Either keep cooked rice hot (above 60 °C) or cool the rice as quickly as possible and store in a refrigerator below 5 °C. Rice cools quicker if removed from the hot container and divided into smaller, clean shallow containers less than 10 cm deep. Keep the containers separate, not stacked.
Tips on serving rice safely
Ideally, serve rice as soon as it has been cooked. If that is not possible, cool the rice as quickly as possible (ideally within 1 hour). Keep rice in the fridge for no more than 1 day until reheating.
Do not leave rice to cool down in the rice cooker, steamer or pan. Once cooled to room temperature, cover the rice and store in the refrigerator at 8oC or below (preferably below 5oC). Only reheat rice if it has previously been cooled down safely and kept in the fridge until needed.
After your rice is safely cooked, it should be kept hot (at 140 degrees fahrenheit or above) in order to prevent bacterial growth. If you're serving the rice and place it in a bowl on your table (at room temperature), then it must be refrigerated within two hours of cooking.
Either keep cooked rice hot (above 60 °C) or cool the rice as quickly as possible and store in a refrigerator below 5 °C. Rice cools quicker if removed from the hot container and divided into smaller, clean shallow containers less than 10 cm deep. Keep the containers separate, not stacked.
You can chill down rice more quickly by dividing it into smaller portions, spreading it out on a clean, shallow tray, or putting a container of hot rice into a larger container of cold water or ice. Never leave rice in the rice cooker, steamer or pan to cool down.
Myth: You shouldn't put hot foods in the refrigerator.
Fact: Hot food can be placed in the refrigerator. Large amounts of food should be divided into small portions and put in shallow containers for quicker cooling in the refrigerator.
Those little cardboard take-out containers may be cute, but they will also let in air, making leftover rice chewy and hard. Transfer the cooled, cooked rice into an airtight storage container or a ziplock plastic bag (remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing) then store in the refrigerator.
Cooling and storage
1.5 hours or less, divide the rice into smaller portions, or into large shallow dishes. Once cool, cover the rice and store in the fridge until needed. Cloths and towels should not be used as a cover because they can carry harmful bacteria.
If you place rice into the fridge soaking in 100% pure water you can leave it for up to 48 hours. Generally, food at room temperature should not be left for more than 2 hours due to the risk of bacteria growing and causing a hazard to health, so be sure to place it in to soak immediately.
As with many dry goods, uncooked rice should be stored in a dry and cool environment. Rice will absorb strong aromas, so it is very important to store rice far away from foods such as onions or garlic. Keeping rice in securely sealed containers keeps out unwanted moisture and eliminates the risk of infestation.
You can and should reheat your rice, within four days of cooking of course. Not only does it help to cut back on food waste, but it's a great way to organize your weekly menu with food that is ready to go for quick and easy meal prep.
So, how do you reheat rice? The best way to reheat rice is to put it in a pot with a dash of water and a tight-fitting lid. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through, about 5 minutes.
Take rice out of the fridge, let rest, and warm to room temperature. Add grains to the pot or spread over the skillet and splash with some liquid (water or broth, about 2 Tbsp per cup of rice). Cover tightly and heat over low heat, for about 5 minutes.
Reheating rice in a microwave
One of the quickest and most effective ways to reheat rice is in the microwave. Simply place your rice in a microwave-safe bowl, add 1–2 tablespoons of water, and heat in 30-second intervals until piping hot throughout.
If not eaten immediately, cooled cooked rice should be stored in a shallow container, covered tightly and refrigerated. Rice can be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days or frozen for up to six months. Cooked rice that has been properly cooled and refrigerated or frozen may be reheated.
It is possible to reheat rice, but people must take precautions to ensure it is safe to eat. Rice is more problematic than some other leftover foods as it may contain bacteria called Bacillus cereus, which survive some cooking processes . This bacterium is often the cause of food poisoning from reheated or cooked rice.
Food held between 5oC and 60oC for less than 2 hours can be used, sold or put back in the refrigerator to use later. Food held between 5oC and 60oC for 2-4 hours can still be used or sold, but can't be put back in the fridge. Food held between 5oC and 60oC for 4 hours or more must be thrown away.
No, hot food doesn't need to cool down before going into the fridge.
Additionally, when you put something warm or hot inside your fridge, the clashing temperatures will create condensation. This might settle on the back wall of your fridge and become ice, which can, in turn, freeze any food items touching the wall.
Cooling of cooked starch is known to cause starch retrogradation which increases resistant starch content.
Before fluffing, let it sit for a bit
Turn off the heat and let the rice sit and steam for about 10 minutes to give it the chance to absorb any last drops of liquid. After the sitting period, gently fluff the rice with a fork.
Yes, you can freeze cooked rice. In fact, it's actually preferable to storing it in the refrigerator, even if you plan to use it within a matter of days. This is because uncooked rice contains a spore-forming bacteria known as Bacillus Cereus.