You can safely store rice with oxygen absorbers, and doing so significantly extends shelf life—especially for white rice. Just make sure you use the right cc size based on volume and that the rice is dry enough to avoid food safety risks.
Why Use Oxygen Absorbers With Rice?
Oxygen is the silent enemy of long-term rice storage. Even white rice, which has a low oil content and already stores well, benefits from an oxygen-free environment. Oxygen absorbers (O₂ absorbers) remove oxygen from sealed containers, which slows oxidation, kills insect eggs, and helps rice stay fresh for decades.
Without oxygen, you also prevent one of the biggest threats to stored rice: hidden insect infestations. Rice weevils and pantry moths thrive in oxygen-rich environments—but can’t survive without it.
👉 See also: How to Store Rice Long Term (The Safest and Simplest Way)
✅ Which Types of Rice Work With Oxygen Absorbers?
- White rice (long grain, jasmine, basmati, instant): ✅ Excellent for O₂ absorbers
- Brown rice: ⚠️ Only store short term unless frozen or vacuum sealed
- Parboiled or enriched rice: ✅ Often fine, but double-check oil content
- Moist rice or cooked rice: ❌ Never use oxygen absorbers (botulism risk)
Want to test if your rice is dry enough? Read: How to Tell If Rice Is Too Moist (And How to Dry It Before Storing)
📏 What Size Oxygen Absorber Should You Use?
Use this chart as a starting point for storing dry white rice in airtight containers like Mylar bags or mason jars.
| Container Size | Recommended O₂ Absorber Size |
|---|---|
| 1 pint (16 oz) | 50–100 cc |
| 1 quart (32 oz) | 100–200 cc |
| 1-gallon Mylar bag | 300–500 cc |
| 5-gallon bucket | 2000–2500 cc |
| 6-gallon bucket | 2500–3000 cc |
Tip: You can combine smaller oxygen absorbers to reach your target. For example, four 500cc absorbers equals 2000cc.
For easy sizing: see How Many CCs You Need (Oxygen Absorber Sizing Made Simple)
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using absorbers with moist rice – This can create an anaerobic environment that encourages botulism.
- Not sealing quickly – Once exposed to air, oxygen absorbers begin reacting immediately. Only open them when you’re ready to seal.
- Wrong container – Don’t use thin plastic bags or containers that aren’t truly airtight.
- Reusing absorbers – They’re one-and-done. Save unused ones in a sealed jar with a fresh indicator strip.
Need help storing leftover absorbers? Check out: How to Store Oxygen Absorbers Between Uses (Without Wasting Them)
Final Thoughts
Oxygen absorbers are one of the simplest tools to boost your rice’s shelf life from a couple of years to 25 or more. Just remember: dry rice only, proper cc sizing, and quick sealing. When in doubt, it’s always better to overdo it a little than underdo it.
For more on container comparisons, visit: Mylar vs. Plastic Containers for Storing Rice: Which One Wins?
Anne James—lovingly known as Jelly Grandma—is a professional canner, seasoned home cook, and lifelong preserver of traditional Southern skills. With over 55 years of hands-on experience in canning, gardening, cooking, and quilting, Anne brings generations of wisdom to every guide she writes.
Featured in both local media and by national brands like Hershey, Anne now shares her knowledge through PreservingSweetness.com and her YouTube channel, helping others rediscover the “old ways” of living well and making things from scratch.