Cold rice left overnight, is it safe to eat the next day?

Many people have the habit of reheating cold rice from the night before to eat, however, according to experts, cold rice is one of the foods most susceptible to bacteria if stored incorrectly.

Nutritionist Mai Thi Thuy, Department of Nutrition, Xuyen A General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that cooked rice is very susceptible to bacterial contamination, especially Bacillus cereus, a type of bacteria that can survive cooking and multiply rapidly at room temperature. Many studies have shown that cold rice stored at room temperature (18-30°C) becomes microbiologically unsafe after 12-24 hours with a significant increase in the number of bacteria.

How long can cold rice be kept in the refrigerator?

Nutritionist Mai Thi Thuy recommends the following safe storage:

Room Temperature : Rice should not be left at room temperature for more than 12-24 hours. After this time, the rice is considered unsafe to consume due to bacterial growth.

Refrigeration : Storing rice in the refrigerator (2-4 degrees Celsius) can keep it safe for up to 5 days, provided the rice is cooled quickly and stored in an airtight container.

Frozen (-18 ^° C): Frozen rice can be safely stored for up to 3 months.

Cold rice should not be left at room temperature for more than 12-24 hours.

PHOTO: LE CAM

What are the signs that cold rice has gone bad?

Spoiled rice often has the following obvious signs:

• Strange smell (sour, rancid smell): This is the most easily recognizable sign. Spoiled rice often has an unpleasant sour or rancid smell, very different from the smell of freshly cooked rice.
• Color changes : Rice may turn yellow, gray, green, or develop tiny white mold spots or a thin film on the surface.
• Abnormal condition (slimy): The rice grains are no longer fluffy but become mushy, unusually sticky and feel slimy to the touch.
• Foaming : Sometimes, when rice is too spoiled, a slight foaming phenomenon may be seen.

Can reheating rice at high temperatures kill harmful bacteria?

Reheating at high temperatures can reduce, but not always eliminate, all harmful agents in rice.

Agent	Killed when heated at high temperatures?	Note
Bacteria (such as Bacillus cereus)	Have	Internal temperature requirement ≥ 80 o C
Bacterial spores	Are not	Spores survive at 100°C; require >105°C to kill
Pre-formed toxins	Are not	Emetic toxin survives at 100°C for many hours

"Therefore, reheating cannot make contaminated rice safe. Only eat reheated rice when you are sure it was stored properly from the beginning. And reheat the rice thoroughly at a temperature of at least 80-100°C," said nutritionist Mai Thi Thuy.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/com-nguoi-de-qua-dem-hom-sau-an-co-an-toan-185251121094431934.htm