We left our rice untouched for 2 months...and then
By joycseer
@joycseer (845)
Malaysia
April 10, 2013 9:56pm CST
...rice mites grows!!! 
For the past 2 months i had not been cooking due to Chinese New Year and our long trip overseas. When we returned and wanted to start cooking, my husband realised there are so many rice mites in our rice pot.
The first day he took to clear most of the rice mites are shown in the picture attached. Much of our rice are damaged, but fortunately we get to save it before it gets worst. By the second day, we cleared all the rice mites and now we need to monitor our rice grains often even if we are not cooking.
I felt so eerie seeing so many rice mites crawling over our good expensive rice and destroying them. Some of them are still inside the rice grain, some has pop out from the rice, so we can see the rice grains becomes crushed rice and some with holes, no content. 
This reminds us not to leave the rice untouched, and check it often, otherwise it will grow hundreds and thousands of them and destroy our rice grains. 
For the past 2 months i had not been cooking due to Chinese New Year and our long trip overseas. When we returned and wanted to start cooking, my husband realised there are so many rice mites in our rice pot.
The first day he took to clear most of the rice mites are shown in the picture attached. Much of our rice are damaged, but fortunately we get to save it before it gets worst. By the second day, we cleared all the rice mites and now we need to monitor our rice grains often even if we are not cooking.
I felt so eerie seeing so many rice mites crawling over our good expensive rice and destroying them. Some of them are still inside the rice grain, some has pop out from the rice, so we can see the rice grains becomes crushed rice and some with holes, no content.
This reminds us not to leave the rice untouched, and check it often, otherwise it will grow hundreds and thousands of them and destroy our rice grains. 11 people like this
23 responses
@victorywp (3524)
• United States
11 Apr 13
hi joycseer,
i'm sorry to hear that... from the picture attached, it seems like thousands of rice mites in your rice pot! is this picture taken when you are washing your rice grains? it looks like the rice mites were more than your rice grains?! 
i wonder how are you and your husband going to eat this?
by the way, is that your rice pot (which has an octagon shape)? looks special... 
i wonder how are you and your husband going to eat this?
by the way, is that your rice pot (which has an octagon shape)? looks special... @joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
11 Apr 13
Hahaha! You are so funny.. 
The octagon shape container is not our rice pot. It is just a tupperware to contain the rice mites after we take out from our rice pot. My husband put some water in it, so that the rice mites will not crawl out from the container.
As for the rice you saw in the tupperware, it was my husband's mistake to throw the good rice into it. 
He see the rice mites till he gets confused and mistakenly dump the good rice into the rice mites container instead of the rice pot after checking. 
The octagon shape container is not our rice pot. It is just a tupperware to contain the rice mites after we take out from our rice pot. My husband put some water in it, so that the rice mites will not crawl out from the container.
As for the rice you saw in the tupperware, it was my husband's mistake to throw the good rice into it. He see the rice mites till he gets confused and mistakenly dump the good rice into the rice mites container instead of the rice pot after checking. 5 people like this
@victorywp (3524)
• United States
11 Apr 13
hi joycseer,
i can imagine how much the rice mites were there as you both took 2 days to clear all them! 
that's why he got confused and mistakenly dumped the good rice into the wrong container? LOL!
that's why he got confused and mistakenly dumped the good rice into the wrong container? LOL! 3 people like this
@emily7339 (1337)
• Malaysia
11 Apr 13
This is awful and gross 
! I would have throw them all away...
Perhaps you try to find a day with real hot sun and try spreading out your rice over a big flat tray. The heat will probably cause them to run for their life but make sure it will not crawl into your house .
Next time when you buy rice, try looking for the smallest packet instead if you do not often cook
! I would have throw them all away...
Perhaps you try to find a day with real hot sun and try spreading out your rice over a big flat tray. The heat will probably cause them to run for their life but make sure it will not crawl into your house .
Next time when you buy rice, try looking for the smallest packet instead if you do not often cook 2 people like this
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi emily, my husband won't be throwing them away as long as he still can save it. He doesn't like to waste. So, he clear up the rice mites one by one. So, now there is no longer a rice mite left in our rice container.
Oh yes, just an interesting information. Rice mites are different from hair lice and ants.
1) Hair lice - Can fly and crawl around, upside down and sideways
2) Ant - Can crawl around, upside down and sideways
3) Rice mite - Cannot fly, and when it crawl until the edge, it doesn't know how to crawl out of the container, it will just crawl round and round the container and enter back into the rice grains. Seems like it gets dizzy too.. Hahaha.. Rice mites is not smart, and doesn't bite. Besides, it doesn't know how to swim like ants either. When you throw them into the water, it will drown after awhile. And without crushed rice like powder, the rice mites cannot crawl upwards. Weird right? 
He doesn't like to waste. So, he clear up the rice mites one by one. So, now there is no longer a rice mite left in our rice container.
Oh yes, just an interesting information. Rice mites are different from hair lice and ants.
1) Hair lice - Can fly and crawl around, upside down and sideways
2) Ant - Can crawl around, upside down and sideways
3) Rice mite - Cannot fly, and when it crawl until the edge, it doesn't know how to crawl out of the container, it will just crawl round and round the container and enter back into the rice grains. Seems like it gets dizzy too.. Hahaha.. Rice mites is not smart, and doesn't bite. Besides, it doesn't know how to swim like ants either. When you throw them into the water, it will drown after awhile. And without crushed rice like powder, the rice mites cannot crawl upwards. Weird right? 3 people like this
@emily7339 (1337)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
So nice to enjoy your findings . It is a good and interesting informations 
. It is a good and interesting informations 1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
11 Apr 13
Ewww I hate bugs and creepy crawlies, if I saw that in the rice it would surely put me off eating rice for life! I very easily put off my food, and seeing those rice mites, is the stuff of nightmares. Er thank you for sharing, I was brave enough to look at the attached photo. Double ewww.
2 people like this
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi wolfie34, hahaha...well done for your bravery. But no worries, in Asia most rice bags in the supermarket sold surely has some rice mites in it. But not as much as what we have caught. This is extreme because we left the rice untouched for 2 months and maybe because our kitchen is warm. Normally it doesn't grow in the supermarkets because it is air-conditioned, cool and dry.
But no worries, in Asia most rice bags in the supermarket sold surely has some rice mites in it. But not as much as what we have caught. This is extreme because we left the rice untouched for 2 months and maybe because our kitchen is warm. Normally it doesn't grow in the supermarkets because it is air-conditioned, cool and dry. 3 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
11 Apr 13
Once the rice grains are infested with foreign crawlers it is best to just dump them away as the taste and smell of the rice when cooked are horrid. I never buy expensive rice but prefer to buy the local grown rice. Not only are they less starchy they don't attract rice mites compared to the imported fragrant rice.
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi zandy458, thanks for your advise. So far after we have cleared the rice mites, and tested cooking, the taste remains the same as we will wash the unwanted grains away before cooking. 
My husband choose to buy good quality rice for health, and yes it is expensive rice. 
Well it is not starchy, neither is it fragrant rice. It is called "Basmati Rice" (http://www.basmatiassociates.com/rice.htm).
Actually, any kind of rice grains will surely have rice mites. It is not attracted from outside, but grow from within the grain itself.
My husband choose to buy good quality rice for health, and yes it is expensive rice. Well it is not starchy, neither is it fragrant rice. It is called "Basmati Rice" (http://www.basmatiassociates.com/rice.htm).
Actually, any kind of rice grains will surely have rice mites. It is not attracted from outside, but grow from within the grain itself. 3 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
11 Apr 13
Yuck!! the visual would be enough to stop me from eating rice for a long time. I sure could not eat that same rice and trust that the mites were removed. Reminds me of the mealy worms found in pasta and flour etc. I just toss it. This is gross ..now my skin is it itching. All I can say is that you have a much much stronger stmach than I do.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
11 Apr 13
If you've never seen mealy worms then lucky you. that is what I was picturing when you said mites. You did not scare me off from eating rice. I love it. I'll just really look a lot more closely at it before cooking it. ugh...the visuals..they will pass.
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
11 Apr 13
Hi sid556, if they were worms in my rice grains pot, definitely i would have thrown them all away. However, rice mites are sure to have in every rice grains pack we bought from the supermarket. We will wash the grains before cooking, so to ensure no more rice mites.
Hahaha...so sorry that the visual scares you off from eating rice. But no worries, it won't hurt. Just that worms found in your pasta and flour really makes my hairs straightened up.
Thanks for sharing, and have a good day.
Hahaha...so sorry that the visual scares you off from eating rice. But no worries, it won't hurt. Just that worms found in your pasta and flour really makes my hairs straightened up.
Thanks for sharing, and have a good day.4 people like this
@AstralTango (62)
• Indonesia
11 Apr 13
Why don't you cook the rice with all the mites, it will be a very good source of protein haha, I'm just kidding. Never seen rice mites this much before, it's just horrible. In other time, you should keep your rice in pretty sealed container so if you left it for a long time, mites can't reach them.
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi AstralTango, yucks! I wouldn't want to eat those mites.
Our rice container is air-tight, and is completely sealed. Nothing can enter or come out of the container. Well, the rice mites doesn't comes from outside, it grows from within the rice itself.
Thanks for sharing, have a nice day. 
Our rice container is air-tight, and is completely sealed. Nothing can enter or come out of the container. Well, the rice mites doesn't comes from outside, it grows from within the rice itself.
Thanks for sharing, have a nice day. 3 people like this
@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
11 Apr 13
I´m sorry to know about the rice mites. Here we have no rice mites. It´s very dry. We are overcoming two years of drough. So you can leave the rice untouched and nothing happens but dust.
We achieve experience each time we face a trouble. I´m sure you won´t repeat it next year.
Blessings Joycseer... dainy
. I´m sure you won´t repeat it next year.
Blessings Joycseer... dainy@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
11 Apr 13
Thanks for the encouragement, dainy1313.
Yes, we will watch out for our rice grains, and we learned a lesson to it.
Our country's climate is hot and wet, opposite from your country to be in drought. Yes, dry places without humid will have no rice mites. Glad to hear you gain experience each trouble you face. We will do the same too. Thanks for your sharing.
Have a pleasant day, dainy.
Yes, we will watch out for our rice grains, and we learned a lesson to it.
Our country's climate is hot and wet, opposite from your country to be in drought. Yes, dry places without humid will have no rice mites. Glad to hear you gain experience each trouble you face. We will do the same too. Thanks for your sharing.
Have a pleasant day, dainy. 5 people like this
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
11 Apr 13
Yes they will multiply! I never heard of this till it happened to my sister. She had a 10 lb bag of rice and ended up having to throw it away due to these mites. She even had to throw away her boxes of pasta. In all of my life I have never had this happen to me. I wonder if its because I don't buy the large quantity packages. Its only my husband and I and we go through the rice faster since we love rice and pasta too.
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
11 Apr 13
Oh my- too much mites in there.
I can see mites more than the rice (hehehe)
Now I am afraid to left our rice for that long- so when we spend a month long vacation, I guess we need to finish all the rice or maybe bring the left over rice on our trip
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi jaiho2009, guess you have mistaken that mites with our rice. Our rice are sorted out well already into a clean container. The picture i snap was the container that contains the separated rice mites from our rice grains. I was just showing how much rice mites has been caught by us.
Good idea too to bring along your leftover rice on your trip if you can cook during the trip.
The picture i snap was the container that contains the separated rice mites from our rice grains. I was just showing how much rice mites has been caught by us.
Good idea too to bring along your leftover rice on your trip if you can cook during the trip. 3 people like this
@namiya (1718)
• Philippines
11 Apr 13
Never thought that these pests could bring such damage for stored grains in just a couple of months. We don't store too much rice and we only usually purchase enough for a week consumption. This information is useful for us who have come across your topic for we will be guided on what to do if a similar situation arises.
1 person likes this
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi namiya, actually we only bought the pack which is 5kg for two person. The store seldom sell so small pack of rice for week consumption. Furthermore, we did store our rice grains into our rice pot container, and it is really air-tight, so the grains should be kept dry. 
But yet the rice mites still can grow. 
But yet the rice mites still can grow. 3 people like this
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
12 Apr 13
That is really likely to happen. Rice, once you bought it should be consumed in a month's time. But if it is properly stored, the rice mites can be eliminated.
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi jenny1015, guess maybe our kitchen is quite hot or warm. Otherwise it should be alright. Normally we do consumed the rice pack we bought within 2-3 months. It is impossible to finish within a month because it's too much for just two of us. In our supermarket, they don't sell too small pack of rice grains.
Previously was fine, and we never encounter such thing before. Even if there are rice mites, is normal. We can wash them away when we want to cook rice. But this time is just too much, maybe because we left it untouched too long, so the mites grows from within the rice. But if we store in cool place, and check it out often, guess should be fine. Thanks for your advise.
Previously was fine, and we never encounter such thing before. Even if there are rice mites, is normal. We can wash them away when we want to cook rice. But this time is just too much, maybe because we left it untouched too long, so the mites grows from within the rice. But if we store in cool place, and check it out often, guess should be fine. Thanks for your advise. 2 people like this
@Pegasus72 (1898)
•
12 Apr 13
I have never seen these before. Wonder if we can get them here in America. Can you get sick from ingesting them? I remember a Chinese family that I knew always washed their rice before using it, while Americans just cook it as is.
@Pegasus72 (1898)
•
14 Apr 13
Thank you for clearing that up for me, will have to inform my husband about this. To be honest I think most of our rice here is not from our country so maybe we should be washing it.
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
13 Apr 13
Hi Pegasus72, we also wash our rice first before cooking them. This is because we need to clean the grains from dust, or rice mites if any. There are some who also washes the grains to remove or reduce the starch too. I didn't know about Americans just cook the rice as it is without washing. Maybe the rice grains in America is clean, and can be cook as it is. Thanks for sharing this information to me.
I didn't know about Americans just cook the rice as it is without washing. Maybe the rice grains in America is clean, and can be cook as it is. Thanks for sharing this information to me. 2 people like this
@Raine38 (12250)
• United States
11 Apr 13
Awww, man, so much rice wasted! Now I sound like my mom, lol! Being Asian, rice is a staple and I know how it's like to see your expensive rice being attacked by rice mites. They really creep me out because they sort of resemble head lice gah!
Being Asian, rice is a staple and I know how it's like to see your expensive rice being attacked by rice mites. They really creep me out because they sort of resemble head lice gah! 1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47308)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Apr 13
That's terrible! I've never heard of this before. Where do they come from?
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi jillhill, yes when we buy food from the markets, we need to ensure it is sealed tight and fresh. However, after we bought it home, no matter how tightly is sealed, if it is kept too long, still it will grow insects in it. It's just nature i would say. So, is important to not keep our food too long.
However, after we bought it home, no matter how tightly is sealed, if it is kept too long, still it will grow insects in it. It's just nature i would say. So, is important to not keep our food too long. 3 people like this
@celticeagle (166911)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Apr 13
Ooh! I just had rice tonight for dinner with this wonder mushroom sauce over it. It was delicious and now you are talking about rice mites. Ugh!
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
11 Apr 13
Awww they look kind of cute trying to carry those big grains of rice.
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi cupkitties, LoL... carrying the grains when they are still inside. Well, they do look funny to me when they couldn't get out of the rice pot. I was worried that the rice mites would crawl out from the pot, but actually they won't. Thanks for sharing.
Well, they do look funny to me when they couldn't get out of the rice pot. I was worried that the rice mites would crawl out from the pot, but actually they won't. Thanks for sharing. 3 people like this
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
11 Apr 13
They look eerie indeed. It is better not to buy that much rice when you plan not to cook for a long period.
@joycseer (845)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 13
Hi Cutie18f, we have no choice because it's the smallest standard pack sold in the supermarket. Also, we didn't know that we will be away and not cooking for 2 months when we bought the rice grains. Anyway, everything is fine now since my husband has clean up the rice well.
Anyway, everything is fine now since my husband has clean up the rice well. 2 people like this
