How To Store Rice To Prevent Bugs With Oxygen Absorbers Long-Term?

When it comes to preserving, storing, and packaging grains, cereals, and seeds, it is important to make sure that they are cared for and kept in a dry, moisture-free, and heat-free environment. To ensure that the grains, such as rice, stay at their best quality and efficiency.

So, to understand how to store rice to prevent bugs and other damaging conditions, you need to make sure of a few things like storing them at optimum environmental conditions, and keeping them away from moisture, heat, and excess oxygen, as these factors may cause deterioration in the quality of rice when packaged, stored or transported for longer periods of time.

Since rice is a staple food for many parts of the country and the world, it is considered an affordable and versatile food item in numerous varied cuisines. However, maintaining its long shelf life can be difficult. If not stored properly, rice grains may get infested by bugs, spoil due to changing environmental conditions, and lose taste and nutrients during long-term storage due to excess moisture and oxygen levels.

Factors That Can Affect Rice Storage in the Long Term

The main factors that affect the quality, long life, and durability of rice storage are moisture, temperature, oxygen, and storage time. The higher the moisture content, the higher the risk of mould or spoilage. That’s why it’s important to keep your rice cool, dry, and stored in airtight containers with low humidity, moisture, oxygen, temperature, and light settings.

- Excess or changes in moisture and humidity levels are some of the biggest damaging, unfavourable, and detrimental factors when storing rice, as the presence of excess moisture encourages the growth of mould and mildew, and creates a breeding ground for bugs and insects. To prevent these problems, it’s important to maintain a low humidity in your storage space for rice.

- If you are storing rice grains in weather conditions with fluctuating temperatures, it is highly likely that they will be damaged and spoil quickly. High temperatures can cause the rice to age faster, while low temperatures can cause moisture to condense. For long-term storage, a cool, stable temperature is usually the best option.

- The containers you choose to store rice in also make a big difference in preserving the quality and freshness of the rice grains for long-term storage. Airtight containers prevent insects from entering and absorbing moisture. Use containers made from food-grade materials, such as mylar bags, metal cans, or glass jars, to store rice properly for longer periods.

- Using oxygen absorbers along with airtight packaging can also help preserve the quality and freshness of these grains during long durations of packaging, storage, and transportation. Since oxygen is essential for the survival of most insects, bugs, and microorganisms that degrade rice, using Oxygen absorbers can effectively remove oxygen from the storage environment, significantly extending the shelf life of rice and rice products.

Different rice varieties have varying levels of resistance to bugs, pests, and spoilage conditions. Longer rice grain types like Basmati rice or Jasmine rice varieties generally can withstand and be preserved during long-term storage. When compared to the short-grain rice varieties, they have a lower moisture content and are less prone to spoilage.

Rice is not just a favourite food, but also a staple food in many countries, and that's why you will find it in almost every household.  When we say that rice is common in every household, finding tiny black and brown bugs would be more common, an event everyone must have encountered once in their life. The more common this issue is, the less known its preventive measures are to many, so let's have a look at some effective measures to prevent bugs in rice storage.

Rice weevils or other bugs could exist in the rice bags despite a proper sealing process, because even a few weevils can lay eggs and multiply in numbers. You should freeze the rice at 0°C or below for 3–4 days; this will kill any bugs present in the rice and will also prevent them from hatching. After the freezing period is over, it's time to store the rice properly, in an airtight container to prevent infestation.

For effective storage of rice after freezing, you can use metal, food-grade plastic, or glass containers. For storage longer than six months, you can use Mylar bags.

The most cost-effective way to prevent bugs in rice storage is to expose it to direct sunlight. You must have heard about drying clothes in sunlight for brighter and whiter clothes, as well as natural sanitization, which works the same for rice.

All you have to do is spread a clean cloth on the floor of your balcony, or any spot that is touched by direct sunlight, spread the rice on it and let it be for few days (3-5 days) the UV rays are so powerful that it can damage present insects and their larvae, also removes the moisture which in the first place helps to grow the insects.

3. Using Oxygen Absorbers to Store Rice to Prevent Bugs

OxySorb oxygen absorbers are used to store rice in the long term. They can be an effective solution to preventing the occurrence of bugs, mould, pests, and spoilage due to other environmental changes. Oxygen absorbers can absorb excess oxygen and moisture from the surrounding air and environment, making an optimum environment needed for rice to stay potent, and retain its flavour, texture, structure, and freshness for longer periods than it is stored.

Usually, rice is stored for more than a year before usage, and thus, it is important to make sure that it is edible and safe for use even after such a long period. This is possible by using oxygen absorbers while storing and transporting rice grains in large quantities.

When storing rice in large quantities, you should choose the right container for storage, such as food-safe and food-grade plastics, glass jars, cans, or Mylar bags, to store them in a cool, dry place efficiently. These containers should be tightly sealed to prevent oxygen from entering after the absorbers are placed so that they can work effectively in preserving optimum conditions inside the packaging.

You also need to use the right amount of oxygen absorber when packaging rice. The amount of oxygen absorbers to use depends on the size and number of containers you are using to store the rice grains, and you can follow the recommended usage guidelines based on the size and number of containers given by the manufacturer.

You also need to know how to use and choose the amount of Oxysorb needed to store rice to prevent bugs, according to the variety of rice that you are storing, like long-grain or short-grain varieties. When rice is essentially dry and has a very low moisture content, it can be effectively stored for longer durations, as compared to newly cleaned and husked rice grains.

Avoid storing rice in places where the packaging is in direct contact with sunlight, water, vapour, and moisture/humidity. You can label the storage containers with the date of storage, the type or variety of rice you are storing, and the quantity, as this can help provide you with information during usage.

You need to perform regular checks, keep access, and use your stored rice to ensure it's fresh, and make sure to use it within the year. You also need to check to see if the oxysorb are working properly and are efficient in absorbing excess oxygen and moisture from the storage space for the rice.

You need to check the stored rice periodically for any signs of spoilage, bug infestation, changes in texture, or unusual odours.

Natural repellents like bay leaves, cloves, and neem leaves deter common pantry pests such as weevils, beetles, and moths. For each gallon of rice, add 2–3 dried bay leaves, 4–5 whole cloves, and 2–3 dried neem leaves, distributing them evenly at the bottom, middle, and top of the container. Bay leaves and cloves release strong aromas that repel insects, while neem leaves contain azadirachtin, a natural compound with insect-repellent properties. Ensure all repellents are clean, dry, and food-safe to avoid contaminating the rice.

For larger containers, scale up proportionally (e.g., 5–6 bay leaves, 8–10 cloves, and 4–5 neem leaves for a 5-gallon bucket). Place neem leaves in a breathable sachet if you prefer to keep them separate from the rice.

Best Food Storage Methods To Prevent Bugs

Proper storage of food is very crucial; only in this way can you preserve the quality, safety, and nutritional value of food for a longer period. Usually, people use Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers and vacuum sealing to store food and other goods that can be damaged due to moisture.

Let's have a look at the two most popular methods to prevent bugs in rice storage -

What's so special about Mylar bags that ordinary bags could not provide? Firstly, they are made up of polyester film, which is widely known for its durability and strength, giving strong protection against light and air.  The next step is using oxygen absorbers, which are small packets filled with iron powder and other absorbing materials. The oxygen absorbers react with oxygen and reduce the oxygen level to less than 0.01%.

All you need to do is store rice in the mylar bag, and before sealing, fill it with oxygen absorbers (as per requirement)

By doing this, you will extend the shelf life of your rice by protecting it from external environmental factors, such as moisture, light, and air, which are the major causes of bugs and other reasons for food degradation.

This is a cost-effective method for mostly dry food such as rice; however, they don't work with food that contains a high amount of moisture, such as meat, cheese, or wet fruits.

As the name suggests, vacuum sealing is removing air from a plastic bag or a container using a vacuum sealer machine and sealing it asap to keep the environment airtight. This method is versatile for short-term/long-term storage.

Start by buying a bag that will be suitable for the amount of rice you plan to store, then place the food in the designed bag or container, remove all the air by pressing the bag gently, and then use a vacuum sealer to seal the bag. And you are good to go!

Using oxygen absorbers for food preservation, white rice can last 25-30 years. Brown rice lasts about 5–7 years due to its higher oil content. 

Vacuum sealing rice removes air but not all oxygen. Oxygen absorbers for rice storage are more effective for long-term preservation, preventing oxidation and bugs. 

Freezing rice before long-term storage kills potential bugs. It’s not mandatory, but it's recommended to prevent bugs in rice storage for extended shelf life. 

Oxygen absorbers for rice storage prevent oxidation, mold, and bugs, extending shelf life significantly. They’re critical for storing rice effectively in the long term. 

For 1 kg of rice, use one 100- 300cc oxygen absorber in the best containers for rice storage, like Mylar bags, for optimal preservation. 

With oxygen absorbers for food preservation, white rice lasts 25–30 years, while brown rice lasts 5–7 years due to its natural oils degrading faster. 

Yes, oxygen absorbers work in airtight plastic containers, but Mylar bags for food storage are better for long-term rice storage to prevent oxygen seepage. 

Spoiled rice may smell musty, show mold, or have bugs. Discoloration or an off taste indicates improper storage, even with oxygen absorbers for rice. 

Prevent bugs in rice storage using oxygen absorbers, airtight containers, and natural ways to keep bugs out of rice, like bay leaves or diatomaceous earth. 

Add bay leaves or diatomaceous earth for natural ways to keep bugs out of rice. Use oxygen absorbers in airtight containers for best results. 

For how to store rice long term, use Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers for food storage, seal tightly, and store in cool, dry conditions.

Make sure to buy and source your oxygen absorber packets from a trusted and established manufacturer so that they can help protect and store rice to prevent bugs for longer durations.