Leftover rice can be a godsend the next day. It's perfect for a batch of fried rice, and you can use it for a quick side dish when you have time to cook. But maybe you've heard about concerning things about "fried rice syndrome" and have wondered if leftover rice is safe to eat.
The simple answer is yes, it's safe to eat leftover rice, but there are some important caveats.
"It is absolutely safe to eat leftovers, including leftover rice, as long as they've been handled correctly," said Janilyn Hutchings, Certified Professional in Food Safety and food scientist at StateFoodSafety.
Here's everything you need to know about handling leftover rice so you can enjoy your jambalaya the next day.
How To Safely Handle Leftover Rice
Unlike uncooked rice, cooked rice is a TCS (time/temperature control for safety) food. This means it's easier to grow pathogens. Hutchings said that when cooked rice is left at room temperature, it's prone to grow a bacteria called Bacillus cereus, which thrives in starchy foods like rice and potatoes.
Enough pathogen growth can cause the illness commonly known as "fried rice syndrome," among other conditions.
"To keep TCS foods safe to eat, you must either control the amount of time they spend at room temperature or control the temperature at which they're held," she said.
How Long Can You Leave Rice Out?
We've all been susceptible to leaving leftover food on the table a little too long after finishing a meal. But there's a big reason why you want to get your food in the refrigerator quickly.
"Pathogens can multiply to dangerous levels in room-temperature TCS foods in about four hours, so keep an eye on the clock and make sure the leftover rice gets in the fridge well before then," Hutchings said.
If pathogens grow to a dangerous level, she said that it's more likely that eating leftovers will cause a foodborne illness or what we call "food poisoning."
"Even cooking or reheating the leftovers will not reduce the number of pathogens to safe levels," said Hutchings.
In other words, get that paella in the fridge ASAP.
What Temperature Should Leftover Rice Be Kept At?
"Another way you can keep leftover rice safe is by controlling its temperature," she added.
What Hutchings refers to as the "sweet spot" for pathogen growth is between 41°F and 135°F. To avoid what's called the "temperature danger zone," she said to keep leftover rice in the fridge below 41°F, or in a warmer that can keep the rice held at 135°F or higher.
How Long Does Leftover Rice Last?
Even with proper storage, rice, like any leftovers, will go bad. Hutchings recommends eating or throwing out leftover perishable food without seven days of storing it in the fridge.
How To Reheat Leftover Rice
Check out our guide on how to reheat rice, which covers several methods to heat your leftovers including the microwave, stovetop, and oven. The key is always to bring the rice up to a safe temperature.
