Rice is a great grain to store in your long term food storage (especially if you, like me, have a loved one who lived in Asia for 2 years :). You should have 300 pounds of grains per person in your family in your long term food storage and rice can make up some of that 300 pounds (READ your grains don’t need to consist entirely of wheat-they should consist of wheat, pasta, rice, and oats). So before I get into the delicious recipes I have for rice…after all my husband says there is nothing better than a belly full of rice…I wanted to go over some basics of rice.
Can I only store Long Grain white rice?
Well, the LDS cannery only sells long grain white rice, however, if you’re like me and have someone in your family who has lived in Asia they probably aren’t big fans of white rice. You can store the long grain, medium, or short (sticky) types of rice in your long term food storage. Stored properly these three types of white rice will last 25-30+ years. Brown rice should not be stored for long periods of time because it is considered an “oily grain” and will deteriorate or go rancid. (Click here for the brown rice source) For those of you concerned about not having brown rice for nutritional reasons, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that you can actually cook cracked wheat as a rice substitute (it cooks the same way 1-2-3, 1 C. cracked wheat + 2 C. boiling water = 3 C. cooked and get similar nutritional benefits.
How should I store my Rice?
Store rice in a tightly sealed container. Food safe plastics (PETE) containers, glass jars, #10 cans (commercial size) lined with a food-grade enamel lining and Mylar®-type bags work best for long-term storage. Use food-safe oxygen absorbers [Bj5] available from food storage supply stores to preserve rice quality, and protect from insect infestation. #10 cans will hold approximate 5.7 lbs (2.6 kgs) of rice. (Click here for source)
How long does Rice last once opened?
You should use your rice with in 2 years of opening the packaging. (Click here for source)
What are the benefits of cooking with Rice?
In the United States, vitamins and minerals: iron, niacin, thiamin, and folic acid are added to rice. Rice is high in starch and fiber. In addition, rice is low in sodium and a good source of protein. (Click here for source)
Making a complete meal with Rice
As stated above rice is a starch so to balance out your meal with rice, it’s always good to serve it with a protein. Also, since it counts for a starch you may want to steer clear of serving rice with additional starches at the dinner table like potatoes and rolls.
How do you cook long grain rice?
To make 3 C. of cooked rice you will begin by boiling 2 C. of water. When the water is boiling, add a dash of salt, a little butter (optional), and 1 C. of rice. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until water is gone. *Make sure to look over rice for any foreign bits BEFORE cooking.
**As a note about the magnets: Thank you to everyone who purchased a set. They have officially sold out. I sent a big batch out last week and will send the second half out this week. I’ll try and get some more printed but I don’t know when they’ll have that good deal again…I’ll keep you posted. Thanks!
Just thought I’d put my 2 cents in as to why brown rice is an oily grain. It’s because it’s a whole grain, white rice has the bran taken out, which is the part with the oil. Thanks for all you do. I can’t keep away if I wanted to, which of course I don’t.
Michelle
Just thought I’d put my 2 cents in as to why brown rice is an oily grain. It’s because it’s a whole grain, white rice has the bran taken out, which is the part with the oil. Thanks for all you do. I can’t keep away if I wanted to, which of course I don’t.
Michelle
Thanks Crystal!
We love brown rice in our household om a daily basis, but we have white rice for long term storage. I sure wish brown rice was able to be stored longer.
Wow! All 500 sets of magnets have been sold. Good for you! I’m looking forward to receiving mine.:)
Joyce
Thanks Crystal!
We love brown rice in our household om a daily basis, but we have white rice for long term storage. I sure wish brown rice was able to be stored longer.
Wow! All 500 sets of magnets have been sold. Good for you! I’m looking forward to receiving mine.:)
Joyce
Thanks Crystal!
We love brown rice in our household om a daily basis, but we have white rice for long term storage. I sure wish brown rice was able to be stored longer.
Wow! All 500 sets of magnets have been sold. Good for you! I’m looking forward to receiving mine.:)
Joyce
How funny this post is up today. As I made dinner last night with FS rice I was thinking I missed the post where you first mentioned the ‘There’s nothing better’ line. Now granted I don’t have food storage like all of you out west – but baby steps are still steps forward. For those of you that want to introduce brown rice to your family – either camoflage it in casseroles that call for white rice or mix half and half with cooked white rice. I found it can be a pain to cook up 2 batches of rice and then mix together – but I also have found that I’m more likely to reheat the rice with some veggies for my lunch and that takes care of the leftovers quickly.
I bring my rice home from the grocer or BJs put it in glass gallon jars and put it in the bottom of the freezer – next to the other grains for about a week – then I transfer enough for a week to the jar I keep on the counter for fast access – I freeze it to kill anything that might be in there…..
How funny this post is up today. As I made dinner last night with FS rice I was thinking I missed the post where you first mentioned the ‘There’s nothing better’ line. Now granted I don’t have food storage like all of you out west – but baby steps are still steps forward. For those of you that want to introduce brown rice to your family – either camoflage it in casseroles that call for white rice or mix half and half with cooked white rice. I found it can be a pain to cook up 2 batches of rice and then mix together – but I also have found that I’m more likely to reheat the rice with some veggies for my lunch and that takes care of the leftovers quickly.
I bring my rice home from the grocer or BJs put it in glass gallon jars and put it in the bottom of the freezer – next to the other grains for about a week – then I transfer enough for a week to the jar I keep on the counter for fast access – I freeze it to kill anything that might be in there…..
Crystal,
We LOVE rice in our family too!! I have stored my rice (for many years) in food-grade plastic buckets with bay leaves scattered throughout the bucket (a couple at the bottom, a couple at the 1/2-full mark, and a couple more on top before I put the lid on). I have NEVER had bugs or any other problems. As long as the bucket has a tight-fitting, gasket-ed lid, it works great!! Thanks for your continued encouragement, especially for those just getting started on their food storage!
Crystal,
We LOVE rice in our family too!! I have stored my rice (for many years) in food-grade plastic buckets with bay leaves scattered throughout the bucket (a couple at the bottom, a couple at the 1/2-full mark, and a couple more on top before I put the lid on). I have NEVER had bugs or any other problems. As long as the bucket has a tight-fitting, gasket-ed lid, it works great!! Thanks for your continued encouragement, especially for those just getting started on their food storage!
Rice is great for stretching a meal. My husband made up Taco Rice when he was in Japan and wanted to eat Mexican food but couldn’t get tortilla chips. Make taco meat by browning hamburger (we usually do 1/2 to 1 lb) and then adding taco seasoning. I also add a can of kidney beans. In each person’s bowl (cereal-sized), stack rice (he thinks sticky rice is best, but it works with long-grain rice, too), taco meat, cheese, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, etc. You can use all your favorite taco toppings.
Rice is great for stretching a meal. My husband made up Taco Rice when he was in Japan and wanted to eat Mexican food but couldn’t get tortilla chips. Make taco meat by browning hamburger (we usually do 1/2 to 1 lb) and then adding taco seasoning. I also add a can of kidney beans. In each person’s bowl (cereal-sized), stack rice (he thinks sticky rice is best, but it works with long-grain rice, too), taco meat, cheese, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, etc. You can use all your favorite taco toppings.
Hey Crystal,
Thanks for the magnets…I received mine over the weekend and look forward to putting them to use!
Hey Crystal,
Thanks for the magnets…I received mine over the weekend and look forward to putting them to use!
Hey Crystal,
Thanks for the magnets…I received mine over the weekend and look forward to putting them to use!
I.=’m so sad I just got 50lbs of whole wheat grain that I thought I will can
o well thank you crystal for let us know!!!!!
know what I’m going to do with all the rice????
ideas anyone????
I.=’m so sad I just got 50lbs of whole wheat grain that I thought I will can
o well thank you crystal for let us know!!!!!
know what I’m going to do with all the rice????
ideas anyone????
LOVE my magnets! Thanks! Now I can stop digging for my recipes or fighting for a turn on the computer to look up your site! You are AWESOME!
LOVE my magnets! Thanks! Now I can stop digging for my recipes or fighting for a turn on the computer to look up your site! You are AWESOME!
By adding extra water to brown rice you can cook in a rice cooker and it comes out absolutely beautiful. I also cook it half brown with half white in the rice cooker.
By adding extra water to brown rice you can cook in a rice cooker and it comes out absolutely beautiful. I also cook it half brown with half white in the rice cooker.
Do I need to freeze the bulk rice before I seal it in the mylar bags ?