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How To Store Rice Long Term for a 20+ Year Shelf Life

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When it comes to food that can last you decades, rice is a must have.

It’s cheap, versatile, and can be stored for 20+ years if you do it right.

But there’s a trick to making sure that big bag of rice doesn’t turn into a bug-infested science experiment a few years down the road.

So, if you’re thinking long-term and want to have a stash of rice that’ll still be edible for your grandkids, we have you covered.

Let’s talk rice storage, the easy way.

Why Rice is Perfect for Long-Term Storage

Rice isn’t just a go-to dinner side dish; it’s one of the best foods you can store for the long haul.

Here’s why:

  • Shelf-Stable: White rice can last over 20 years when stored properly, thanks to its low oil content.
  • Calorie-Dense: A cup of uncooked rice gives you around 700 calories, so it’s a great way to pack a lot of energy into a small space.
  • Super Versatile: You can turn it into stir-fries, casseroles, or just have it plain if you’re in a pinch.

And the bonus?

Rice is one of the least expensive foods you can stock up on, making it ideal for prepping without breaking the bank.

The Simple Science of Storing Rice Long-Term

Before you just toss a bag of rice into your closet and call it good, let’s talk science.

Don’t worry, nothing too complicated.

The main enemies of your rice stash are oxygen, moisture, heat, and pests. If you control those, your rice will be good for decades.

So, here’s what you need to know:

What Kind of Rice Should You Store?

White rice packaged for long term storage

Not all rice is created equal when it comes to storage. The best types for long-term storage are:

  • White rice (regular long grain, jasmine, or basmati): This is your go-to for long storage because it has a low oil content.
  • Brown rice: It’s much healthier than white rice but has higher oil content, which means it’ll go rancid much faster. Brown rice does not store very well long term so it will need to be stored in a refrigerator or freezer after about 6 months for longer term storage.

How Much Rice Should You Store?

When planning your rice storage, it’s helpful to start with a baseline estimate of how much to store.

For one person, a 2-week supply of rice is approximately 3 lbs.

These numbers are based on recommendations from the CDC and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Home Production and Storage manual.

This estimate provides a foundational guideline, but it’s important to adjust it based on your household’s specific needs and preferences.

To calculate the amount of rice your family needs for different periods (2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, or a year), use our grain storage calculator below.

You can input the number of children and adults in your household and select “rice” from the grain type dropdown.

This tool will help you tailor the recommended quantities to ensure you have the right amount of rice for your family.

-- lbs of Wheat for -- people over -- Months.

You can use our other food storage calculators here to calculate your families requirement of everything from canned meat to fats and oils.

Ideal Storage Conditions

For your rice to last, it needs to be in an environment that’s:

  • Cool (40-70°F is ideal)
  • Dry (less than 70% humidity)
  • Oxygen-Free (air is rice’s enemy)
  • Dark (light can speed up spoilage)

Prepping Your Rice for Long-Term Storage: What You’ll Need

To properly store rice for the long haul, you’ll need a few key supplies. Don’t worry, these items are easy to find online or at your local hardware store.

  • Mylar Bags: These are heavy-duty, food-grade bags that block out light and moisture. Look for 5 mil or thicker bags. I personally do a lot of freeze drying and have purchased Mylar bags from Amazon and Harvest Right and have found Harvest Right Mylar bags to be much thicker and better quality.
  • Food-Grade Buckets: You’ll need a sturdy container to store your Mylar bags in, these buckets help protect the rice from pests and damage.
  • Oxygen Absorbers: These little packets will suck the oxygen out of the sealed bag, which helps keep the rice fresh and kills any resident pests.
  • Heat Sealer or Iron: You’ll need something to seal the Mylar bags shut after packing them.
  • Labels: Trust me, in a few years you’ll be glad you labeled everything, especially when you’re figuring out what to rotate next.

If you want to avoid purchasing the above equipment and taking the necessary steps to package your rice for long-term storage, a convenient option is purchasing bulk rice that is already packaged to last 30 years (when left unopened) – like this one.

How to Store Rice in Mylar Bags – Step-by-Step Instructions

Now, let’s get into the actual process of storing rice for the next 20+ years. It’s pretty simple, but attention to detail is key:

  1. Prep Your Area: Start with a clean, dry surface. You don’t want any moisture sneaking into the process.
  2. Measure and Pack: Scoop the dry rice into your large Mylar bags. Depending on the size of your bucket, you’ll probably want to fill each bag with 5-10 pounds of rice.
Scoop rice into Mylar bags
Filling Mylar bags with white rice.
  1. Oxygen Absorbers In: Right before sealing the bags, toss in an oxygen absorber. For every gallon of Mylar bag space, you’ll need 1 x 700cc oxygen absorbers.
Add oxygen absorber to Mylar bag of rice
Adding an oxygen absorber to Mylar bag of white rice.
  1. Seal It Up: Use a heat sealer to seal the Mylar bags. You want it airtight and try to remove as much air as possible before sealing. Make sure there’s no wrinkle where you’re sealing, or oxygen might get through. I personally double seal all my Mylar bags.
Heat seal Mylar bags of rice
Sealing the Mylar bags with a heat sealer.
  1. Bucket Time: Place your sealed Mylar bags into the food-grade bucket. This extra layer helps protect the rice from rodents, bugs, and general wear and tear.
  2. Label: Don’t skip this step! Write down the type of rice and the date you packed it. Bonus points if you add the number of oxygen absorbers you used.
Place rice filled Mylar bags in a food grade bucket
Putting rice filled Mylar bags into a food grade bucket.

Other Methods of Storing Rice

Mylar bags are the gold standard, but they’re not the only option. Here are a couple of other ways you can store rice long-term:

Vacuum Sealing

Vacuum sealing is another solid option, especially for smaller quantities. You’ll still want to use oxygen absorbers if you plan to store the rice for more than a year or two. The smaller the bag, the smaller the oxygen absorber required.

To vacuum seal rice for long-term storage, follow the same steps as explained above for Mylar bags – just make sure to use a vacuum sealer to seal the bags instead of a heat sealer!

The downside to this method is that vacuum-sealed bags aren’t as durable as Mylar, so they’re more susceptible to tears and also are not protected from light, like Mylar bags are.

But, storing the vacuum sealed bags of rice in a bucket with reduce much of this risk.

Vacuum sealing white rice for long term storage
Vacuum sealing white rice for long term storage.

Dry Canning

This method involves putting rice into mason jars, adding oxygen absorbers, and sealing the jars. It works best for small batches or if you’re running low on storage space.

While mason jars are airtight, they’re more fragile, heavier, and require more space.

Common Rice Storage Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Here’s where people tend to mess up when storing rice long-term, so let’s help you avoid these pitfalls:

  • Not Using Oxygen Absorbers: Oxygen is the main culprit in spoiling food over time. No absorbers or too small an oxygen absorber for the container? Expect bugs and spoilage.
  • Storing Rice in Warm Areas: Heat speeds up spoilage. Don’t store rice in your garage if it gets too hot.
  • Skipping the Bucket: Mylar bags can get punctured by accident or by rodents. A bucket helps protect them from being damaged.

Monitoring and Rotating Your Rice Stash

Once you’ve packed up your rice, it’s not entirely “set it and forget it.” You’ll want to check in occasionally to make sure everything’s still intact.

  • Check for Moisture or Pests: Every six months or so, give your buckets a quick inspection. If the Mylar bags look bloated, you might have a moisture problem.
  • Rotate Your Stock: FIFO (First In, First Out) is your new mantra. When you add new rice to your stash, use the oldest stuff first. It’s easy to forget what’s where, which is why those labels are so important.

Long-Term Rice, Done Right

Storing rice for 20+ years is totally doable with a little effort up front. Once you’ve got the system sorted, say goodbye to oxygen, moisture, and pests, and you’ll have a reliable food source that’ll last you decades.

Whether you’re prepping for emergencies or just stocking up for future peace of mind, rice is an affordable, easy-to-store food that deserves a spot in your pantry.

How to Store Rice Long Term - Emergency Preparedness Food
Simon Cuthbert

Simon Cuthbert

I am a passionate gardener and outdoor enthusiast who has been working on building food security through gardening since 2017. My 6 acre homestead encompasses well over 100 different fruit and nut trees. I also keep an extensive vegetable garden that keeps the freeze dryer and dehydrator running almost constantly. When not in the garden or the kitchen preserving the harvest, you will find me hanging out with my German Shepherd.