Must-Know Tips for Storing Rice and How Long Can We Keep Cooked Rice In Fridge?

Monday, November 11, 2024 Read time3 min

SAEDNEWS: How long does cooked rice last in the fridge? To find the answer to this question, stay with us until the end of the article.

Must-Know Tips for Storing Rice and How Long Can We Keep Cooked Rice In Fridge?

According to SAEDNEWS, You may wonder how long cooked rice is usable. This time varies between three to four days or four to six days, depending on whether you cooked the rice at home or bought it from outside.

Reheating rice and leaving it out for long periods of time also affects the shelf life of cooked rice. In this article, we will discuss how long you can safely store rice, why consuming leftover rice can cause food poisoning, and what precautions you should take to prevent illness.

Does cooked rice go bad?

Yes, cooked rice can spoil because its freshness lasts for a maximum of six days. Like many other foods, if rice is not prepared or stored properly, it can spoil or become unsafe to eat.

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How to tell if rice has gone bad?

Spoiled rice will have specific characteristics in appearance, smell, and taste. In general, signs of spoiled food include:

Color change, especially compared to when it was first cooked
Texture change, such as increased softness and stickiness
Unpleasant taste
Unpleasant odor

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Why can rice cause food poisoning?

Rice contains certain bacteria that, if not stored or reheated properly, can make a person sick. Specifically, cooked rice is associated with Bacillus cereus. This bacterium is found in soil and produces toxins that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses if ingested. It is also commonly responsible for foodborne illnesses.

When cooked rice is not stored in the fridge and is not reheated properly, Bacillus cereus can multiply. This bacterium may also produce toxins that can make you ill because heat cannot eliminate them

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Rice and Food Poisoning

The illness you can get from eating spoiled rice is called food poisoning. Food poisoning is an illness that occurs after consuming food or water contaminated with harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, or toxins. It is also very common—every year, about 48 million people in the United States suffer from food poisoning.

Infected individuals may experience vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps while the body expels foreign substances. Most cases of food poisoning resolve on their own within a week.

Exposure to these harmful substances is especially dangerous for those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, or children under five. Their bodies may not be equipped to handle these unwanted organisms. In more severe cases, food poisoning can even lead to death—approximately 3,000 deaths in the United States each year are linked to it.

How to Cook Rice

There are various methods for cooking different types of rice, from white or brown rice to jasmine or basmati rice. For example, you can steam it or boil it in a pot, either with or without steaming.

The cooking time also varies depending on the type of rice and the cooking method. You may need to cook it for anywhere between 15 to 45 minutes.

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Storage Tips for Cooked Rice

Consuming properly cooked and reheated rice poses very little risk. However, if rice remains in the temperature range of 40 to 140°F for more than two hours, it becomes more hazardous. This combination of temperature and time can promote bacterial growth.

Cooked rice should not be left out at temperatures above 90°F for more than an hour. Once it is no longer hot, it should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator. After cooling and storing leftover rice in the fridge at below 40°F, it can be kept for up to four days in the refrigerator or three to four months in the freezer.

Additional Tips for Storing Cooked Rice

According to Melissa Azzaro, a nutrition and diet specialist, rice should only be reheated once. To avoid reheating, storing, and reheating rice, Azzaro recommends that instead of reheating the entire pot, you should separate and reheat only the amount you need. To ensure food safety, leftovers should be reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Conclusion

Considering the proper storage tips, consuming leftover rice from a previous meal is completely safe and healthy. Avoid consuming rice that has changed color, smell, or taste, or if its texture has become soft and sticky.

Remember, cooked rice should not be left out at temperatures above 90°F (32°C) for more than one hour, and after cooling, it should always be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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Labels: Rice Storing

# Food