Yes, eating reheated rice can cause food poisoning. It's not the reheating that causes the problem, it's how the rice is stored before reheating.
spore toxin
Undercooked rice may contain spores of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can cause food poisoning. Some of the spores of this bacteria can survive when the rice is cooked.
If the rice is left at room temperature, the spores will grow into bacteria. These bacteria multiply and may produce toxins that can cause vomiting or diarrhea.
The longer cooked rice sits at room temperature, the more likely it is that bacteria or toxins will render the rice unsafe.
Symptoms of food poisoning
If you eat rice that contains Bacillus cereus, you may get sick and have vomiting within 30 minutes to 6 hours, or diarrhea after 6 to 15 hours. Symptoms are relatively mild and usually last about 24 hours.
Tips for serving rice safely
before meal
- Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing and cooking food. Keep utensils that come into contact with raw ingredients separate.
- Proper temperature: When cooking rice, make sure it reaches high temperature, around 100 degrees Celsius.
During meal
- Ideally, eat the rice immediately after cooking.
Dispose of leftovers
- Cool rice as quickly as possible (within 1 hour): Divide food into shallow food containers and seal with lids.
- Discard any leftovers that have been kept at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Store leftovers for a specified period of time
- Dispose of leftovers in the refrigerator after 3 to 4 days.
- Dispose of leftovers in the refrigerator after 3 to 4 months.
reheat
- When reheating rice, make sure the rice reaches high heat.
- Make fried rice
