A few months ago, we obtained a package of Carolina Rice. We put it into a freezer bag and placed the bag in the freezer.
Yesterday, I noticed that the freezer bag has expanded/puffed up like a pillow. No idea how long it's been like this, so no idea if it was a gradual increase or something more sudden.
a) what could have caused this?
b) is the rice still safe to cook and eat, or should we toss it?
I have no idea what happened. It will be interesting when the answer comes along. In the mean time, I have never heard or done put rice in the freezer. Mebbee jus learnt why.
WillTravelForFood Thank you, an interesting read.
I initially thought it was a way of cooking/preparing rice not an actual strain of rice.
Neat to see how it made a comeback after almost disappearing.
We use a saying in our house; when in doubt, throw it out.
That said usually that sort of expansion is the result of something in the package off gassing, usually because something is decaying. In your case a couple questions come to mind. You put a "package" within a bag......maybe? Is the rice in it's own package and is that package sealed (not opened since manufacturer sealed)? If so, is that original packaging swollen as well? If not, then there was something in the freezer bag that "died" or whatever. If the original package was opened, or swelling within factory seal, then there is/was something in that that probably is deteriorating to cause the off gassing. In which case, back to the opening sentence.
I don't buy the 'something is rotting' thing - it's in the FREEZER.
That said, the only other explanation I can think of is water expanding into ice, but there should not be that much water in there. Perhaps email the place that sold it?
I of course love smoked meats of all kinds, but also like quick cooks like chicken portions, pork tenderloins, steak and fish. Really into cooking of all kinds.
My outdoor kitchen has a Lone Star Grillz Adjustable and it is wonderful. There also is a Pit Boss 5 Burner Ultimate Griddle.
There is an outdoor fire pit that has grilling capability and limited Santa Maria-style grill raising and lowering.
Putting rice in the freezer may be against the grain. I'm wondering if the rice itself expanded, as in absorbed moisture during the frost-free cycles, or fermentation process occurred and giving off-gas.
I've never heard of freezing dried rice or dried beans. They just go in the pantry. I am with others, and wonder if there was some level of moisture that caused issues due to the daily defrost cycle in a frost free freezer.
SnS Kettle
Napoleon 500 Pro gasser grill
Pit Boss Ultimate 2-burner griddle
Gozney Arc XL pizza oven
Instant Pot Duo Crisper 8 qt
Cuisinart food processor
Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
Breville Smart toaster oven
Anova Sous vide (Pro version and Standard Version)
Cabella 15” Vacuum Sealer
Combustion Inc Wireless Probes
Fireboard v2
Fireboard Spark
Meater2+ wireless probe
Thermoworks IR gun
Thermoworks MK4
Thermoworks Zero
Thermoworks Signals
Grill Rescue brush
7 Shun knives (paring to 12" slicer)
Misen Chef's knife
Dalstrong Phantom Series Boning Knife
8-9 other knives (enough to get an eye roll from wife!)
2 Mandolins, 1 veggie spiralizer
Work Sharp E5 sharpener
Chef's Choice sharpener
Not sure what the issue, in general, with freezing cooked rice. There are lots of frozen rice products on the market. Trader Joe’s sells a Jasmine rice frozen that we use all the time. My wife will freeze anything, and leftover rice has certainly made it in there many times. I guessing some form of contamination, but don’t know enough to call that a certainty.
For long term storage any rice or wheat etc with the whole grain will last a lot longer than in a pantry, but it has to be sealed well and protected from moisture and freeze-thaw cycling.
Checked it out. Yes, you can freeze those little suckers & if you do it right they can last up to 18 months in the freezer. So, THEY say. I’ve had rice last that long out of the freezer, albeit in a tight container so those Lil bugs don’t git at em. Says yer suppose to lay em out on a cookie sheet & cool em down & then put em in freezer bags or the like. Seems like a lotta work.
Comment