Did you know there are lots of survival uses for rice…and none of them including eating? Keep reading to learn more!
If you’re like most preppers, you likely have dry rice in your food storage. And this can be a great thing, since rice is possibly one of the best survival foods you can ever have. Not only is it crazy cheap, but you can also buy it in bulk, and it stores for long periods of time with no issues (especially when kept in an air-tight container).
Not to mention, rice also has a ton to offer nutritionally. It’s chock-full of healthy carbs, and also contains fiber and minerals. Plus, it goes great with dang near everything, so it makes an excellent side dish or main course.
Whether it’s white or brown, stocking up on rice just makes sense. However, what you may not know is there’s a whole lot more you can do with rice than just eat it.
As it turns out, there are a ton of essential…
Survival Uses For Rice
Stick Stuff Together
Did you know you can use rice to make your own glue? This substance can come in handy in a number of ways during a survival situation. Not to mention, it’s dirt cheap and super simple to make!
Watch this video to learn more about making glue from rice:
Improve Your Skin & Symptoms
Many people don’t realize that making rice water can have a host of benefits for both the skin and the body!
For years, people all over the world have been using rice water to help treat acne, purify the skin, soothe sunburns, and heal eczema. It also contains the right pH for your skin, and so can help prevent aging spots and can improve your overall complexion. In this way, rice water allows you to “turn back the clock” on aging.
That’s not all – you can also use rice water as a detergent, a hair rinse, an effective cure for diarrhea, and an electrolyte replacement (making a great substitution for Gatorade).
To make rice water, all you’ll need is one cup of rice (you can use any type except for wild rice) and four cups of purified water. Boil the rice in water and stir until the water turns cloudy.
Then strain out the rice, being sure to keep the water. Store the rice water in a mason jar, and use it as necessary. It’ll last for about four days in the fridge.
When using, it’s often best to serve it hot for illness, and cold for any other purpose.
Save Your Electronics
If your favorite electronic device has gone for an unintentional dip in the water, you can still save it with the help of rice.
Fill a large bowl or bag with rice (this should be dry rice, so make sure not to cook it first). Take out the battery from the device, and bury it and the phone separately under the rice. Let it sit overnight.
The rice will slowly begin to absorb the water from your electronic device, making it good as new. Make sure to do this as soon as possible once your device hits the water – if you wait too long, you’ll risk permanent water damage.
Clean The Coffee Grinder
All you need is rice to clean out that dirty coffee grinder. And the beauty of this technique is it sharpens the blades while absorbing the leftover oils and smells of the coffee beans you’ve been grinding!
Empty the grinder of any leftover beans or grounds, and then pour 1/2 cup of dry rice into it. Grind until the rice is completely crushed. Repeat this process every 3-5 days, and you’ll notice a difference in both your grinder and the taste of your coffee!
Keep Your Salt Clump-Free
Ever have it where you go to pour salt out of the shaker, only to find you can’t get much out because it’s clumping together? This is a very common scenario in high-moisture areas. And, although this may not seem like a big deal on a day-to-day basis, it’s especially frustrating in a survival situation when you have very little resources to spare.
To avoid this, simply pour fresh salt into the shaker and add a few grains of dry rice. Shake it up so the rice is blending with the salt (and not resting on top). The rice will absorb any moisture that gets into the shaker, allowing you to use every last grain of salt.
Ease Aching Muscles
Using rice and a clean sock, you can make your own heating pad or ice pack to soothe aching muscles.
Fill the sock about halfway with dry rice (and make sure there are no holes in it first). Then tie off the top of the sock so that no grains escape.
For an ice pack, place the sock into the freezer for at least half an hour. Then take out the sock and place it on any muscles that are hurting for some cooling relief.
For a heating pad, put the sock in the microwave on HIGH for two minutes. Let it sit for 60 seconds before taking it out. Then place it onto the body to help relieve tension and soreness.
Keep Your Tools Rust-Free
Rust can render even the sharpest tools useless. That’s why it’s imperative to prevent rust from occurring before it starts.
One of the best ways to do this is to immerse your tools in rice. This can be done in a toolbox, or other container. Much like with electrical devices (see #3), the dry rice will soak in the moisture, water, and oil from your tools, making sure they remain rust-free.
