TOP 5 WAYS TO PRESERVE RAW RICE FROM PESTS

Rice is the staple food for almost half of the world's population as it provides a good source of carbohydrate as well as energy. Usually, one of the features of staple food is that it can be stored in bulk for consumption throughout the year. However, rice like any other staple foods which contain starch, are prone to be infected by fungi and attacked by pests.

Long before the existence of technology and modern methods of preserving food (especially in preserving raw rice), our ancestors have come up with several ways to preserve raw rice from pests. However, first and foremost, the first rule to remember in preserving raw rice is to keep the rice grains absolutely dry and to store them in a cool, dry place.

Here are TOP 5 WAYS to preserve raw rice from pests:

1. Place some sun-dried red chilies (5-10 pieces) in the rice container.

2. Clean a couple of kaffir lime leaves with water and leave them to dry in the hot sun. Place the dried leaves (10 or more pieces) in the rice container.

3. Alternatively, you can also use the leaves of star fruit plant. Clean a couple of leaves with water and leave them to dry in the hot sun. Then, place the dried leaves (2-3 pieces) in the rice container.

4. Lemon grass is known for its anti-bacteria properties and also a natural insect repellent. Clean a couple of lemon grass with water and leave them to dry in the hot sun. Place the dried lemon grass (about 3-5 pieces) in the rice container.

5. In India, dried neem leaves are popularly used to preserve raw rice from pests. Place a couple of dried neem leaves (5-10 pieces) inside the container containing rice and then, secure the lid of the container.

For item 2 to item 4 above, alternatively, you can also place the leaves in a pre-heated oven (set at 250 degrees F") for about 5-7 minutes to dry them up.

Hope these ancient methods help.

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