How Long Is Rice Good For In The Fridge?

Rice is one of the most commonly eaten food in many homes. Rice is not an expensive food item and also it is filled with nutrition. Many times, it happens to all of us, we cook rice more than our eating capacity and keep leftover rice in the fridge. But do you know how long is rice good for in the fridge?

Rice is a versatile food and it tastes delicious with many dishes. People throw cooked rice because they think it is not safe to eat. But this is not true. If you store cooked rice safely in the fridge, you can use it longer. Is cooked rice safe to eat or not? For how many days cooked rice can be stored in the Fridge. All questions related to cooked rice are answered in this guide.

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How Long Is Rice Good For In The Fridge?

If you know how to store any cooked food in the fridge, keep your family safe and healthy. Bacteria start growing in the cooked food on the same day if you keep it at room temperature. So, people keep rice in the fridge.

But how long is rice good for in the fridge. If you keep cooked rice in the fridge in an airtight container, it can be used for 4-5 days.

Cooked rice that is kept between 40°F and 140°F has a higher chance of coming into contact with bacteria. The fridge has a lower temperature than 40°F so rice is safe inside the fridge for 4-5 days.

After cooking rice, transfer it to a cool container from the hot container and cool it at room temperature. Now take rice in the air-tight container and put it into the fridge. To cool down rice quickly to room temperature make a shallow layer on the sheet pan. Don’t put hot rice in the fridge directly.

Can You Eat Rice After 5 Days In The Fridge?

Rice can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days. After 5 days it depends on the condition of the rice is, eatable or not. If you eat rice that is gone off, it may cause food poisoning or any other diseases to you. If you see the below sign means rice is not good to eat.

The best way to check the condition of leftover rice is to smell the rice. If bacteria start growing in the rice, it will smell sour and funky. Bacteria change the smell of the rice. It is a clear sign; that rice is no longer good to eat. It will make you ill.
When we keep rice in the fridge for longer, its moisture goes away. Sometimes, the rice smell is not bad but when you take rice in your hand, you may feel how dry and hard they are, this is a clear sign, rice is not good to eat.
It would have happened to you sometimes; you store rice in the fridge but don’t remove water from the rice properly. A water and rice combo in the fridge is a good place for the growth of the bacteria.

Check also – How To Grate Potatoes In The Food Processor?

How Long Is Cooked White Rice Good For In The Fridge?

Cooked white rice can stay in the fridge for a higher time than normal rice. Where normal rice or brown rice can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days, white rice can be stored for 6-7 days.

Recipes You Can Make With Cooked Rice

Video credit – she cooks

How To Store Cooked Rice In The Fridge?

You can store cooked rice in the fridge for a long if you follow some precautions. Before placing cooked rice into the refrigerator allow it to properly cool down. If you are in hurry, make a shallow layer of the rice on a pan so it cools down quickly.

Next, use airtight containers to store cooked rice in the fridge. When cooked rice comes into the contact with air it creates moisture and rice will go off. So, to store rice safely in the fridge for longer, use resealable plastic bags.

You should only reheat stored cooked rice when you are going to eat it. If rice quantity is more, reheat only that much quantity which you are going to eat. If you reheat all rice and then again store leftover rice in the fridge, it will become unhealthy and make you ill.

Fridge or Freezer Where You Should Store Cooked Rice?

In the fridge, you can store rice for 4-5 days but in the freezer, you can store rice for up to 6 months. Freezing cooked rice is good if you want to keep it stored for a longer time.

People store cooked food in the freezer in large batches so whenever they want to eat rice, they can reheat it. Add oil to the frozen rice so that when you reheat it so they become soft.

Is It OK To Eat Leftover Rice?

You can eat leftover rice if it is stored and cooled properly in the fridge. Rice contains a bacteria called Bacillus Cereus which has spores that are resistant to heat.

After cooking, if we keep cooked rice at room temperature or hot temperature for long, these spores can hatch. After that bacteria start making rice unhealthy.

So, whenever you make rice always keep it in a cool place. Before eating previously cooked rice, reheat it. The ideal temperature for leftover cooked rice is 165°F. It makes cooked rice safe to eat. Cooked rice is too dry so add a small amount of water. Water will create steam and it will make rice soft and eatable.

Conclusion

People store rice in the fridge. Reheat it before using stored rice. Now you know how long is rice good for in the fridge. 4 to 5 days is a safe time period to store rice in the fridge. If you want to store it for months, use a freezer. Every time when you eat stored cooked rice, first check whether it is in the good condition or not. Throw rice if it is more than 5 days old.

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