Why you should not store cooked rice in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours

Why you should not store cooked rice in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours

October 21, 2025 – 15:20

Keeping it for more than 24 hours can cause fever, abdominal pain and intestinal problems.

He rice It is a fairly common meal in many homes due to its practicality and low cost. However, its long Preservation after cooking can generate serious consequences. Below are some recommendations to achieve healthy habits.

When preserving this food, there is a possible risk of contamination by the bacteria called Bacillus cereus. This can survive the initial cooking process. If hot rice is left at room temperature for more than an hour or remains in the “danger zone,” approximately 5°C to 60°C, the spores can germinate and produce heat-resistant toxinswhich implies that reheating the rice will not eliminate these toxins.

Cristina Lora, food technologist and food safety specialistwarned about the importance of controlling this habit. Due to this, he highlighted that “Food security is Russian roulette” because a person can consume the same thing for years without problems and, suddenly, suffer from poisoning. Special care is required for certain groups such as pregnant women, young children and immunosuppressed people.

How to avoid leftover rice

In principle, the specialist explained that this phenomenon does not occur with the same intensity in other foods. On the other hand, in rice The recommendation remains strict: do not exceed 24 hours. To avoid overeating this food, it is recommended to follow the following steps.

  • Control portion when cooking: calculate how much rice you are really going to consume.
  • Cook in smaller batches: Make less and, if necessary, make a new batch the next day.
  • Divide into small portions and chill quickly: If there is any leftover, distribute the rice in shallow containers so that it cools more quickly before storing it in the refrigerator.
  • Consume in less than 24 hours: If you have leftovers, try to consume them within that time limit.
  • Reheat only once: Do not reheat repeatedly, since each heating and cooling can encourage the multiplication of bacteria.
  • Alternate with other accompaniments: Do not always depend on rice to accompany your meals, so that you do not have to prepare it daily.


Source: Ambito

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