Woman eating meal with rice (stock image).Photo:Getty
Getty
Rice is a staple in many households. It’s cost-effective, pairs well with tons of other foods, and is easy to make. However, rice canmake you sick— and even potentially be deadly for a small portion of the population — if you don’t know when to toss it.
The reason? Rice can contain something called Bacillus cereus, a toxin-producing bacteria found in soil, vegetation and food. The pathogen is a common cause of food poisoning, which causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that typically last for about 24 hours, per theNational Library of Medicine.
And while most people will makea full recoveryafter falling ill from Bacillus cereus — or not even become ill in the first place when exposed to a small amount — the bacteria can be deadly to vulnerable populations like young children and the elderly as well as those who are immunocompromised.
That’s why it’s important to handle rice properly and know when it’s time to throw both cooked and uncooked rice in the trash. Read on to learn how to know when rice has gone bad.
Cooked rice.Getty
Cooked Rice
The Smell Test: Does the rice smell bad or off? According toAllrecipes.com, fresh rice should not have much of an odor, so if it smells sour or strange in any way, it’s not worth the risk.
A slimy, mushy texture is also a tell-tale sign that it’s time to toss yourcooked rice. Cooked rice typically gets drier over time, so a softer, more moist texture indicates bacterial growth and is a red flag, according toHealthline.
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Allrecipes also notes that you should be careful if your rice appears duller in color than when you first cooked it. Additionally, always be on the lookout for green or blue dots, which is a suresign of mold— which can be toxic when ingested, per theCleveland Clinic.
All in all,experts agreethat cooked rice should only be stored in the fridge for four to six days and no longer.
A Note About Reheating Rice
Uncooked Rice
Uncooked rice (stock image).Getty
If your uncooked rice smells souror mustyor feels damp, clumpy or oily it’s time to throw it away, per AllRecipes. All are signs that mold has begun to grow. Additionally, if uncooked brown rice appears yellow, it’s a sign that it has turned rancid.
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Overall, uncooked white rice typically has a shelf life of two years, while uncooked brown rice typically has a shelf life of six months, per Healthline. The site also notes that you should always ensure that the bag containing the rice is intact, as small holes can indicate the presence of small bugs known as weevils.
How Worried Should You Be?
source: people.com
