Eating leftover rice can be dangerous when not stored properly. We review how long you can freeze rice in the freezer and how to do it to prevent food poisoning
Rice is one of the foods that requires extra care when stored to avoid food poisoning when eating reheated rice. We review how long it is safe to store rice in the freezer.
The UK National Health Service (NHS) points out that it is not reheating that causes the problem, but the way the rice was stored before reheating.
Raw rice may contain Bacillus cereus spores, which can survive even when the rice is cooked. Eating rice with Bacillus cereus bacteria can make people sick and cause vomiting or diarrhea 1-5 hours later.
The NHS states that ideally rice should be served as soon as it has been cooked. If that is not possible, the rice should be chilled as quickly as possible (ideally within 1 hour).
For safe consumption, rice should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 1 day until reheated and not reheated more than once. Repeated rewarming can create the conditions necessary for infectious bacteria to grow.
You can easily freeze cooked rice if you’ve made too much or don’t think you’ll be using it in a short time, and portion it out to avoid reheating more than necessary. Leftover rice can be used later to make fried rice or chicken rice stew.
Refrigeration slows food spoilage, but does not stop it. Putting rice in the freezer stops the growth of bacteria, making it a better option than refrigeration. It is important to freeze the rice soon after it has been cooked.
You can also freeze rice that has other ingredients mixed in, including vegetables or meat.
The longer it stays in the freezer, the drier the rice becomes.
Rice can be kept optimally for up to a month in the freezer. When reheating rice on the stovetop or in the microwave, you want to make sure it’s piping hot before you eat it.
To freeze the rice, you can cool it completely first in the refrigerator spread out in a container and then transfer it to the freezer divided into individual portions either in bags or containers that can be sealed, this will help prevent freezer burn.