Here's Why Eating Leftover Rice Might Be Dangerous For Your Health

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Here's Why Eating Leftover Rice Might Be Dangerous For Your Health

Picture this: You start making dinner when you come home. You throw together a healthy stir fry with veggies and protein, then start steaming white rice like you always do. The only problem is, you're about to make a big mistake that could cause food poisoning.

You can't see them, but uncooked rice often contains Bacillus cereus spores that can survive the cooking process and multiply, depending on how you store any leftovers.

How often do you cook a pot of rice and let it cool to room temperature? It may seem like a good idea to serve rice that isn't piping hot, but there's something you didn't know.

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The warm and moist environment of room temperature rice is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, since the spores will multiply at a very fast rate. The longer you leave the steamed rice to "cool" on the stove before putting it away, the bigger your chances of getting sick when you reheat and eat the rice later on.

What symptoms should you look for? Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea are tell-tale signs that Bacillus cereus may have made their way to your gut.

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But don't worry! That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat rice! According to NHS, you can easily prevent the dangers of food poisoning by following these steps:

  • Serve rice as soon as it's cooked and put any leftovers in the fridge right away
  • Cool rice on the stove top for no more than an hour
  • Don't eat leftover rice that's been in the fridge for more than one day
  • Only reheat rice once, and make sure it's cooked all the way through

Did you know about the dangers of eating leftover rice? Protect yourself and your family and make sure you share this with your friends!