Rice

[double D]

This is probably a stupid question but....

I heard from a friend that if rice is not eaten 15 minutes (or so) after it is cooked it can give you food poisoning (or something similar).

I didn't think this sounded right, but I wanted to check with you guys.

[kopend]

I think that rice would be OK to eat after 15 minutes, I don't see a problem with that at all!!

[SupaAbzyBall]

I think it becomes poisonous after 24 hours at room temperature. Or it has something to do with freezing! Your okay with the 15 min thing though, im sure! Ive eaten rice 4-5 times a week (mostly after 15 mins as im a slow eater) for 18 odd years and I aint been poisoned..... yet

[nickmo]

Never had a take out then? Seriously, rice will harbour bacteria that can be a real problem with food poisoning.

Left to stand, bacteria will develop and rapidly multiply in warm rice. If you aren't going to eat it straight away, cool it rapidly, store in the fridge in small quantities, and only re-heat what you want to eat - not a whole load and then re-chill again, as this will encourage bacteria.

Break up lumps (if any) before you re-heat, make sure the rice is thoroughly hot all the way through - fine in a m/wave - and as the main toxin (Bacillus cereus) is not destroyed by heating, make sure what you store the rice in and general hygiene round the kitchen is good as well - get those cats off the counter!!

Most food poisoning from a take out actually is due to rice being cooked in an afternoon and kept warm - just ripe for bacteria - until it is used in an evening. Its got little to do with dodgy meat, though this happens as well occasionaly of course.

[kempie]

Not 15 mins but 1.5 hours.

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/keepingfoodsafe/asksamcooking/
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/sitemap/cd_rice_information

[Goodsoulette]

I know that food poisoning from rice is one of the nastier ones. I am over safe when it comes to most food. I never reheat rice.

[Amami]

The scientific reason is that bacteria multiplies faster on rice and pasta than anything else, especially if allowed to cool at room temperature. If you don't want to eat it straight away, cool quickly under running cold water, cover and put straight in the fridge. When you reheat it, do it in a microwave and get it piping hot and never reheat twice !

[cole13uk]

Rice should never be eaten after it has been reheated.

[SaxyJag]

This jogged my memory about something the man said when I did my BFH course a couple of years ago. Here's what the Food Standards Agency has to say:

Uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, bacteria that can cause food poisoning. When the rice is cooked, the spores can survive. Then, if the rice is left standing at room temperature, the spores will multiply and may produce toxins (poisons) that cause vomiting or diarrhoea. Reheating the rice won't get rid of these toxins.

So, the longer cooked rice is left at room temperature, the more likely it is that bacteria, or the toxins they produce, could stop the rice being safe to eat.

It's best to serve rice when it has just been cooked. If that isn't possible, cool the rice as quickly as possible (ideally within one hour) and keep it in the fridge for no more than one day until reheating.

[Bohne]

Rubbish...

you can eat rice even the next day.
Whatever does your friend do with leftovers?

[unruliejulie]

I often re-heat rice and i have never been poisoned by it. I love Batchelors savoury rice when its cold and often have it on a buffet table. I did hear that rice can be dodgy but i think people worry too much about stuff like this.