How do you store the rice you buy from the supermarket?
My family regularly receives a large amount of rice as a Furusato Nozei gift, but I'm lazy, so I used to just leave the opened bags tied with a rubber band.
I finally decided that it didn't look good, and as I researched rice containers, I came across the "paulownia rice box." I want to tell you about its wonders, so that's what I'll talk about today.
The taste of rice changes depending on how it's stored.
Actually, the taste of rice changes depending on how it's stored.
The surface of milled rice contains fat, and the more it's exposed to air and humidity, the more it oxidizes and loses flavor. In other words, to maintain the deliciousness of the rice when you bought it, the storage environment is very important.
This is where paulownia rice boxes come in handy. In addition to their beautiful appearance, they have three mechanisms to protect your rice.
- ① "Humidity control effect" that self-regulates moisture
- ② "Slightly alkaline" to suppress rice oxidation
- ③ "Natural insect repellent effect" to keep pests away
Let's look at each one.
① "Humidity control effect" that self-regulates moisture
Paulownia is a very light wood. There's a reason for its lightness.
Inside paulownia, there are countless tiny air chambers. These chambers absorb moisture when it's humid and release it when it's dry. This "moisture absorption and desorption" function keeps the inside of the rice box at a nearly constant humidity (around 50-60%). The ideal humidity for storing rice is said to be around 60%, making it the perfect environment.
If the humidity is too high, it can cause mold and insects, and the taste will also deteriorate. Paulownia naturally regulates this without using electricity. This is truly the wisdom of paulownia.
Trivia Column | Paulownia was related to "grass," even though it's "wood"
Paulownia was once classified as a relative of grass in the family Scrophulariaceae. If you look closely at the kanji for "paulownia" (桐), you'll see "wood" (木) and "same" (同). Even though it's clearly a tree, it was also a relative of grass. I was strangely convinced that this might be why it's so light. Incidentally, following a review of the classification system in 2003, it is now an independent family, Paulowniaceae.
*There are various theories.
② "Slightly alkaline" to suppress rice oxidation
Paulownia is unusual among woods in that it is slightly alkaline.
While common woods have a pH of 4-7 (slightly acidic), paulownia has a pH of 7.0-7.5. On the other hand, rice is slightly acidic, so a neutralization reaction occurs inside the rice box, which is expected to slow down the progression of oxidation.
The unique smell of old rice, known as "komaishu" (old rice odor), is caused by the oxidation of fatty acids. The slightly alkaline nature and humidity control effect of paulownia work together to slow down this oxidation and prolong the flavor.
③ "Natural insect repellent effect" to keep pests away
During hot and humid summers, one concern is insects in rice.
Paulownia contains components such as tannin, sesamin, and paulownin, which suppress the growth of mold and other fungi. Also, insects tend to dislike alkaline environments, so it is said that the slightly alkaline paulownia helps to repel them. It's a welcome benefit that you can store rice with peace of mind without needing commercial insect repellents.
What if you find insects?
Rice sold in supermarkets is milled with advanced technology, so the chances of finding insects or foreign objects are close to zero. However, eggs laid in rice cannot be removed and may hatch inside the rice box.
The solution in such cases is a simple two-step process.
Step 1: Rinse with water to remove insects
Fill a bowl with water and rinse the rice in small batches. Insects will naturally float to the surface, so remove them and repeat until the rice is clean. It's important to work quickly and in small batches, as rice absorbs water easily.
Step 2: Air dry thoroughly in the shade
Spread the rice on newspaper or similar material and dry it thoroughly in the shade. Wipe the inside of the rice box clean with a dry cloth before returning the rice.
The option of a paulownia rice box
The charm of a paulownia rice box goes beyond its beautiful appearance. Its three functions—"humidity control," "oxidation prevention," and "insect repellent"—protect your daily meals without special effort.
Simply store your rice in a paulownia rice box. That alone might make your daily meals a little more delicious.
When you want to reconsider how you store your rice, please consider a paulownia rice box as one of your options.
