** Polished white rice, when sealed in an oxygen-free container at 40°F or below, can be stored for up to 30 years. Of course, all food lasts for a shorter period of time if it is not stored properly. But remember that brown and white rice, like a lot of other grains, usually have a best by date and not an expiration date. Because of this, you can safely use it beyond the best by date.

How to tell if Rice is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Since rice has an indefinite shelf life if kept dry, it is hard to tell if it has gone bad. One thing to watch for is the presence of the rice weevil, a tiny reddish-brown bug. If you see these moving in your product, you should discard the entire container and disinfect the container and the surrounding shelves.

Expired brown rice, on the other hand, is easier to spot. Brown rice may become oily and give off a rancid odor because of its essential fatty acids that go bad as they oxidize.

Cooked rice that has gone bad will show a loss of texture as it hardens and then can grow mold.

If your rice has gone bad and you need a quick substitute check our page on rice substitutes.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Rice to extend its shelf life?

The best way to store it is in an airtight container in the pantry or another cool dark place with a constant temperature. Once prepared, it should be refrigerated in an airtight container to keep out moisture and other contaminants. Do not allow cooked food to sit out at room temperature for an extended period, two hours is maximum for proper food safety.

For a long term option, you can freeze your dry rice while preserving its taste if you use an oxygen-free (oxygen is the source of freezer burn) freezer safe container. Cooked rice may also be frozen, but it is not recommended since it will most likely become mushy when re-heated.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Rice:

• Brown rice is a whole natural grain with only the hull removed, thus the fats between the remaining layers cause it to spoil more easily than white, which has been milled and stripped of all its layers and nutrients. Enriched rice has some of the nutrients chemically returned, but brown rice naturally retains almost all of the nutrients. Brown rice is also chewier and nuttier in flavor because of these natural layers.
• Due to its low moisture content, white rice can keep almost indefinitely. This extended shelf life is a huge benefit in underdeveloped countries.

How long is Rice good for when prepared in a dish?

It depends. In general, any food will only last as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.