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Reheat Rice Safely: Expert Food Hygiene Tips
5 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Rice needs careful preparation, chilling, and storage for safe reheating.
- Chill cooked rice rapidly, ideally within one hour, and refrigerate it.
- Ensure reheated rice is steaming hot all the way through.
Specialists from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) have provided essential guidance on how to safely reheat leftover rice, a common concern for many consumers.
According to Narriman Looch, head of food hygiene at the FSA, the safety of reheated rice largely depends on its initial preparation, chilling, and storage. Cooked rice should be chilled rapidly, ideally within one hour of cooking, and kept refrigerated. It is also advised against reheating food more than once.
When reheating, ensure the rice is steaming hot all the way through. Experts caution against leaving rice at room temperature, as this environment can foster the growth of bacteria such as Bacillus cereus, a potential cause of food poisoning. Asking restaurants about the rice's freshness is also recommended.
