The ManicaPost
EXTRA rice can always be put to good use, whether you are in the mood for fried rice or rice pudding.
With little or no embellishment, you can always serve it on the side of a fish or chicken dish.
But how long can you keep the leftovers, and how do you revive rice to be fluffy and moist again?
Follow these steps to preserve the flavour and texture of leftover rice—or any type of cooked grain.
How to safely store leftover rice
Cooked rice is very moist, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria growth if it is left at room temperature for more than two hours.
Play it safe and cool down any leftover rice quickly—either by spreading it out on a baking sheet, or placing it immediately in the refrigerator.
Storing cooked rice in the refrigerator
If you are planning to eat the leftover rice within three or four days (maybe in some fried rice, perhaps?), store it in the refrigerator.
Those little cardboard take-out containers may be cute, but they will also let in air, making leftover rice chewy and hard.
Transfer the cooled, cooked rice into an airtight storage container or a zippered plastic storage bag (remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing), then store in the refrigerator.
Storing cooked rice in the freezer
Not sure how soon you can use your leftovers?
Cooked rice can be frozen for up to three months; after that, it is prone to freezer burn.
As mentioned above, cooked rice should be cooled quickly and not left at room temperature for more than two hours.
Transfer the cooled, cooked rice into a zippable freezer bag.
Press the bag to remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing.
Write the date on the bag and store it flat in the freezer—it will take up less space and defrost more quickly.
How to reheat rice:
In the microwave
When reheating the rice, sprinkle a teaspoon of water over the top to help loosen stuck, dried grains.
Cover the container with a lid or plate to help retain moisture and steam the rice.
Reheat in the microwave on medium power, stirring every 30 seconds until the rice is hot.
On the stove
You can also reheat rice on the stove, gently steaming it with water to revitalise the grains.
Add a tablespoon of butter or oil in a saucepan, then add your rice.
Add 1 Tbsp. of water per cup of rice.
Cover the saucepan with a lid and turn stove to medium.
Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Serve once the rice is steaming hot.
In recipes
Frozen or refrigerated grains can be added directly to hot dishes like soups, stir-fries, rice casserole, and stews.
For stir fries, add a little oil to a sauté pan, add the rice, and cook on medium heat, stirring to break up any clumps.
Takeaway
Rice food poisoning from bacterial spores is a real thing.
Make sure you are storing your leftover rice properly, or you could get seriously sick.
Meal preppers and takeout fans, take note.
If you are not storing your cooked rice properly, you could end up with food poisoning.
You might have heard before that reheating leftover rice is dangerous and can cause food poisoning, and some even warn against saving your leftovers if you make a side of rice for dinner or order fried rice with your takeout.
But in reality, the danger does not come from reheating your rice, but comes from improperly storing rice before it goes in the fridge.
