How long does brown rice last?
Brown rice lasts only about 6–12 months in the pantry because its natural oils go rancid; refrigerating or freezing it stretches that to around 12–18 months.
| Brown Rice | |
|---|---|
| Unopened | 6–12 months at room temperature |
| Opened | 6 months in the pantry; 12–18 months in the fridge or freezer |
| Ideal storage | Fridge or freezer for anything you want to hold longer than a few months. |
| Long-term | Not a good long-term storage food. Store white rice for the long haul and rotate brown rice within a year. |
Storage tips
- Smell it before cooking: rancid brown rice smells oily or like old paint.
- Buy smaller bags and rotate them through everyday cooking.
Signs it has gone bad
- Insects, larvae or fine webbing (pantry moths) in the package
- A musty, sour or moldy smell, or visible mold
- Clumps or damp patches from moisture getting in
- A sharp, paint-like or bitter smell, which means the natural oils have gone rancid (brown rice, oats, whole-wheat flour)