Beyond the Bowl: 20 Surprising Survival Uses for Rice

Have you ever looked at a handful of rice and seen more than just dinner? From creating an alarm system to sensing a leak, rice offers unconventional solutions that can really come in handy—especially in an emergency.

Let's explore the many unexpected ways rice can be a lifesaver.

1. Water Absorber

During emergencies, water damage to critical items like electronic devices and documents can pose a significant problem. Rice, with its exceptional moisture-absorbing ability, can help mitigate this concern.

How to Make It

If an electronic device gets wet:

1. Turn off the device immediately and remove the battery if possible.
2. Dry off any visible moisture with a cloth or towel.
3. Place the device in a container large enough to fully submerge it.
4. Pour uncooked rice into the container until the device is completely covered.
5. Leave it in the rice for at least 24-48 hours. The rice will absorb the moisture, aiding the drying process. 

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This technique can be lifesaving for electronic devices exposed to water during emergencies like floods or heavy rain. As always, don't forget to stock up on waterproof bags!

2. Pillow Filling

Comfort is often overlooked in survival situations, but a good night's sleep can make all the difference. Rice-filled pillows can be more comfortable and supportive than traditional ones.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, a pillowcase or cloth bag.

1. Fill a pillowcase or cloth bag with uncooked rice to the desired thickness.
2. Stitch up the open end to secure the rice inside.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This can be useful in any situation where you need to create a comfortable sleep environment, such as during an extended power outage or if you're staying in a shelter.

3. Improvised Timekeeping Device

Understanding the passing of time can be critical in a survival situation for numerous reasons, including planning resource consumption, estimating daylight hours, or timing intervals for various activities. Rice can be used to create a rudimentary hourglass for timekeeping.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Two empty containers (like water bottles or cans), a thin tube (such as a straw), uncooked rice, and some sort of adhesive or tape to secure the setup.

1. Ensure both containers are clean and dry.
2. Secure one end of the tube to the bottom of one container using your adhesive or tape. Make sure there are no leaks.
3. Fill this container with rice.
4. Attach the other end of the tube to the second container, again ensuring there are no leaks.
5. Adjust the amount of rice and size of the tube to calibrate your hourglass. With some experimentation, you can make it so that the rice takes a specific amount of time (e.g., one hour) to drain from one container to the other.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method can be useful when you need to keep track of time for any reason, from rationing food or water, to keeping track of daylight hours, to timing rest intervals.

4. Rust Preventer

Rust can degrade your tools, and in survival situations, maintaining your tools is crucial. Storing them in rice can prevent rusting by absorbing any excess moisture. 

How to Make It

Materials needed: A container, uncooked rice, and your tools.

1. Choose a container that is large enough to store your tools without them being crowded.
2. Fill the container with uncooked rice.
3. Place your tools in the rice-filled container, ensuring they're fully submerged.
4. Securely cover the container to prevent additional moisture from entering.

Most Likely Use Cases in An Emergency

This method is great for long-term storage of tools, especially in humid environments or during the rainy season.

5. Non-Detergent Cleaning Abrasive

Soap and water aren't always enough to clean the inside of narrow or textured containers. But rice, with its small and hard grains, can serve as a gentle, non-detergent abrasive to scrub away residue.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, a bit of water, and the container you need to clean.

1. Fill about a quarter of the container with uncooked rice.
2. Add water until the container is about half full.
3. Cover the container and shake vigorously for several minutes. The rice will scrub against the interior surfaces, dislodging any residue.
4. Rinse out the container and repeat if necessary.

Most Likely Use Cases in An Emergency

This method can be useful for cleaning water bottles, thermoses, or other containers when standard cleaning methods aren't possible, or soap is in short supply.

6. Draft Stopper

Keeping warm can be a challenge during power outages in the winter. Using rice as a draft stopper can help keep the cold air out and the warm air in.

How To Make It

Materials needed: A long sock or cloth tube, uncooked rice.

1. Fill the sock or cloth tube with uncooked rice until it's full but still flexible.
2. Tie off the open end securely.
3. Place the rice-filled tube along the bottom of doors or windows where drafts come in.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method can help maintain warmth in your shelter during winter storms or power outages when heating might be compromised.

7. Knife Sharpening

A sharp knife can make all the difference in both cooking and survival situations. Rice can be used to maintain a knife's sharpness by providing resistance that helps straighten and align the blade.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, a tall container, knife.

1. Pack a tall container with rice.
2. Stick the knife into the rice, blade down. Push the blade in and pull it out repeatedly.

The rice provides resistance which can help straighten and align the edge of the blade.

Most Likely Use Cases in An Emergency

This method can be useful in long-term survival situations where other knife-sharpening tools may not be available.

8. Noise Maker/Alarm

In an emergency, creating noise can be crucial - either to signal for help or to scare off potential threats. Rice, when shaken in a container, can create a loud noise suitable for these purposes.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, a can or other container with a lid.

1. Fill about half of the can or container with uncooked rice.
2. Secure the lid tightly.

When shaken or knocked over, the rice-filled container will make a loud noise.

Most Likely Use Cases in An Emergency

This can be used to scare off animals or intruders, or as a signal device if you need to draw attention to your location.

9. Prevent Salt Clumping

Clumped salt can be a minor annoyance in daily life, but in a survival situation, it's important to make every resource as easy to use as possible. Rice can help keep your salt free flowing.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, saltshaker.

1. Add a few grains of uncooked rice to your saltshaker.
2. The rice will absorb excess moisture, preventing the salt from clumping together.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method can be helpful in humid conditions or during a long-term survival situation where salt is a critical resource for food preservation and flavor.

For salt that won't clump or harden for decades, click here.

10. Salting Roads

In icy conditions, traction can mean the difference between safety and disaster. Rice can provide this traction underfoot or under tires, and it's environmentally friendly, too, which reduces contamination worries in a disaster.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice.

• Simply take a bag of uncooked rice and scatter it over the icy patches where traction is needed.

Most likely use cases in an emergency

This method can be crucial during winter emergencies when roads and walkways become icy and dangerous.

11. Makeshift Sandbag

In emergencies involving water, such as floods or hurricanes, having makeshift sandbags ready can prevent further damage to your property. In such situations, rice bags can serve as an effective substitute.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Rice bags (the bigger, the better)

• Leave the rice in its original packaging - these bags are typically robust and are designed to handle substantial weight.
• When a flood or storm is imminent, place the bags at entrances to your home, around window wells, or any other areas susceptible to water intrusion. Arrange them to create a barrier that will help divert the flow of water.

Most Likely Use Cases in An Emergency

These makeshift sandbags can be used to divert water flow away from your home or soak up water that has already entered.

SEE ALSO: Flood Preparedness

12. Check Appliances for Leaks

Hidden water leaks can cause extensive damage over time. Rice can help you identify these leaks, as it swells when it absorbs water.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice.

1. Scatter uncooked rice around the base of your appliances.
2. Check the rice regularly for signs of swelling, which would indicate a leak.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method can help you identify and address leaks before they cause significant damage, especially in a longer-term survival situation where repairing or replacing vital appliances may not be possible.

13. Preservation of Perishable Foods

In a survival situation, food preservation can be essential to stretch available resources (which is why long-term, non-perishable survival food is a MUST). Uncooked rice can be used as a desiccant to help keep perishable foods dry and prolong their shelf life.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, a container (like a jar or a bag), and the food you want to preserve.

1. Place a layer of uncooked rice at the bottom of the container. The quantity of rice will depend on the size of the container, but it should be enough to cover the bottom.
2. Place the food you want to preserve on top of the rice. The food should not be in direct contact with the rice.
3. If possible, add another layer of rice on top of the food, again making sure the food is not in direct contact with the rice.
4. Close the container and store it in a cool, dry place for a few days or even weeks, depending on the food being preserved.

Most Likely Use Cases in An Emergency

Rice can be used to preserve foods like fresh bread, biscuits, and certain fruits by absorbing the moisture and reducing the chances of mold growth. This can be particularly useful when you need to make your perishable food supplies last as long as possible after a power outage. Please note that this method is not a substitution for proper food storage and preservation methods, but it can be used as a temporary solution when other options are not available.

14. Mold Detection

In damp conditions, mold can quickly become a problem. It's detrimental to health and can damage your belongings. Surprisingly, rice can be used to help detect the presence of mold, as mold will start to grow on the rice in damp conditions.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, a clear jar with a lid or a sealable plastic bag.

1. Place a handful of rice into a clear jar or sealable plastic bag.
2. Place the jar or bag in the area where you suspect mold.
3. Monitor the rice regularly. If mold starts to grow on the rice, you'll know the area is damp and likely has mold.

Most Likely Use Cases in An Emergency

This can be used in any situation where you suspect there may be mold, such as in a basement after a flood, in a bathroom with poor ventilation, or in any damp environment. It's especially useful in survival situations where you're living in a temporary shelter, as mold detection kits may not be readily available.

15. Pest Deterrent

Pests can be a significant problem. Rice can deter some pests, like ants.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice.

• Scatter uncooked rice in areas where you've seen pests or suspect they might be entering your space.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method can be used to help maintain cleanliness and protect your food supplies, particularly in survival situations where these things are critical.

SEE ALSO: Top 15 Pest Control Methods That Are Natural and Effective

16. Soften Hardened, Perishable Brown Sugar

In survival situations, preserving and making the most of your food supplies is important. If you have hardened brown sugar, rice can help soften it.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, hardened brown sugar, a container or bag.

1. Place the hardened brown sugar in a container or bag.
2. Add a few grains of uncooked rice.
3. Seal the container or bag and let it sit. The rice will absorb the excess moisture, softening the sugar.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method can be useful when you're dealing with limited supplies and you need to make every bit count. Hardened brown sugar can be tough to use in cooking or baking, but with this method, you can restore it to a usable state without wasting any precious resources. Plus, brown sugar can be a valuable source of quick energy in a survival situation, so having it readily usable can be a great advantage.

For brown sugar that won't clump or harden for decades, click here.

17. Blind Baking

In a survival situation, you might find yourself needing to bake without a full array of kitchen tools. Rice can be used as pie weights for blind baking, ensuring your crust maintains its shape without the fillings. 

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, parchment paper, pie dough.

1. Line your pie tin with the pie dough.
2. Place a piece of parchment paper over the pie dough and fill it with uncooked rice until the pie shell is filled.
3. Bake according to your recipe. The rice will keep the pie dough from rising or bubbling.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method is useful when you need to bake a pie or similar dish but don't have traditional pie weights or baking beans available.

18. Growing Sprouts for Food

In long-term survival situations, having a renewable food source can be vital, and rice can provide this in the form of sprouts. Sprouting rice provides a fresh source of food, and sprouted rice can have more nutrients than un-sprouted grain.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, water, a warm place, a container for sprouting.

1. Rinse a cup of rice under running water to remove any impurities.
2. Place the rinsed rice in a large bowl and add three cups of water.
3. Let the rice soak for 24 hours at room temperature.
4. After soaking, drain the rice and rinse it under running water again.
5. Put the drained rice into a multi-tiered sprouting tray or a jar.
6. Twice a day, rinse the rice with water and drain it, leaving it damp but not soaked.
7. Keep the container in a warm place, out of direct sunlight.

After a few days, the rice will start to sprout.

If you haven’t yet tried sprouting yet, rice is far from the only option. There’s a whole array of seed varieties and even special trays that will make the process easy as possible.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method is great for situations where food supplies are running low, and fresh food is not readily available. Sprouted rice can be eaten raw or cooked and can add valuable nutrients to your diet in survival situations.

SEE ALSO: Clean Sprouting Every Time

19. Emergency Signal Marker

In an emergency, being able to signal for help might save you. Because it’s small and light, uncooked rice can create noticeable patterns or symbols on the ground, which can be seen from a distance or from the air.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice (preferably white).

1. Select a flat, open area where the signal will be visible.
2. Using the rice, create a large pattern or symbol on the ground. SOS is universally recognized as a distress signal.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method can be used to signal for help if you are lost or stranded, especially in situations where verbal or sound signals might not be effective.

20. Soothe Sore Muscles

Physical strain is to be expected in survival situations, leading to sore muscles. A larger bag of rice can be heated and used as a soothing muscle relaxer.

How to Make It

Materials needed: Uncooked rice, a cloth bag or pillowcase.

1. Fill a cloth bag or pillowcase with uncooked rice.
2. Tie off or sew up the open end to secure the rice inside.
3. To use, heat the rice-filled bag in a microwave for 2-3 minutes, then apply it to sore muscles.

Most Likely Use Cases in an Emergency

This method can be useful for relieving physical discomfort after strenuous activities, or for providing comfort and relief in a survival or recovery situation.

Unearthing the Hidden Treasures in Each Rice Grain

Turns out, there's more to rice than meets the eye. This versatile grain is a jack of all trades, stepping up to solve problems you never knew you had—and doing so with astonishing simplicity. Your emergency food supply can always use more!