Stupid question -- can rice go bad?

[Codeine]

Or stale?

I regularly buy 10lb bags of basmati rice that come in a pretty burlap sack with a sealed plastic bag of rice inside. This time the plastic inside the burlap was open -- looks like it hit the sealer at an angle and about half the top was wide open. The burlap bag was zippered shut with the usual plastic zip-tie holding it, and there's no insect infestation or anything, but I'm wondering if it could have gone off in some subtler way.

[Chan790]

1. Not really.

It can go stale in the sense that it won't cook, same as beans but that's rare. Otherwise, no, it should be fine.

[Codeine]

3. Cool. I've been eating out of another bag

and I'd hate to throw this one out.

[Locut0s]

2. Not really...

You mentioned insects which is the first thing that would come to mind. If it got wet it could go mildewy or mouldy. But assuming it's been kept dry and no bugs it should be fine.

[Codeine]

4. Thanks!

Hadn't even considered mold. Gross. But this bag looks dry and fine, so I'm gonna use it.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. No, I don't think so,

but I always keep my burlap bag of basmati rice in the freezer after it's opened just to make sure no bugs get in it.

[LiberalEsto]

6. If it's cooked it can go bad very quickly

and if it's uncooked brown rice, I believe it can go rancid in 6 to 12 months unless it's kept refrigerated. Info: http://www.appropedia.org/Brown_rice

Can't say about uncooked white rice, but I keep bay leaves around all my grain products because it's supposed to discourage insects. You usually can get a lot of bay leaves inexpensively at an Indian grocery store.

Cooked white rice & bacillus cereus: http://www.typesofbacteria.co.uk/bacillus-cereus-cereals-rice.html

[Globulus]

7. Moisture is your worst enemy next to meal moths. Large Mason jars prevent both problems.

Rice can go bad over time, even in Mason jars, but basmati is unlikely to sour. Seeds of all sorts, of which rice qualifies, have been sprouted after thousands of years in storage. Basmati won't sprout because it has no hull.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. You've never heard of dirty rice?

Now that stuff is BAAAAD.

[azurnoir]

9. no bugs no mold no foreign stuff-

you can always rinse it before you cook it too, I do anyway to get rid of excess starch