9 Reasons to Stock-up On Rice

This a guest post written by Nettie David. You can find more of her preparedness articles at Preppers Survive.

Rice is the ultimate survival food. It’s the oldest food in recorded history and currently the highest produced food in the world. Rice is one of the cheapest foods that a meal can be made from, examples include stir-fried rice, chicken rice soup, deep-fried rice balls, mushroom risotto, rice casserole, and rice pudding. It is an excellent source of energy that can sustain a person during times of survival.

If you are planning to opt for rice as a long-term survival food, choose ‘Enriched White Rice’. Although brown rice has a higher nutritional value, it can go rancid after a year because it has higher oil content. White rice is brown rice that has been processed to remove the husk, germ, and bran. This process removes the oil and fiber making it possible to store indefinitely.

Rice is not only a great food storage item and pantry staple but it also has a lot of survival uses. Rice serves as much more than just an affordable food source; below are the top nine reasons to stock-up on rice.

9 Reasons To Stock-up On Rice

Make Glue: You can use rice to make your own glue. There are lots of ways to make rice glue. The basic ingredients you’ll need are rice and water.
Step one simmer the rice and water in a cooking pot.
Step two mash the rice with a little water into cream
Step three thicken it with heat. Here are two links (video, article) that explain the process in detail.

Heat Pack & Cooling Packs:
Heat Packs – pour rice into a clean sock and put it into the microwave for 1-2 minutes. It can ease aching muscles and be used as a hand warmer.
Cooling Packs – place rice in a seal-top sandwich bag and place it in the freezer for a couple of hours. It can reduce swelling to injuries and reduce a fever when applied to a forehead.

Cereal for Toddlers: It is easy to make baby cereal from rice. Grind it until it is a powder & add water until you get the desired texture. Its easy for little ones to digest and provide essential calories for energy.

Diets:

GLUTEN FREE DIET– It’s not uncommon for people to develop symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headaches, body aches, depression, and fatigue when they start eating more wheat in their diet. These symptoms are signs of a gluten intolerance or allergy. Rice in its all-natural form is gluten free.

BRAT DIET – Rice is one of the main ingredients in the BRAT diet. If you or someone in your family has had severe stomach problems, a bad case of vomiting, or a long period of diarrhea then you may be familiar with a BRAT Diet. BRAT stands for banana, white rice, applesauce, and toast. They are gentle on the stomach and easy to digest which allows your body to absorb more nutrients in the case of illness or a weakened immune system.

RICE WATER FOR BABIES – Some babies are lactose intolerant, some mothers can’t produce milk for their nursing babies. Rice water has been used for centuries to provide nutrients to babies. It is NOT nutrient rich like breast milk but has been useful to mothers throughout the ages. It is believed to reduce fevers, colic, diarrhea, and skin rashes.

Milk Soap: You can also create rice milk soap. It has wonderful benefits for skin. For example, it tightens and moisturizes face skin, makes you look younger, and treats acne.

Test Your Oil: It is also one of the greatest methods to test oil temperature. Drop a grain of rice into oil, if it floats, start cooking. If it doesn’t, increase oil temperature.

Preserve Salt: Want to protect salt from moisture? Well, no problem. Add a few grains of rice. Its grains absorb the moisture or humidity and keep salt ready to use.

Make Toys: Rice can be used to make dolls, rattles, sensory games, and pet toys.

Save Electronic Devices: In case your phone or any electronic device goes for an accidental swim in the lake, cover it fully with rice. It will absorb the liquid and may give it another chance at life.