Americans consume about 26 pounds of rice per year.
Larry Nakahara, a manager of the plant pest control branch for the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, has identified three pests as the most common to attack rice, cereal, flour and dried foods. They are the rice weevil, red flour beetle and cigarette beetle. Each pest looks to contaminate and feed on rice that is not well sealed and is slightly moist. This is especially a problem if you live in a humid climate. However, you can take storage measures to keep those pests out of your rice supply. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Inspect the rice when you open the package. The common pests in rice are visible to the naked eye. Therefore, open the bag and make sure you do not see any vermin squirming about the rice. Using a scoop, dig through the rice to check several locations within the package. If you do, return to the store with your receipt and ask for another package.
2. Transfer the rice into an airtight container. The size of the container will depend on the amount of rice you are storing. The home cook might use small quart- or gallon-sized containers while a commercial kitchen may use five-gallon buckets. Once the rice is transferred, place the lid on the container so it is airtight.
3. Store the rice in a cool, dry place. Rice should be stored beneath 60 degrees Fahrenheit for as long as possible during the year. Additionally, rice should be kept in an area with relative humidity below 65 percent. If you live in a warm-weather climate, consider storing your rice in a spare refrigerator, which will meet both of these standards. Otherwise, cool pantries or temperature- and humidity-controlled basements are ideal.
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