Well no, it’s not true. It is completely safe to reheat rice but, yes, we must take precautions to ensure that it is suitable for ingestion.
What is special about rice?
As for leftovers, rice is more problematic than other foods, as it can contain bacteria called Bacillus cereus , which survive some cooking processes (and cause consumption poisoning).
This bacteria is often the cause of food poisoning from reheated or cooked rice. Food poisoning usually causes diarrhea and vomiting and can cause serious complications in people with other health problems.
If we don’t follow certain food safety guidelines correctly, bacteria can grow in leftover rice and make us sick. However, proper food handling can prevent illness.
How to Safely Prepare, Store, and Reheat Rice
1. Wash your hands well
You should always wash your hands well before preparing and cooking food. Whatever it is. And you have to keep separate utensils that have touched raw animal products.
2. Cook the rice properly
When cooking rice, we have to make sure that it reaches a high temperature. It must be kept out of the danger zone, which is between 5-60ºC, where bacteria grow rapidly . Rice should be served immediately after cooking.
3. Cool leftovers quickly
To further reduce the growth of bacteria, you have to cool food quickly, dividing it into shallow food containers and sealing them with a lid or even placing hot food directly in the refrigerator or freezer. Risottos or paellas will freeze better than plain rice. And above all, never leave rice or any hot food outside for more than 1 hour.
4. Store leftovers properly
It is recommended to discard the leftovers from the refrigerator after 3-4 days.
It is recommended to dispose of any leftovers from the freezer after 3-4 months.
It is recommended to store food at 4ºC or less.
It is recommended to discard leftovers that have been at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
5. Reheat
When reheating the rice, for each cup of rice that we include, we will have to add 1–2 tablespoons of water. Heat until hot enough and serve immediately.
What if I want to eat the cold rice?
It is okay to eat cold rice as long as it has been chilled and stored properly.
Following these steps will reduce the risk of food poisoning.
Important: Do not heat the rice more than once, as this further increases the risk of food poisoning.
Symptoms of food poisoning
– diarrhea
– vomiting
– abdominal pain
– fever
– cold
Symptoms will appear quickly and last for a short time. Most people will recover quickly without complications, but if symptoms persist for more than 48 hours, worsen, or new symptoms appear, see a doctor.
