Can you reheat rice?

[clkim]

We've had curry and rice for tea and there is lots left over which we want to take for lunch to work tomorrow. I'm sure I heard somewhere though that you're not supposed to reheat and eat rice due to a certain bacteria, is this correct?

The issue with rice is that it grows mold really quickly, the safest thing is to refrigerate it when it's fresh and you can then reheat after keeping it cool. If it's been sitting out for hours I wouldn't risk it.

@Cheetocat So we're fine to put into Tupperware now straight into the fridge tonight and tomorrow morning at work to eat for lunch?

Keep it in the fridge overnight and reheat till piping hot and it’ll be fine.

You need to refrigerate it within an hour of cooking and reheat thoroughly.

I was once so ill off reheated brown rice, it was worse than five cms dilated. Awful. Nearly went to hospital.

It's actually a bacillus (cereus)that grows in the rice, just chill it quickly - spread out in a thin layer, then make sure its reheated thoroughly all the way through.

I honestly never heard of this till I was on Mumsnet, so while I do put it in the fridge I’m unlikely to do it within an hour. If reheating yes to nuclear temps but sometimes I’ll mix with salad and have it cold the next day.

I can only assume those that have got ill have left it out for ages in warm temps or had it sitting in the fridge for a week or more.

[quote clkim]@Cheetocat So we're fine to put into Tupperware now straight into the fridge tonight and tomorrow morning at work to eat for lunch? [/quote]
Exactly, that will be perfect to eat tomorrow.

You need to cool it quickly - don't leave it on the counter for hours.

You don't need to reheat it until it's piping hot (although for the purposes of enjoying the rice I would).

The heat would kill the bacteria, true, but it's not the bacteria that make you ill, it's the toxins they produce, and there's sod all the heat can do about those once it's in there.

Cool it quickly, don't give the bacteria the chance to grow and produce toxins, and you'll be fine. Whenever I make fried rice I always cook it the day before.

I would reheat it, but I also eat cold takeaway meals that include rice days after they've been bought. Never had food poisoning. Still alive.

I've carelessly stored and reheated rice at least once a week for about 30 years and never had any problem with it.

I'm curious as to what you have to do to get ill as reliably as MN seems to believe.

I was bought up on reheated rice, none of it was cooked quickly, and sometimes it wasn’t even refrigerated! When I got together with my DP he was horrified claiming it would give him all sorts of food poisoning. 20 years on he doesn’t give storing and reheating rice a second thought.

*cooled, not cooked!

I’ve always reheated rice, never had a problem! Like others said just put it straight in the fridge, eat the next day and make sure it is really hot all the way through, same rules for reheating most things.

I got the most sick o have ever been from eating reheated rice. I nearly ended up in hospital so it's a hard no from me. Reheating doesn't kill the toxins which are what makes you sick.

@user1477249785 Wow thank god you're ok now! That's put me off now..

Chinese fried rice is usually made with rice cooked the day before. That way it doesn't end up as a soggy mess.

Just make sure it is cooked and reheated properly (like all food).

I've never had any problems eating rice that hasn't cooled down quickly. And we're awful at reheating. I put it in microwave and stir it a bit but it's not like a cauldron or anything.

I think it may just depend on individual gut abilities! 🤷‍♀️

I cook rice on a sunday, reheat it to eat in the week, sometimes the same rice heated a few time, I make enough to last the week. Never had food poisoning.

Saying "I always do this and I've never had food poisoning" is a bit like saying "I never wear a seatbelt and I've never been injured in a car accident".

It's luck, not design.

Ah ok well put @Lockheart. Hadn't thought of it like that
So not all rice becomes mouldy if precautions aren't taken?

Well, as long as you aren’t daft and heat it properly, it’s fine. Places like Chinese and a Indian restaurants don’t cook rice to order. It’s mass done, chilled and then re-heated.

I would be very wary of doing this if it was a takeaway, and wouldnt risk it.
if i cooked it all fresh i would cool the portions immediately and freeze, then reheat piping hot when defrosted in the fridge. Even then I wouldn't risk it.
Warm rice left out at ambient temperatures for 2 plus hours can grow a bacteria. This bacteria produces a toxin. When you reheat the rice however hot, it will kill the bacteria but not touch the toxin. Its the toxin that causes the food poisoning in this instance.

other peoples experiences with reheating rice and not getting food poisoning is anecdotal and not evidence. Listen to the science.

@bigbeautifulmonster

Ah ok well put *@Lockheart*. Hadn't thought of it like that So not all rice becomes mouldy if precautions aren't taken?

It'll become mouldy eventually like most food. But you can't always tell how well it's been stored, especially if you haven't cooked it yourself, so it's always always best to put it in the fridge as soon as possible, eat it within a couple of days, and don't reheat more than once.

I reheat and re-use rice a lot, probably not always using the best way, and honestly I've always been fine. But why would I take the risk when there's such an easy way to prevent it?

If your rice is funny, practicing good food hygiene will minimise the risk.

Personally I wouldn't after a bad case of food poisoning on holiday with reheated rice.

And I'm the kind of person who would happily reheat three day old domino's.