Can you reheat rice?

It’s easy to misjudge the amount of rice you need to cook, often leaving you with more left over than you expected.

But what’s the safest way to process and reheat those leftovers? Here’s how to reheat rice the right way to avoid food poisoning.

1

Can you reheat rice?

Rice, like chicken, can be safely reheated as long as you are careful and heat the rice thoroughly.

It is best to cool the rice as quickly as possible to prevent the growth of bacteria.

Raw rice may contain bacteria called Bacillus cereus.

This is why you may feel sick because it is not always killed during the cooking process.

Make sure to refrigerate your rice as soon as possible and store it in the refrigerator for a maximum of four days after cooking. to cook.

Do not let the rice cool for more than an hour, otherwise you risk food poisoning if you reheat the rice.

When stored at room temperature, Bacillus cereus spores grow into bacteria that multiply and possibly produce toxins.

You can also freeze rice and store it in the freezer for up to a month.

What is the best way to reheat rice?

Most people heat rice in the microwave, as this is the fastest method.

If you want the reheated rice to remain fluffy, add one tablespoon of water or broth per cup of rice, breaking up the clumps first.

For extra fluffy rice, you can steam it by placing the rice in a pan and adding water.

Break the lumps into pieces, put a lid on the pan and let it simmer on low heat for three to five minutes.

Stir occasionally and you’ll have fluffy, warmed rice in no time.

Leftover rice is ideal for stir-frying because the lack of moisture prevents the rice from becoming mushy.

If you want to add additional ingredients, you can also stir-fry the rice by adding oil to a large wok.

Stir the rice into the wok over high heat and cook until the rice is tender and warm.

To ensure the rice is safe to reheat, it is important to heat the rice completely and cool it quickly before storing it.

How many times can you reheat rice?

The NHS advises not to reheat it more than once.

The bacteria are the cause of food poisoning. As long as you cool the rice quickly and reheat it properly, there should be no problem.

Always check your rice for spoilage before eating it. You can tell if the rice grains are hard and dry or if they have a strange smell.