How long does rice last in the fridge? As a general rule, cooked rice lasts in the fridge anywhere from four to seven days . 

But according to CSIRO scientists, you may have to throw cooked rice out earlier than the timeframe, depending on how the rice smells or what texture it has. It’s important to note that the four to seven days rule applies to white rice and wild rice, brown rice will actually expire faster.

Cooked white rice lasts in the fridge for four to seven days. If you store your rice properly it will have a much longer shelf life. However, don’t completely rely on this general rule: use your sense of smell or the rice’s texture to help you judge if it’s still safe to eat.

Yes, your cooked rice can go off, and it goes off much faster depending on how it was stored . Here are a few signs that your rice is no longer safe to eat.

Have you experienced food poisoning after eating a bad batch of rice? Sometimes it only takes 30 minutes for the nasty bacteria to produce toxins that make you feel ill.

According to CSIRO food microbiologist Cathy Moir, it's the bacteria strain Bacillus cereus, that makes you sick.

The classic symptoms of food poisoning are diarrhea, vomiting, and an upset stomach. If you have food poisoning from your expired rice, drink plenty of water, avoid food for a few hours, then slowly ease your stomach back into gear by eating bland food like bananas and saltines.

But it’s not just rice. Bacillus cereus is commonly found in soil and sometimes in plant foods that are grown close to the ground, like legumes, cereals and spices.

When food is cooked and handled properly, Bacillus cereus is not a problem. The major issue at hand is that dry conditions, think rice packets or spice containers, are a present as spores.

Unfortunately not, the cooking process doesn't kill the heat-resistant spores or the toxin the bacteria produces. Cooked rice is a breeding ground for bacteria, as it loves moist and warm environments. If anything, it will thrive, especially when other bacteria that may have been present initially have been killed by cooking.

It’s good practice to store your rice in the fridge, preferably within an hour of cooking it, but definitely within four hours.

However, keep in mind that refrigeration won't kill the bacteria but it will slow down their growth.

White rice lasts a bit longer than some other types, but not by much. Brown rice, for example, lasts only four to five days in the fridge. This is because brown rice is less processed than white rice, and the oils that make it healthier are also the reason why it expires faster.

Wild rice has the same expiry period as white rice, lasting anywhere from five to seven days in the fridge.

If you are cooking rice to consume later, wait until the steam stops rising, then cover the rice and put it in the fridge.

As a preventative measure, this will help it stay out of the food temperature danger zone — 5-60 degrees Celsius.

For large portions of hot rice, scoop the rice and place into shallow trays less than 10cm deep to get them cool faster. But do not stack the containers until the rice is cool.

Cold rice is just as safe to eat as hot rice, although you may have issues with the texture. Use the same tips as recommended above to know if it’s still okay to eat.

Absolutely. Freezing your cooked rice is a great way to ensure that you don’t let any leftovers go rancid in your refrigerator, and you can conveniently defrost it any time for your meals. However, you should add a little bit more moisture into your leftover rice – perhaps some olive oil or butter – because it’s lost a bit of water through the freezing process.

Petri Dish with an overnight culture of Bacillus cereus.

Cooked rice in the fridge will last less than a week, but frozen rice will have a shelf life anywhere from six to eight months in your freezer before it’s not okay to eat anymore. If you cook rice in large batches, storing it in airtight containers and freezing it is a good way to cut your meal prep time and eliminate food wastage.

Proper storage is the key to avoiding food poisoning. If you’re not sure if your cooked rice is still safe to eat, the smartest thing to do is to throw it in the bin. It may be wasteful, but it’s better than dealing with stomach cramps from spoiled leftovers. In the future, put your cooked rice in the freezer if you’re not going to eat it ASAP.

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