Rice is a daily staple in numerous countries around the world. Where some people prefer pasta, bread, or potatoes, many families keep the rice cooker hot all the time. But rice isn't just an economic and nutritious foodstuff, it's also great for absorbing moisture from salt shakers and for tossing over the heads of newlyweds. These are three of the more well-known uses for rice, but they barely scratch the surface for this all-rounder. Here are 12 other ways to use the grain:
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#1 Ripen fruit
Unripe fruit will ripen faster if you place it in a bag of uncooked rice. Ripening fruit gives off gases that are trapped by the rice. Use caution with this method or you may well end up with overripe fruit! Don't leave it in for longer than 1 or 2 days.
#2 Store knives
An affordable and stylish alternative to a wooden knife block is placing your knives upright in a glass filled with rice. You may want to put a layer of cardboard or something similar at the bottom of the glass to prevent the blades from coming into contact with the glass.
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#3 Clean containers with small openings
Dirty coffee pots and vases can be a real hassle to clean, especially if the mouths of the containers are too small to clean out with a sponge or brush. Try placing a handful of uncooked rice together with soap and water in the container and lightly shake it back and forth. If you're able to close the container, you can shake it a little harder. This will help loosen any dirt or grime before rinsing.
#4 Save your cell phone
It's probably happened to someone you know: Plop, the cell phone falls into the water. You think it's a goner, but a bag of rice may very well save the day. Place your cell phone in a closed bag of uncooked rice after drying the phone as best you can on your own. Remove any batteries or SIM cards and leave the phone in the rice for 24 hours or longer. Perhaps your phone will be alright after all.
#5 Bake without a scale
If you don't have the funds to invest in a scale, try using rice to bake pies. Place a piece of parchment paper over the uncooked pastry dough and "fill" it with rice. This will help shape the dough and let you know how much filling is needed. You can reuse the rice several times.
#6 Air freshener
If you'd like to add a subtle aroma to your room, try mixing 10-20 drops of essential oils with 1/4 - 1/2 cup rice in an open container. This works well in small spaces like a half bath. If the scent starts to weaken, just give the rice a stir.
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#7 Test oil temperature
If you want to check whether your oil is hot enough to fry something in, toss a few grains of rice into it. If the oil is too cold, the rice will sink. If it's the right temperature, the rice will float and crackle. You can remove the grains with a sieve or slotted spoon.
#8 Avoid rust
Try storing your tools head down in a container of rice. This is especially helpful if you live in a region with very humid air. The rice absorbs moisture and thus prevents rusting.
#9 Clean the coffee grinder
Coffee lovers know what a treat it is to grind your own beans. Even though they're full of hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, it's important to regularly clean your grinder because the beans are rich in oil that can eventually go rancid. Grains of rice are the perfect size and texture to clean coffee grinders. Run a grinding cycle with rice instead of coffee beans and then brush everything clean with a paint brush. This method also works well for spice grinders.
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#10 Make your own warming pillow
Fill a small cloth pillow with rice for a DIY warming pad. This is a great way to put any extra fabric you have lying around to good use. Alternatively, you could fill a sock with rice. Pop your warming pad in the microwave for 30 seconds to warm it up and then place it on any aches or pains.
#11 Pet toys
You could also make a homemade pet toy using a similar method. Make sure you use very hardy, thick fabric if you're going to attempt this and likewise sew using a very small stitch length. You could even add a little catnip to the rice if you have felines in the house.
#12 DIY rattles
Rice is perfect for making homemade maracas or rattles. All you need is a small container or an empty plastic Easter egg to fill and tape between two spoons. You'll be the envy of all the other garage bands in town.
ou should consider whether you really want to toss away rice at the next wedding you attendlook at all you can do with those grains! You'd be wasting some precious craft potential. Maybe rose petals are a better (and more romantic) option after all!
