How to Store Rice So It Stays Fresh For Years

When it comes to pantry staples, rice is the cream of the crop. It's a food we use almost daily and an essential part of so many meals. But how do we store rice long-term to keep it fresh—and what should we expect in terms of lifespan? We asked experts to share their best rice storage tips. Read on for everything you need to know about keeping this hardworking grain fresh.

How Long Rice Lasts if Stored Correctly 

Rice’s longevity is a matter of taste rather than a safety concern. “Like other natural grains, rice usually has a ‘Best Before’ date instead of an expiration date,” says Brita Lundberg, a fourth-generation farmer at Lundberg Family Farms. She explains that rice past its ‘Best Before’ date can still be cooked and consumed, but it may not be as delicious as it could be. Lundberg says one year is a conservative shelf-life estimate of how long rice is good for after its best buy date. Manning says studies have shown rice can last up to 30 years in ideal conditions—more on those below.

How to Store Rice to Make it Last

There are three things to keep in mind when storing rice: heat, light, and exposure to pests.

Where to store rice long term: Ideally, rice should be stored in a dark location that's below 55 degrees Fahrenheit and free of pests, like a refrigerator or freezer, says Lundberg.

How to store rice: Oxygen degrades rice over time, Manning explains. Therefore, finding an oxygen-free glass or heavy plastic container for long-term storage is imperative to the shelf life of your rice, she says. If you are planning to buy rice in bulk, use glass mason jars or other oxygen-free containers. Rice stored in glass jars will last longer than rice stored in plastic which is permeable to light and oxygen and will degrade of the quality of the rice kernel more quickly, she says.

Freezing Rice

If you don't have kitchen space for large jars of rice but do have freezer space, consider freezing rice. Storing rice in the freezer maintains its quality and nutritional value and can help extend its shelf life for a few months. "Freezing prevents the oils in the rice from going rancid, giving you more time to enjoy it,” Lundberg says, making it a particularly good choice for storing more perishable types of rice.

The Rice That Lasts Longest (And the Ones that Do Not Last as Well)

While brown rice is known for its nutritional value, white rice wins out when it comes to shelf life. “When rice is milled to white, the husk, germ, and bran are removed. When brown rice is milled, only the husk is removed,” Lundberg explains. This leaves the nutrient-rich germ and bran intact, which gives brown rice nutritional value as a whole grain that’s rich in B vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. It also means that brown rice can have a shorter shelf life than white because the oil in its bran and germ layers can lead to rancidity, she says.

"Brown and red rice varieties usually have a shorter shelf life of six months to three years, max," says Manning.

Should You Buy Rice in Bulk?

In a word, yes. "Bulk purchasing is great for reducing food costs, saving money, and providing consistency to your weekly meal planning routine," says Manning. "Rice is a food with high nutritional value that is common in most cuisines."

Lundberg is also a fan of bulk buying rice, so you can get the exact quantity you need, whether it’s a lot or a little,” she says. “But you know when you find something you love, and you just can’t get enough? We do, too. That’s why we also sell rice in 25-pound bags. When you buy rice in bulk, you've always got it on hand when you need it. Plus, it helps save on packaging." And it lasts a long time!