Is Your Leftover Rice Safe? (Plus 5 Recipes to Use It Up!)
— By Alex Gayton
I was talking to family over the holidays, and the concern of leftover rice came up, and how it’s not safe to eat. Last year, I saw this idea going around on social media with scary titles like “Why you should never eat leftover rice,” “Rice is toxic,” “Reheated rice or Fried Rice syndrome,” but I hadn’t looked into it until now. So here’s what we need to know.
What is “Reheated Rice Syndrome”?
It’s food poisoning caused by the bacterium Bacillus cereus (B. cereus). It’s naturally found in soil and plants, including starchy foods like rice and pasta. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, and typically resolve within 24 hours.
What causes Reheated Rice Syndrome?
The main cause is cooling and storing rice incorrectly.
- The Temperature Danger Zone: If rice sits at room temperature (40-140°F) for more than 2 hours, the B. cereus spores grow and produce heat-stable toxins.
- The Toxins: Because the toxins are heat-stable, reheating the rice to a high temperature might kill the bacteria, but it won’t remove the toxins that make you sick.
How to Safely Store and Eat Leftover Rice
- Store cooked rice in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking or one hour if the room temperature is 90°F or hotter.
- If you have a large batch of rice, store it in multiple containers so it can cool off quickly.
- When you reheat rice, be sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF as measured by a food thermometer.
- Make sure to eat the rice within 3-4 days (FoodKeeper App).
5 Recipes to Use Leftover Rice In
Now that we know how to keep our leftover rice safe, here are some recipes you can make with leftover rice!
- Chicken, Corn, and Rice Casserole – A simple and protein-filled meal.
- Cowboy Rice and Beans – A fast vegetarian barbecue flavor option.
- Fried Rice – A delicious, easy weeknight dinner.
- Make-Ahead Mexican Roll Ups – My favorite make-ahead freezer meal.
- NOLA Red Beans and Rice – A spicy, protein-rich meal for that extra bowl of rice.
Help get this important information out! Share this with friends and family to give them peace of mind and some delicious recipe inspiration for their leftover rice.
Resources
- Be Careful How You Store Your Cooked Rice (UC Cooperative Extension)
- Chicken, Corn, and Rice Casserole
- Cowboy Rice and Beans
- FoodKeeper App
- Fried Rice
- In the Kitchen: Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures
- Is Leftover Rice Safe to Eat? (Consumer Reports)
- Make-Ahead Mexican Roll Ups
- NOLA Red Beans and Rice
- Safety of Leftover Rice (N.C. Cooperative Extension)
Author
Alex Gayton, MS, RD is a registered dietitian (RD) and has been with University of Maine Cooperative Extension since January 2020. Alex is a supervisor and the social media coordinator for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program’s (EFNEP) Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages. She also is the creator of the Mainely Dish recipe video series. Alex loves food photography, baking, and cooking plant-based meals!