the ground. By doing this, your rice will be safe from the bites of mice and vermin. Also, air will flow under the bags and prevent moisture from forming under the bags. You can use metal or wooden containers or shelves to create this distance.

Do not lean rice bags against the wall. A distance of a few centimeters, the size of a finger, from the wall and between the rice bags allows air flow to pass between the bags. Air dries the moisture created between the bags.

Do not store rice in a compressed form. Compressing rice makes it take up less space and uses less space in the warehouse. But this compression keeps the moisture inside the rice and provides the right conditions for rice pests and weevils. Try to keep part of the rice bag empty and do not put more than 30 to 40 kilos in one bag.

The best type of rice bag to store it

The type of bag is very important in how to store rice. Today, rice bags are mostly made of plastic. Storing rice in plastic bags is not recommended for two reasons:

• Plastic bags do not absorb moisture and keep rice moisture inside the bag. The presence of moisture causes pests and rice worms.
• Rice is also an odor absorber and after a while it will absorb its smell after being near something. Storing rice in plastic bags causes the rice to take on the aroma and flavor of the plastic and the bag after a while and lose its taste and smell.
• You have probably tried rice that smelled like a plastic bag.

Therefore, the best material for rice bags is cotton fabric. Cotton bags absorb moisture and prevent rice from getting infected. They also increase the shelf life of rice for one or two years. But the problem with cotton bags is that they may tear after some time. If you want to keep rice for a long time, try to use high-quality cotton bags.

Learn how to store rice at home and its two popular enemies

Sunlight and humidity are two enemies of rice. Direct sunlight on rice causes the synthesis of starch. And the more rice starch, the more sticky it is. Iranian rices have less starch than Japanese rices and are classified as rices with medium starch. If this rice is exposed to sunlight, its starch level will increase and as a result, it will be crushed during cooking and become sticky. This stickiness of rice is not suitable for the taste of Iranians.

Insects and almost all living things need water to survive. Moisture in the air and food can provide the water needed to feed some insects. If the rice is placed in a damp place or not completely dried, it will be a good place for fungi and insects to grow.

So reducing the moisture content of rice is an important factor in its storage. There are many traditional and industrial methods to reduce the moisture content of rice, some of which are mentioned below.

Traditional methods of storing rice to reduce its moisture

Use of garlic
Garlic in Iranian traditional medicine has a dry and hot character. Therefore, a few cloves of garlic in a rice bag or container is a way of preserving rice to prevent pests and weevils. However, due to the property of absorbing the smell of rice, after some time, the rice smells of garlic.

Use of pepper

Like garlic, pepper is hot and dry, so you can use a few peppercorns in rice bags. Unlike garlic, pepper does not change the smell of rice and you can easily use it in your rice bags and dishes.

Iron in a bag of rice

Iron oxidizes when exposed to oxygen and moisture, so it is a good absorbent for moisture. You can use a nail or a piece of rebar inside your rice bag to absorb the moisture of the rice and prevent the rice from getting infected.

The use of leaves or bark and wood of some plants in the way of preserving rice

Walnut leaves or skins are one of the cheap and good absorbents for moisture. Do not throw away the walnut skins, put them in rice bags to absorb the moisture of the rice. In the south of Iran, neem tree leaves are used to absorb moisture in rice. Ginger, turmeric, mint, cloves, etc., in general, plants that are hot and dry in traditional Iranian medicine are used to absorb moisture.

Use of salt

Salt is used to prevent weevils and rice worms and to eliminate rice pests. This material is one of the strong absorbents of moisture, which has been used as a natural food preservative since the past until today. Salt may not be able to completely destroy rice worms and weevils, but it prevents their growth to a great extent and prevents the reproduction of these pests.

Sulfur and match box in rice storage

Some people suggest sulfur to absorb moisture in rice. They believe that if you put a matchbox inside a bag or container of rice, you are bulletproofing your rice against weevils.

How to store rice at home using industrial methods

The possibility of rice spoilage is much higher in tropical and humid regions than in other regions. Residents of these areas use various methods to store rice, which we have mentioned above some traditional methods. But the existence of new facilities and methods has made work easier for the residents of hot and humid areas.

Use of refrigerator and freezer to store rice

Do you know a simpler and more convenient way to store rice than the refrigerator?
The sub-zero temperature of the freezer allows you to safely store your rice for years. But the problem with this method is not having enough space for a lot of rice in the freezer and refrigerator. If your refrigerator and freezer have enough free space, don’t go for other methods.

How to store rice in the upper and lower shelves of the cabinet

We all know without a doubt that warm air rises higher because it is lighter than cold air. Heat and moisture are friends who are everywhere to destroy rice. So, to store rice at home, use the lower shelves that are slightly above the ground level and do not go for cabinets and upper shelves.

Use opaque plastic containers

If you have a plastic container with a lid that closes well and prevents moisture and air from entering the rice, it is a good option for storing rice at home. Try to use opaque plastic containers so that light does not shine on the rice. But the problem with plastic containers, as we said before about plastic bags, is the smell of rice. After some time, rice loses its aroma and smells of plastic and the container in which it was placed.

Frosted glass containers are an excellent choice for storing rice

If you have a glass container with a lid that closes well, it is a good place to store rice. Try to use opaque glass containers to prevent direct light from hitting the rice. Or use tricks to make the rice storage glass containers opaque.

How to preserve rice by ironing cotton bags

If you want to put the rice in a cotton bag, iron it before putting the rice in the bag. Ironing the cotton bag will remove the contamination of the bag and if there is moisture in the bag, it will be removed. If you put the bag on the floor, it is better to use a book or a board under the bag.

Special electronic rice and grain holders

The use of special electronic storage containers for rice, in addition to increasing the storage time of rice up to twice and more,
With the graduations on the container, it shows the amount of rice left. These containers are made of several layers of plastic and metal, which prevent the penetration of moisture into the rice.

Keep rice for 25 to 30 years with oxygen and moisture absorbers

As we mentioned earlier, moisture is an important factor in rice spoilage. So if we can remove the moisture from the rice in any way, we can keep the rice in our house for years. These oxygen absorbers are in two types: “wet food oxygen absorber” and “dry food oxygen absorber”. Because rice is a dry food, be careful when buying an oxygen absorber.

The materials in the oxygen absorber are based on bisulfite and hydrazine, which are among the latest achievements of biotechnology. The use of these ingredients preserves the freshness and natural taste of food and increases the shelf life of the product without adding preservatives. By using these oxygen absorbers, you can store rice for 25 to 30 years.

In the end, you just need to remember one important principle in how to store rice:
Store in a dry and cool place.

If you also know special methods for preserving rice that you use, share it with “Mojdeh Distribution Industry”.