Today, I have seven easy rice recipes for you every day of the week. I love rice, especially sticky rice. Brown rice is healthier, but doesn’t store as long. Mark and I can only eat so much brown rice before it becomes rancid, about 6-8 months.
I mainly purchase white Jasmine rice because I like the flavor and the texture. We buy the rice in small bags that weigh five pounds each. I then store the bag in an airtight container, bag and all.
We don’t store 5-gallon buckets of “loose” rice; it doesn’t make sense for just the two of us. When I was raising my family, I would buy 25-pound bags. I fill 5-gallon buckets with the packages of rice now. I don’t use Mylar bags or oxygen absorbers, and there are too many variables to chance it. I’m not saying it’s wrong; it just doesn’t work for me.
I store my rice this way because if I need to share rice with those who have not prepared it, I can hand them a bag. I am updating this post today because I believe there will be a rice shortage. I will explain below. Rice is a great food storage item to stock. Please stock it now.
Why It Still Makes Sense to Stock White Rice Today
If you have been hearing whispers about a rice shortage, here is the honest truth. Global rice supplies are actually at record highs right now, and prices on the world market have been falling. But before you cross rice off your preparedness list, there is a piece of this story that matters a lot for American families, and it has nothing to do with how much rice exists in the world. It has to do with how much of it we are still growing here at home.
What Is Really Happening With Rice
Here at home, our rice farmers are in serious trouble. Arkansas, which grows more rice than any other state in the country, is expected to plant its smallest rice crop since the 1970s this year. Farmers there have cut their planted acres by more than 40 percent compared to a normal season. That is not a small dip. That is a huge shift.
Why would farmers plant less rice when people still need to eat it? The answer is money. Fertilizer costs have surged because of shipping disruptions tied to conflict in the Middle East, and rice prices on the world market are the lowest they have been in over a decade. When it costs more to grow a crop than farmers can sell it for, many of them switch to soybeans or corn instead. Riceland Foods, one of the largest rice cooperatives in the country, has called this the toughest stretch its farmers have seen in a generation.
So while the world as a whole has plenty of rice, much of that supply sits overseas in countries like India, which now accounts for close to 40 percent of global rice exports. That means American grocery stores are increasingly leaning on imports for the rice on our shelves, especially for varieties like jasmine and basmati that we do not grow much of domestically to begin with. Any hiccup in shipping, trade policy, or currency values overseas could ripple straight into what we pay at the store and how reliably it is stocked.
Why This Still Matters For Your Pantry
I am not one to spread fear, and I am not going to tell you the sky is falling. What I will tell you is that a shrinking domestic supply chain, rising input costs for farmers, and growing reliance on imports are exactly the kind of quiet warning signs that a prepared family pays attention to. These are not dramatic headlines. They are the slow, steady shifts that eventually show up as price increases or spotty availability, often with little warning.
Rice is one of the most practical staples any family can keep on hand. It is affordable, it stores for years when kept properly, and it stretches a meal further than almost anything else in the pantry. Whether you are feeding a big family or just want peace of mind, having a reserve of rice is one of the simplest ways to build food security into your home.
How Much Rice Should You Store
A good starting point is 25 pounds of white rice per person for a three-month supply, though many food storage experts recommend working toward 50 to 100 pounds per person for longer-term preparedness. White rice is the better choice for long-term storage compared to brown rice, since the natural oils in brown rice cause it to go rancid much faster.
How To Store Rice So It Lasts
For rice you want to keep for years rather than months, store it in food-grade buckets with mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. Keep it in a cool, dry, dark place, ideally somewhere between 40 and 70 degrees. Stored properly, white rice can last 25 to 30 years, which makes it one of the best values in any long-term food storage plan.
If you are just building a shorter-term rotating supply, rice stored in its original packaging or in airtight containers in a cool pantry will keep well for many months, and you can simply use it and replace it as part of your regular cooking.
A Practical Next Step
You do not need to buy a year’s worth of rice this week. Start by adding a little extra to your cart each time you shop, and set aside a corner of your pantry or storage area just for building up this reserve. Small, steady steps add up to real security over time.
Rice in Buckets
These have bags of rice in them, and I store them in my pantry.
Rice In Rubbermaid Containers:
This is another way I store rice in the packages.
Rice In #10 Cans
I have cases of #10 cans of white long-grain rice for long-term storage. I will use those cans when a major disaster hits. Because they are commercially processed, these cans have a shelf life of 25-30 years. I purchased them from Thrive Life. No, I do not sell Thrive Life products. I prefer Honeyville Grain or Thrive Life for long-term food storage products. Update: Thrive Life closed.
If you are like me, you are tired of seeing food prices escalate. I don’t know how families can feed themselves, although raising my daughters wasn’t easy. Luckily, I learned how to make bread and cook from scratch from my mom. I also have to give credit to the Home Economics classes I took in junior high. I will never know why they stopped those classes. They gave me the tools to be self-reliant.
Rice Recipes
You can always make rice as a side dish or stretch a casserole or soup with cooked rice. We can always feed two more people, at the very least, right? You will notice that the butter is optional in some of the recipes. All of these recipes use white rice. If you use brown rice, add more water according to the package you have at home.
1. Basic White Rice
Basic White Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups white rice
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- I typically use 2 cups of dry rice to 3 cups of water.
- You can rinse your rice, if desired, and use a saucepan, rice cooker, or pressure cooker.
- If you boil the rice, bring the water and rice to a boil. Cook with a lid on for 17 minutes.
- I like using my rice cooker because I just throw all the ingredients in the pan, put the lid on, and push the button to turn it on.
- Then I go about doing my daily activities and serve it when the yellow light comes on. It keeps it warm, and that works for me.
2. Spanish Rice
Spanish Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 can Rotel tomatoes (10-ounces)
- Chili pepper and cumin to taste
- 1/2 cups finely minced onions
- 1/2 cups finely chopped bell peppers
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients and cook as directed in your rice cooker or pressure cooker.
3. Garlic Butter Rice
Garlic Butter Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 3 cups water
- 2-4 finely chopped garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup of butter (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients and cook as directed in your rice cooker or pressure cooker.
4. Taco Flavored Rice Dish
Taco Flavored Rice Dish
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 3 cups water
- 1/2 cup finely minced onions
- chili pepper and cumin to taste (you can always add more after cooking)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients and cook as directed in your rice cooker or pressure cooker.
5. Vegetable Rice Dish
Vegetable Rice Dish
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 3 cups water
- 1/2 cup finely minced onion
- 1/4 cup grated carrots
- 1/4 finely chopped celery
- 1/4 finely chopped bell peppers or green beans
- 1/4 cup butter (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients and cook as directed in your rice cooker or pressure cooker.
6. Spinach Rice Dish
Spinach Rice Dish
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup finely chopped spinach
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1/4 cup butter (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients and cook as directed in your rice cooker or pressure cooker
7. Chicken Rice Dish
Chicken Rice Dish
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup finely minced onion
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients and cook as directed in your rice cooker or pressure cooker.
Horchata Rice Milk by Mare:
Horchata Rice Milk by Mare:
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain rice (rinsed)
- 4 quarts water
- 2 cinnamon sticks (broken into pieces)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla (optional)
- 1 cup white sugar
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine rice, water, and cinnamon stick. Set aside for 3 hours.
- After 3 hours, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Let it cool.
- Puree rice mixture in a blender until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. Flavor with vanilla and sugar to taste. Chill, and serve over ice.
Rice: Everything You Need to Know
Final Word
Preparedness is not about panic; it is about paying attention. The headlines about rice may not spell disaster, but the quiet story behind them- shrinking farms, rising costs, and growing dependence on imports- is exactly why a well-stocked pantry still matters. A few extra bags of rice today are a small effort that can bring real peace of mind tomorrow.
I wrote this post today for two reasons. First, I know how expensive groceries are, and cooking with rice frequently can save your family money. Second, I wanted to show you how easy it is to make rice recipes in a rice cooker, saucepan, or pressure cooker every day of the week. Just think how easy it is to use rice in your food preparation plans and how much money we will save. Rice fills the belly.
Please store rice; you can sleep at night knowing you have food to feed your family. Please remember to store water, spices, and beans. Lots of beans. You can make many rice recipes with rice, water, and spices. Please store water for your family. I recommend four gallons per person per day. May God bless you for being prepared. It’s a way of life. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright pictures: AdobeStock_46761486 by airborne77, Spanish Rice AdobeStock_83830551 By nata_vkusidey, Rice with Garlic AdobeStock_84810764 By nata_vkusidey, Mexican Rice AdobeStock_75590022 By By paul_brighton, Rice with Vegetables AdobeStock_268711583 By By Ildi, Horchata Rice Milk AdobeStock_1374922131 By Anuson, Rice with Spinach AdobeStock_510453887 By By grinchh,
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