What happens if you eat expired brown rice? How to Store Brown Rice?

What happens if you eat expired brown rice? Can brown rice go bad?

Rice is easy to make and can last a very long time. But how long does it last? How you store rice will determine the answer to this question. Proper storage is crucial for maintaining the quality and flavor of the rice over time. This article will teach you everything you need to know about storage, shelf-life, and how rice goes bad. We also have you covered if you have leftover rice. Not just brown rice! Find more on how to store food.

So, what happens when brown rice expires? Remember that brown and white rice has the best buy dates, just like many other grains. You can use it safely after the expiration date if stored properly.

Expired brown rice is safe if it hasn’t been rendered by its bran oils or any signs of spoilage. However, even if you accidentally eat rancid brown rice, it won’t poison your stomach, although you may feel some discomfort.

Even before you can accidentally eat bad brown rice the smell of brown rice being gone bad should stop you. If that didn’t stop you for some reason, eating rancid brown rice might cause food poisoning.

How to Store Brown Rice?

• Brown rice should always be kept in a dry, cool place. A pantry is ideal, but you can also use a cabinet in your kitchen.
• Brown rice can be packaged in a variety of packaging options, including brown paper boxes or plastic bags.  After opening the package, make sure to transfer it into an airtight container or jar, to avoid any contact with moisture.

Freeze Brown Rice

Brown rice can be stored in the freezer or fridge to prolong its shelf life.

• Before freezing uncooked brown rice, you should transfer it into freezer bags. You will avoid freezing burn by doing this.
• You can store rice in the refrigerator using freezer bags or airtight containers.

There are two options when it comes to cooked brown rice. Let the rice cool for a while before transferring it to an airtight container. Then, place it in the refrigerator. Or you’ll need to freeze the rice for long-term storage.

Can you freeze cooked brown rice?

You can freeze almost any food, but some foods freeze better than others. Let’s find out how good is brown rice to freeze.

Rice freezes well. It is easy to freeze brown rice for future meals since it takes a lot of time to prepare. The process is simple and does not require complicated equipment. Here are the steps to freeze brown rice.

• Use your preferred method and cook the rice.
• Separate the rice into smaller portions to cool down faster than if it is all clumped together.
• Allow the rice to cool to room temperature. If the rice is sliced and spread out, it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.
• Place the rice in freezer bags. If necessary, add labels with the date and name.
• Place the bags in the freezer.

It is fine to freeze rice with other foods in meal-prep containers if you only plan on freezing the rice for a few days. For longer-term storage use freezer bags.

Thaw Cooked Brown Rice

Frozen cooked brown rice, like any other food, can last indefinitely but may slowly lose its quality. It is recommended to consume the rice within half a year.

Here are some tips to defrost brown rice and heat it again.

• Microwave. Turn the microwave on low to thaw the rice. After it has thawed you can increase its power to cook it. If it is dry, add water.
• Nonstick pan. Heat the dish on low heat on the stovetop until it defrosts. You might add some water to ensure it doesn’t get burned.
• Thaw it frozen. Add a few extra minutes to the cooking time to allow for the thawing. This is best when used in soups.

 

How Long Does Brown Rice Last?

Brown rice has a shorter shelf life than white. This is because brown rice contains more natural oil. However, a shorter shelf life but not less nutrition.

Although each manufacturer will have its guidelines regarding shelf life, brown rice should last between 12 ( Lundberg Familie) to 24 months from the date of production.

The “best before” or “best by” date on each package indicates the shelf life. This only tells you how long the product should remain at its peak quality. Brown rice should last for months or even a year after the best buy date.

Cooked Brown rice

Transfer cooked brown rice into the freezer or fridge.

• Brown rice cooked in butter can be stored for up to six days in the fridge. Although it may last for a few more days, the likelihood of it becoming moldy is much greater.
• If you intend to keep the cooked rice in storage for longer than five days, you should freeze it.

It is not a good idea to store cooked rice at room temperature. Keeping rice at room temperature will cause it to remain in the danger zone where bacteria growth is fastest.

For safety reasons, many sources recommend that cooked food should be thrown out if it has been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours. If you have left the rice out overnight, it is best to throw it away in the morning.

How to tell if brown rice is bad?

Brown rice can go bad and It can develop symptoms such as mold, discoloration, insects, foul or rancid smells, and a moist texture. You should immediately throw out the rice if you see any of these symptoms.

If you suspect that the rice is rotten, don’t hesitate to throw it out. Human intuition is quite adept at detecting food that has gone bad.

There are many signs of spoilage when it comes to rice cooked. Some may not be as obvious as others.

• First, rice won’t absorb water properly when it is cooked. Another is the chewy texture that results from cooking.
• If the rice is in the refrigerator for more than a week and you notice any signs such as dark spots, mold, or a strong smell, it’s time to throw it out.

You might believe you have done everything right when it comes to cooking rice. However, it can go moldy.

This is perfectly normal and common. The bacteria did their best and got into the bag or container before sealing it. If this is the case, you can throw the rice out and cook another batch of rice.