Should you eat cold rice that has been in the refrigerator for many days?

In a busy life, saving time and money is always a priority. Therefore, many families often cook more rice than they need in one meal to save for the next meal. In other cases, housewives do not intend to cook several meals at once but still have leftover rice for many reasons, and the leftover is stored in the refrigerator, sometimes for many days.

Whether or not to eat leftover rice that has been left in the refrigerator for a long time is something that many people wonder about.

Should I eat cold rice from the refrigerator?

According to nutritionists, cold rice kept in the right cold place can still be eaten without harming your health if stored and handled properly. However, you should not overuse this method or replace hot rice with cold rice, because it can reduce the culinary experience and affect your health if not handled properly.

Refrigerated rice should be consumed within 24 hours, and should not be reheated repeatedly to avoid losing nutrients. If left longer, the rice will not only be less delicious due to the effects of low temperatures, but also at risk of bacterial contamination. If you are not sure about the quality of rice that has been stored for a long time, it is best not to eat refrigerated rice but to throw it away to avoid health risks.

If you eat cold rice from the refrigerator, you need to take proper steps to preserve and reheat it.

Store cold rice properly

After cooking, you can let the rice cool naturally but no more than 2 hours before storing it in the refrigerator.

Cold rice should be stored in a tightly covered food container to avoid contamination. Do not let other foods come into contact with cold rice during storage as this can easily cause the rice to spoil.

The temperature in the refrigerator should be maintained stable, preferably below 4°C to limit bacterial growth.

Safe ways to reheat cold rice

Using rice cooker

The rice cooker is the most popular and convenient tool for reheating cold rice. This is also a popular method because it is simple and quick.

- Put cold rice in the rice cooker: You should spread the rice evenly so that the rice heats up evenly and faster, sprinkle a little water on the surface of the rice. The amount of water does not need to be too much, just one or two teaspoons, enough to create moisture and make the rice softer.

- Turn on the “cook” button and wait about 5-10 minutes depending on the amount of rice. When the rice is hot and steaming evenly, the pot will switch to “warm” mode.

Note: Do not leave rice in keep warm mode for too long as it may dry out the rice or lose its natural flavor.

Using the microwave

Microwaves are a great way to quickly heat up rice, especially when you only need a small portion. Place the cooled rice in a microwave-safe bowl or container, sprinkle a little water on top to keep the rice from drying out. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap to keep the rice moist (do not let the plastic wrap come into direct contact with the rice), then place it in the microwave and press the start button.

Heat the rice on high power for about 1-2 minutes depending on the amount of rice, then check to see if the rice is hot enough. If not, continue heating for another 30 seconds.

Using a steamer

This method helps the rice heat evenly and retain its flavor. Boil water in a steamer, then add the cooled rice to the tray, cover and steam for about 10 minutes or until the rice is heated evenly. If you want the rice to be more delicious, steam the rice with some pandan leaves or drizzle with sesame oil.

People who should not eat cold rice

- People with stomach pain: People with chronic gastric ulcers are often malnourished due to poor digestion and absorption. Cold rice is difficult to digest, so people with a history of stomach pain should not eat it.

- Postpartum women: Postpartum women need a balanced diet, providing lots of energy to quickly recover their strength, have enough milk for breastfeeding, and at the same time must ensure food hygiene and safety. Therefore, during this period, they should not eat cold rice because the nutrition and safety are both lower.

- Elderly, children: Due to health factors, the elderly and children are also two groups of people advised not to eat cold rice, especially not to eat cold rice that has been left in the refrigerator for several days.