Cold rice - how safe is it for packed lunch ideas?

[stirling]

Hi all,
Thinking ahead and hoping to vary the sandwich routine with rice salad for the kids packed lunch. I'm thinking it'll be easier to make a batch that could last two days. But I'm sure someone has told me that cold rice is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Their lunch boxes will be in school bags from 7 till about 1.30 pm... So not in fridge. Good idea or likely to cause tummy problems? By the way never made a rice salad before!
Will try potato salad too...
Thank you

I definitely wouldn't eat rice that hasn't been in the fridge the whole time, too risky. If it's cooled quickly and refrigerated immediately I'd probably eat it cold but that's about it

Thank you. Thought so....

If you acidify the rice by adding vinegar, the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria is inhibited. This is why sushi in a lunch box is reasonably safe.

Rice is more problematic than most things if cooked and cooled, because bacterial spores survive the cooking and start growing once the moist rice is at a nice room temperature.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can-reheating-rice-cause-food-poisoning/

no don't risk it, ever.
bacillus cereus is a very real risk, causing nasty food poisoning.

Thank you again.
Vinegar tip v interesting.
Think I might stick to potato salad for now!

Pasta salads are nice, if rice isn't a safe option. Dress the pasta whilst warm, like you would the spuds for potato salad. It's a winner in our house every time, with olives, feta, cherry tomatoes, chunks of chicken and various veggies (whatever we have, but often carrots, celery, peppers and mushrooms, cos I have a revolting husband who likes raw mushroom).

I know I’m a bit late to the discussion but for people still viewing it I thought I’d add my piece. Unrefrigerated potato salad is just as risky as rice salad. Both would be fine if in an insulated lunch box with an ice pack or you could have hot rice instead if it will stay hot in a thermal flash or container, best to try it in advance at home to see if it stays hot enough. For the people suggesting pasta salad instead that should also be in an insulated container with an ice pack and so should sandwiches unless it’s just peanut butter and jam which are shelf stable but anything with butter, cheese, eggs or meat even veggie deli meat or falafel and hummus needs to be insulated. Rice salad sounds like a healthy lunch if the rice is cooked fresh and cooled down quickly, rice can be reheated but only once then should be eaten hot. Quinoa and cous cous salads would also make a great packed lunch and should be cooled down quickly and insulted too.

Well I heard this thing here in the uk , but I am originally from Italy .
My mum , during the summer months , when the idea of having a hob going makes you feel sick ( 3-4 months at 30 degrees) used to make what we called insalata di riso.
So cook the rice let it cool, add in whatever you like , used to be egg, olives, tuna , cheese , peppers, the kids crappy hot dogs cutted in little bits, put mayo, mix it all in.
She stuck in the fridge and that was lunch done for 3-4 days at a time . I would bring it to the swimming pool or to the beach in a cool bag ..so I don’t really know what to think .
But I ate it for over 20 years and never once had a problem . I still do here when it’s a bit hotter 🤷🏼‍♀️ not had a problem either ever in over 10 years , but my MIL had a fit when I gave my daughter the day after paella. I found it sooo weird. But then she keeps butter out and I am always nervous as I keep it exclusively in the fridge . To be honest that never killed us either 🤣🤣🤣

alternatively you could use couscous though . It’s quick too .

Honestly, I wouldn't

I once ate (albeit reheated) rice and almost went to hospital my stomach cramps were so bad. It was as bad as labor pain.

Not sure at all about rice that has been hanging around in a lunchbox.

Potato salad would be fine I should have thought