Re-heating rice?........just don't - ok?

[rabbitygirl]

I have had a search to see AB history on this and found a couple of discussions including this

http://www.theanswerb...k/Question968580.html

Recently many were hospitalised, 2 died and an acquintance is lucky to still be here after eating fried rice from a, now closed, takeaway.
The details of this are horrific and totally shocking and I have never heard the like before. The person known to me almost had a colostomy and may yet still need some bowel removed. She will be limited in the food types she can eat for the rest of her life.

Don't want to put you off rice but just be aware that it's not always just a slight case of tummy trouble if something affects you. Rinse and cook rice properly at home, eat as soon as ready and be very cautious if you intend to store and reuse it. And hope your takeaway uses freshly boiled rice for their fried rice.........

[ljdksa]

Yes, I remember doing a food hygiene course at work and they asked us what the biggest killer in buffet food was. Most people guessed chicken, fish, etc. Turned out to be rice! I was surprised.

[snags]

And you might get run over by a bus when crossing the road... then again you might not. Common sense is the answer.

[237SJ]

How do you know it was the rice and not dirty food handling by the takeaway? If you had a chicken curry from a takeaway that made you ill, would you never eat chicken again?

[rowanwitch]

Bacillus cereus is the usual culprit had a really bad case come into ITU was on life support for weeks but sadly died.... would be reluctant to have fried rice from a chinese takeaway with the exception of the one Redman uses rice is really fresh tasting and no after effects...but never ever ever reheat takeaway rice as it would probably be a second or third reheating.....

[LoftyLottie]

Very true. Rice is quite dangerous. The dog gets our leftovers!! She is OK. The only fried rice I eat from elsewhere is from a friend's Thai restaurant. He cooks from fresh to order. More expensive but exquisite.

[Old_Geezer]

Really ? I don't reheat rice a lot, on rare occassions when I've had a Chinese takeaway, ate half, felt full, left half for later. Not done me any harm yet so I'm rather surprised.

That stated, reheated rice does tend to be rather dry, almost to the point of hardness.

[237SJ]

I would never go to one of those all you can eat sunday buffets that Indian restaurants have because I`ve always believed it`s a way to get rid of the leftovers from the night before (reheated)
However if rice is cooked properly and handled properly I don`t think there is any more risk than re-heating animal products. I make rice and if I have too much I cool it, freeze it and reheat it properly. Unsafe food hygiene practices by food outlets is to blame.

[rabbitygirl]

Yes really. Yes you might get run over by a bus. Yes common sense should be applied to everything. And I dont know the rice was at fault. But the authorities who have had to investigate this have told my sick associate that it was the fried rice.

I am just putting this here to give what I know to be an example, because I saw that none had been given in the past, of what COULD happen if you ate rice contaminated in this way.

That's it from me. Thanks rowanwitch for your answer. And hi to Lottie!

[LoftyLottie]

Hi back rabbitygirl!! x

Nice to see you.

[mike11111]

As I am not a big eater a takeaway does me three meals. I put the uneaten portion in the fridge and have it later, sometimes 2 or three days after. I'm sure a good blast in the microwave kills off any nasties that may be lurking. I'm still here to tell the tale (fingers crossed).

[woofgang]

its not the nasties but the toxins that the nasties produce while they are alive...nuking may well kill the nasties but the toxins remain

[swedeheart]

First time I heard about this was on an episode of... erm, forgotten what it was, some vintage television series twenty years ago... But anyhoo, six people had died almost simultaneously, "scattered" all over Hawaii, and the investigators were clueless. Until it was found they had all come over on the same flight from the US and reheated rice had been served on the plane. I don't suppose it's the reheating as such that causes the problem...? ...but the fact that the toxins have had the time to develop.

[merciasounds]

I wish I'd had a pound for eveytime somebody said to me, 'I had a dodgy curry last night from the take-away' I always replied that it was more than likely the rice, not the curry itself. Uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, and when rice is cooked and left at room temp, the spores can quickly turn into bacteria, which will mulitply very quickly in a warm moist inviroment, and then no matter how long you reheat it, or at how a temp, the bacteria will not be killed off - it's a very nasty bug indeed.

[looobylooo]

thanks for the info rabbitygirl and the others. i will remember that! ta.

on the odd occasion i have an indian takeaway, and i have some left, i keep it in the fridge and eat it the following day or the next day.
sooo, is eating the rice cold, without zapping it in the microwave, still risky too?

thanks

[Kaytee26]

I read that eating the rice later is fine as long as you cool it as quickly as possible, keep in the fridge until needed and then re-heat until piping hot. I do it regularly and have never had a problem

[scotman]

I would never buy takeaway from anywhere that also had sit-in tables just to be sure. I never have leftover rice at home. I always weigh it out to ensure correct amounts.

[mccfluff]

i eat reheated rice all the time.....

[sara3]

I do, too..

[rowanwitch]

Russian rice roulette could be a new game... seriously I wouldn't want anyone I loved to die like that.... what you don't eat dump....or have noodles instead

[society]

I've been eating reheated rice all my life, even eat rice left in the fridge for two weeks sometimes and nothing has happened to me so far (knock on wood).