How to Open Asian Rice Bags

Incredibly durable, these bags can be reused if opened carefully.

Budget conscious epicures know that the best way to purchase high quality rice is in bulk hemp rice bags at Asian grocery outlets. High quality rices purchased in standard or gourmet grocery stores are rarely significantly better quality than bulk bagged rice, and can even be inferior. They are reliably fifteen or twenty times the price, however. Unfortunately, opening these bags without destroying them or making a mess can be a bit of a trick. The tops of the hemp bags are generally sewn together with a cotton thread much like bulk pet food bags. Unlike these, however, they can not be snipped at the ends and unraveled easily. Instead, the threads must be cut in their entirety.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife or razor blade
• Asian rice bag

Instructions

1. Stand the rice bag up on the floor so that the handles are on top.

2. Brace the sides of the rice bag between your legs.

3. Spread the edges of the rice bag's top opening apart. The cotton thread should be clearly visible between the edges.

4. Slice through the cotton thread from one side of the bag to the other. Take care not to cut into the woven hemp bag and to completely cut through the thread.

5. Spread the edges of the bag apart. Carefully remove all remaining cotton thread by pulling it through the mesh from the outside, ensuring that it does not fall into the rice.

Tips & Warnings

• Smaller rice bags with interesting designs have been used as stylish and quirky handbags.

References

• "Chinese Cooking for Dummies"; Martin Yan; 2000
• "Asian Cooking for Dummies"; Annie Young and Jeff Yarbrough; 2003

Resources

• Opening Rice Bag Fail