Because brown rice is less processed than white rice, it retains more of its nutrients and is therefore healthier. That is a significant advantage for the diet, but it presents a challenge for long-term storage. Due to its higher nutrient content, brown rice has a significantly shorter shelf life than white rice.
However, how long exactly does brown rice last? How you store the rice will determine the response to that question. Proper storage is essential for preserving the flavor and quality of this grain for the long term
This article is for you if you want to learn a little bit about rice storage, shelf life, and spoilage.
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Can Brown Rice Go Bad?
You’ll probably be surprised to learn that while the majority of rice varieties can be kept in storage indefinitely, uncooked brown rice only lasts six to eight months in the pantry. This is a result of the higher oil content in the bran (the outer shell), which has been removed from the white rice. The shelf life of uncooked brown rice can be slightly extended by storing it in the refrigerator to reach about a year, and it can be significantly extended by storing it in the freezer to reach about a year and a half.
Like most cooked foods, cooked brown rice has a much shorter shelf life; when kept in the fridge in an airtight container, it only keeps for about five days.
How Long Does Brown Rice Last?
Regarding how long their product will last, various brands of brown rice provide varying instructions. How long the rice will retain its quality depends on the date on the package. However, brown rice should last for five to six months. On the other hand, its white counterpart will live up to two years longer.
Naturally, brown rice doesn’t go bad right away after it has reached its shelf life. The rice’s quality won’t last as long after this date, but it can be used as a general guide. Brown rice should be safe to eat after the printed expiration date.
However, where the rice is stored will determine how long that period lasts. Brown rice keeps for roughly four months in the pantry, seven months in the fridge, and even up to a year in the refrigerator.
Once cooked, rice will keep for five to seven days and three to five months in the fridge.
How To Judge If Brown Rice Has Gone Bad
Despite the fact that improper storage is the main reason why rice spoils, there are other causes as well. Here are some quick ways to determine whether your brown rice has gone bad.
- 1. Changes in texture
Cooked brown rice that has been improperly stored for an extended period of time typically exhibits this. Depending on how rough the rice is, it may or may not be less malleable and will be dry and firm. The rice might also start to turn slimy as it begins to spoil. You should discard this rice.
- 2. Microbial Growth
Brown rice should be removed right away if it shows signs of mold or other microbial growth, whether it is cooked or undercooked. Cooked rice can develop mold if it is kept at room temperature or in the refrigerator for an extended period of time, but raw rice typically develops mold when it absorbs moisture from the air. Never consume any rice.
- 3. Insect activity
For uncooked brown rice, pantry bugs are nothing new, especially if the rice is handled carelessly. For instance, if the package is not sealed, it will be very simple for insects to wriggle inside.
It’s time to throw away the rice if you spot any insect activity, such as holes in the packaging, egg clusters in the rice, or bugs crawling into and out of the packaging.
- 4. Sour
The flavor of good brown rice won’t be overpowering. But when it stinks, it has a sour smell. Your rice is probably spoiled if it has a strong, unpleasant smell. You’ll probably get food poisoning if you ignore this warning and eat the rice. Moreover, the rice won’t be very good.
Risk Of Eating Expired Brown Rice
There’s a good chance you won’t become ill if you accidentally eat spoiled brown rice. If you develop this habit, though, rice may eventually have a negative impact on your health.
Food oxidizes, which causes rancidity, and when food oxidizes, it turns into an antioxidant. The fact that oxidants are not required by your body will be confirmed by any medical professional. Antioxidants are what you want in place of the former.
You are technically ingesting oxidants when you consistently consume rancid brown rice, which can cause the formation of free radicals. Additionally, you don’t want these in your body.
Free radicals prematurely age you, damage your body’s DNA, proteins, and cells, and increase your risk of developing a variety of chronic illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and inflammatory diseases. Since rancid brown rice tastes awful, however, it is unlikely that things will ever reach this point.
Throwing away contaminated brown rice is preferable to eating it and putting your health at risk.
Useful Tips For Storing Brown Rice
If you decide to keep your brown rice in the pantry, make sure to always keep it sealed to keep moisture and insects out. There is a rumor that keeping dried bay leaves and garlic cloves in a sealed container with uncooked rice will ward off insects. Another way to preserve the freshness of the brown rice is to keep it in an airtight container with an oxygen absorber (if you can find one!). This will lessen the possibility of spoilage and effectively suffocate any eggs, insects, or mold. However, using this technique won’t stop the oil in the rice bran from turning rancid.
Last but not least, placing uncooked brown rice in the freezer should extend its shelf life by up to two years. Additionally, this ought to stop mold and insects from growing. Due to the extremely low moisture content, the rice can be cooked as normal right out of the freezer without needing to be thawed. Brown rice that has been cooked can be kept for up to six months in a freezer in a tightly closed container. Heat with butter or a sauce to replace any lost moisture after thawing in the refrigerator overnight.
Can We Freeze Cooked Brown Rice?
Frozen-cooked brown rice will be the main topic of this section. Almost any food can be frozen, but some foods freeze more easily than others.
In terms of rice, it freezes effortlessly. Brown rice takes a while to prepare, so cooking a large quantity at once and freezing the majority of it for later use is a great way to save time. The process is also simple and does not call for any elaborate tools or steps. How to freeze cooked brown rice is provided here:
- Choose your preferred method for cooking the rice.
- To make flour-sized portions, divide the cereal. We split it as soon as possible because it cools down much more quickly when divided than when combined.
- Let the rice cool until it is roughly room temperature. The duration shouldn’t go past 30 minutes if the rice is spread out in multiple portions.
- Rice should be moved into a freezer bag. Labels with names and dates may be added if preferred.
- Place the bag in the fridge.
It’s okay to freeze rice with other foods in a meal prep container if you’re only going to freeze it for a week or two. Use freezer bags for long-term storage.
Frozen cooked brown rice can be kept for as long as you like, but over time, its quality may gradually deteriorate, just like any other kind of food. As a result, using this rice within six months is advised.
How to thaw and reheat brown rice is as follows:
- The rice should be warmed up in the microwave on low. Increase the cooking energy once the food has thawed. Pour some water in if it’s dry.
- The dish should be thawed on low heat in a nonstick pan, then heated over medium. To avoid burning, think about adding some water.
- Place it in the freezer. You can put the frozen rice in the soup and extend the cooking time by a few minutes if you do.
Summary
More quickly than white rice, brown rice spoils. Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do, like keeping the rice in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer, to increase its shelf life. Rice should be thrown away right away if there are any texture, smell, or microbial growth changes.
Read More: Can you eat raw wheat?