Leftover rice: potential health risks and how to store it safely

Rice serves as an excellent alternative to potatoes, pasta, or grits, from which numerous tantalising dishes can be prepared. It comes as no surprise then why many people are simply fond of rice, often favouring one specific variety. Yet, it's typical during the rice cooking process to prepare in excess, with a surplus left to discard or to be consumed later. So how should you store rice to ensure safety?

Many individuals are concerned about the potential harm caused by eating rice that was cooked the previous day. The worry is primarily about food poisoning, a condition no one covets. But can stored rice cause food poisoning? The answer is nuanced because it primarily depends. Rice connoisseurs may fear the bacteria Bacillus cereus, spores of which can proliferate rapidly on food, rendering it unsafe. These spores cannot be eliminated by heat or cold, and the bacteria swiftly produce a toxin responsible for what's known as the "reheated rice syndrome."

There are beliefs that Bacillus cereus infection goes beyond causing regular food poisoning and can potentially result in more severe complications. According to data, only 1% of patients required hospitalisation, with no documented fatalities due to Bacillus cereus from rice ingestion. The only predictable outcome might be discomfort in the digestive system lasting at least 24 hours, which usually resolves spontaneously. So how should you consume previously cooked rice to prevent this discomfort?

Many specialists posit that the edibility of rice is gauged within the first two hours post-cooking, during which it should not be exposed to extremely cold or high temperatures. When rice is freshly prepared, it should be cooled as quickly as possible to inhibit bacterial spores from developing. If you plan to reheat rice from the previous day, bear in mind that it should be exposed to a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius (rounded from 158 degrees Fahrenheit) for a bare minimum of 15 seconds to eliminate all bacteria present within the food.

Observing these guidelines allows for the safe storage of cooked rice for up to seven days without posing any health risks. Some individuals believe the storage life lasts only five days, but if rice is handled and stored properly immediately after cooking, it can be consumed over several days while maintaining good health and avoiding unpleasant surprises.