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.
Rice can contain spores from a type of harmful bacteria. If cooked rice is left at room temperature, the bacteria could start growing again from the spores. These bacteria will multiply and may produce toxins (poisons) that cause food poisoning. Reheating will not get rid of these.
Tips on serving rice safely
Keep rice in the fridge for no more than 1 day until reheating. When you reheat rice, always check that it's steaming hot all the way through. Do not reheat rice more than once.
There is no need to fear cooked rice when it comes to leftovers. Keep it out of the temperature danger zone, cool it down quickly, store it properly and reheat it to 165°F, and you will have perfectly delicious and nutritious rice, even the second time around.
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.
One of the most common bacteria found in fried rice is Bacillus cereus. It is a spore-forming bacterium also commonly found in soil and the environment. Upon contamination, these bacteria can grow in the food and produce toxins that can cause food poisoning – this is known as the “fried rice syndrome”.
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.
Cooking with rice
Refrigeration won't kill the bacteria but it will slow down their growth. For this reason, any uneaten leftover rice should be thrown out after five days in the fridge. Any longer and you risk having enough of the food poisoning bacteria present to make you sick.
“It's so common that the vomiting and diarrhea that can occur 1-5 hours after eating leftover rice that hasn't been properly stored has been called 'fried rice syndrome. '” Bacillus cereus infection is typically mild, but it can be dangerous, especially in those who have a weakened immune system.
Why is stale rice healthier than fresh rice? A process known as starch retrogradation, which turns the digestible starch into a resistant one, is reportedly started after the cooked starch is cooled. Our body can absorb and break it down more easily, which causes blood sugar levels to rise.
One of the easiest ways to prevent foodborne illness as- sociated with B. cereus is by ensuring that foods are cooked thoroughly and cooled rapidly. One of the leading causes of foodborne infections and intoxications by B. cereus is the improper holding of cooked foods.
As long as you heat it until it's piping hot throughout and there are no cold spots, it will be safe to consume. If keeping a chicken dish to reheat, you must store it in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours, consume within 3 days and only reheat it once.
Can I eat your steamed basmati straight from the pouch? Our microwavable Tilda Steamed Basmati rice is cooked and sterilised in the pouch (the microwaving is merely a reheating process) so it is fine to eat it cold and straight from the packet.
Reheating turns starch into resistant starch which is not just good for reducing the impact on blood glucose levels (risk of type-2 Diabetes) but the resistant starch also becomes a form of fibre which means it is a prebiotic which feeds the good bacteria in your large intestine helping to support your immunity.
Bacillus cereus is a facultatively anaerobic, toxin-producing gram-positive bacterium found in soil, vegetation, and food. It commonly causes intestinal illnesses with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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. If the rice sits out for two hours at room temperature or one hour if the temperature is 90 degrees fahrenheit or above (like eating outdoors), then the rice should be tossed.
Sickness from improperly cooled and stored rice is so common globally that it's sometimes referred to as fried rice syndrome. But this term is culturally problematic and technically misleading: Bacillus cereus poisoning “is not just a rice specific phenomenon,” says Schaffner.
Fried Rice Syndrome (FRS) is a type of food poisoning that has been coined as such because it often happens after the consumption of contaminated fried rice. To understand how a plate of fried rice becomes contaminated, you would need to understand the process of cooking it.
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.
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.
Rice must not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours after we cook it. Because bacteria thrive at a temperature between 4-60°C (39.2-140°F), we should discard cooked rice if it has been sitting out after two hours. It is best to refrigerate within one hour, but some experts say two hours is fine.
For each cup of rice, add 1–2 tablespoons of water. Place the lid lightly back on top to allow the rice to re-steam. Place in the microwave and heat for 3–4 minutes, or until piping hot throughout. Make sure the internal temperature of the rice is at 165°F or higher.
How Long Does Cooked Rice Last? Cooked rice lasts no longer than three to four days in the refrigerator. If your rice smells funny or looks slimy, do not eat it and throw it away.
Cooked rice can be safely reheated in the microwave, on the stove, or in the oven. Always add 1 tablespoon of water per cup of cooked rice to prevent overdrying. Reheated rice can be used for sides or in dishes like fried rice and stuffed peppers.