Shelf Life of Rice – How Long It Is Edible

Rice – long shelf life with proper storage

As with all foods, the shelf life of rice depends on how it is stored. The species also plays a role here.

• White rice can be kept uncooked for about two years, provided it is stored in an airtight, dry and dark place.
• Wholemeal rice, on the other hand, can only be stored for about a year under optimal conditions. The reason for the shorter storage period is the fat in the germ, which whole grain rice still has.
• Despite proper storage, however, it can happen that rice is infested with food moths. This is where you should dispose of the food and control the food moths to avoid spreading the problem.
• Cooked rice cannot be stored for long if there are leftovers after eating. In this case, you should store the rice in a sealable airtight container in the refrigerator. However, you should consume the food within two days.
• Cool storage is very important for cooked rice. You can find out more about this in our article on “Reheating rice”.