Where and how do you store your rice?

[sygyzy]

I like rice and I have lots of it. Varieties I mean, not quantity. Usually just small bags that hold 2-3 cups. Anyway, rather than have random clipped bags strewn about my cupboard, I think it'd be cool to have some sort of clear plastic container that had multiple compartments to store the rice. It would be easy for me to distinguish among them so I can choose what I want to use for a particular meal.

I don't have much room in my apartment but I'd still like to hear some ideas.

Thanks.

[Chris Hennes]

I have a bunch of those small clear plastic containers with the lids that lock on (I have a strong tendency to drop things, and an exploded rice container is no fun to clean up after!). I either put stickers on them with the variety, or clip the label off the bag and put it in the container.

[annecros]

Mason jars, sharpie on the lid for a label. Do the same for barley. I live in high humidity, and they actually seem to stay drier in the Mason type jars - not to mention keeping the pests either out or contained. Stackable as well, and reusable. I have an aversion to plastic. Can't drink out of it, hate to store in it.

You can pick them up this time of year at places like "Big Lots" for next to nothing.

[shengcai]

I have a bunch of those small clear plastic containers with the lids that lock on (I have a strong tendency to drop things, and an exploded rice container is no fun to clean up after!). I either put stickers on them with the variety, or clip the label off the bag and put it in the container.

←

ditto, except it's a big clear plastic container that can hold 50 lbs of rice.

[sygyzy]

I have a bunch of those small clear plastic containers with the lids that lock on (I have a strong tendency to drop things, and an exploded rice container is no fun to clean up after!). I either put stickers on them with the variety, or clip the label off the bag and put it in the container.

←

ditto, except it's a big clear plastic container that can hold 50 lbs of rice.

←

So you have one type of rice and alot of it? I am not looking for large grain or flour storage solutions. I like some of the other ideas here and will check them out. Mason Jars might work. I don't have a Container Store or Big Lots in town so I'll have to wait til my next trip to LA.

[Marigene]

I keep mine in the freezer all together in the original wrapper in a large plastic container. Some rices went rancid faster than others when I kept them in the pantry, so now they all go in the freezer.

[Chris Hennes]

So you have one type of rice and alot of it? I am not looking for large grain or flour storage solutions. I like some of the other ideas here and will check them out. Mason Jars might work. I don't have a Container Store or Big Lots in town so I'll have to wait til my next trip to LA.

←

I didn't get mine anyplace special: even my local grocery store carries a small selection. I have both large and small varieties, both of which work equally well, and they all stack together neatly and are rectangular, maximizing storage space.

[Jon Savage]

I use big (4 / 8 / etc quart) plastic tubs with locking lids- food safe air tight, relatively cheap and readily available at Smart & Final and/or a restaurant supply stores.

[Linda Rose]

I use a clean and dry plastic milk jug with a screw top. Have to use a funnel to get it in, but it's easy to dispense and keeps bugs and moisture out.

[SuzySushi]

I use various sizes of plastic storage containers with tight-fitting snap-on lids. The smaller ones stack. I also can identify them by appearance, so I don't bother labeling them (but no one else can!).

[andiesenji]

Have you considered something Like This?

or this.

or this one.

I have a large rice dispenser that drops a cup each time the lever is pushed. I think it holds 25 pounds and I keep regular long grain rice in it. Other types in smaller amounts are stored in Cambro round containers and as mentioned in an earlier post, some are stored in the freezer along with other whole grains, farro, kamut, amaranth, wheat berries, etc., as they tend to turn rancid. On the other hand hulled millet seems to keep practically forever and I use a lot of that also.

I buy the Cambro translucent containers at Smart & Final. They are cheap, can go from freezer to microwave and last forever - at least I haven't been able to seriously harm one.

Get the translucent ones, which are flexible, not the clear. The lids on these fit tighter.

Edited March 6, 2008 by andiesenji (log)

[austramerica]

Rice are like flours. You have to store it in a tightly covered containers. Clear plastic containers will do, but sometimes small bugs can still get into it, that is why we have to wash the rice twice (at least in my culture...)

If you are going to store rice or flour in an ordinary the pantry (or outside the fridge) make sure you also have a open cupful of apple cider vinegar with a drop of dishwashing liquid in the same cabinet (or pantry) where you store your rice or flour. This is one way of keeping those flying bugs away from your pantry, away from your flour or rice. Make sure you also change that mixture once or twice a week.

Just my two cents.

[andiesenji]

I just store the rice with a few bay leaves (dried) in the container, same with other grains, flours, meals, etc.

For some reason, pantry moths and weevils don't seem to care for sweet laurel.........

[lindag]

I bought lot of brown rice to use in making my dogs' food.

is there a right way to store it?  It seems like it is similar to whole wheat and I'm afraid it will go rancid if I don't keep it under refrigeration.  

Is tha t necessary or am I over thinking it?

[Alex]

You're not over-thinking. Store it In the freezer, in an airtight container.

 

Sounds like your dogs are treated very well.

[Lisa Shock]

I know from experience that it can go rancid (takes about six months) but, you don't really know how long the store had it in stock. I vacuum seal then store in the freezer, mostly to make sure the size is as small as possible.

[lindag]

Thanks, all, I just put mine in the freezer! 

[donk79]

Recently our local Costco stopped carrying the short grain rice (Calrose) that we have been buying for years.  I ventured out to our local international foods store and found that most of the short grain rice there was close to it's expiration date.  This was the last push I needed to check out the Rice Factory in New York (via their website).  We read through the options, realized we had no idea what we wanted, and ordered 6 different 2lb bags of rice. 

 

They arrived today!  And then I saw that the Rice Factory recommends consuming the 100% milled rice we ordered within a month.  That's not going to happen!  Our 12 lbs of rice will more likely last 9 or 12 months.  So how do we best store good rice longer than we should?  Do we freeze it?  Is it better left sealed and unfrozen?  I appreciate your wisdom!

[ElsieD]

I too am interested in knowing this.

[liuzhou]

I don't recommend freezing rice for storage.

 

Freezing rice is used as a technique for speeding up making congee or rice gruel.

 

The freezing and thawing rice "cracks", altering texture and cooking times.

 

You won't have what you started with.

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by liuzhou (log)

[liuzhou]

I use these. Dustproof, insect proof, moisture proof.

 

 

Various sizes.

 

 

[ElsieD]

I have a lot of various prices such as riceberry, brown basmatic, rice blends such as brown and wild rice.  I wonder if vacuuming sealing would work, with perhaps one of those dessicated packages in them?  I don't have freezer or refrigerator space for storage.  I do have a chamber vacuum sealer that I can use.

Edited 52 minutes ago by ElsieD
Fixed a typo (log)

[liuzhou]

10 minutes ago, ElsieD said:

I have a lot of various prices such as riceberry, brown basmatic, rice blends such as brown and wild rice.  I wonder is vacuuming sealing would work, with perhaps one of those dessicated packages in them?  I

 

That's how premium red rice, black rice etc is packed in supermarkets here. Up to 500 gram bags.