Brilio.net - White rice is a staple food that cannot be separated from society. Almost every day, white rice is the main part of the menu, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The practicality of its presentation and the neutral taste that is easy to combine with various types of side dishes, make white rice very popular with many people.
Because it is consumed every day, many people then choose to cook it directly in large quantities. This cooked rice is then stored as stock. Usually some people will store rice in the refrigerator so that it can last longer and not go stale easily.
Not a few people assume that the refrigerator can always be relied on to preserve food, including cooked rice. But did you know that storing rice in the refrigerator for a certain period of time can be very risky? Yup, basically, storing rice for more than 24 hours in the refrigerator makes this food unfit for consumption.
This was once conveyed by a gut health and Ayurveda expert named Dimple Jangda. In one of her uploads on Instagram, she revealed that cooked rice that is about to be stored should not be placed in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours. She reported from the nhs.uk website which explained that rice that is stored for a very long time can allow bacteria or even fungi to grow on the food.
photo: Instagram/@dimplejangdaofficial
As reported by BrilioFood from food.ndtv.com on Tuesday (10/9), raw rice or rice often contains Bacillus cereus spores, bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Well, this bacteria can survive, even after the rice is cooked. The bacteria can grow quickly if the rice is left at room temperature for too long.
Basically, some types of rice can contain spores of the bacteria Bacillus cereus. Mold can also grow on rice, appearing as a black, green, or white powdery substance. The most common mold on rice is Aspergillus oryzae, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort or digestive disorders such as vomiting, diarrhea, and even liver damage.
photo: freepik.com
But not only that, rice that is cooked, cooled, and stored in the refrigerator which has high humidity in creating an ideal environment for the growth of these bacteria. In fact, these bacteria can produce toxins that can cause food poisoning for some people.
Therefore, the temperature of the rice must actually be maintained. According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) as reported by food.ndtv.com, cooked rice should be stored at a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius. If you want to reheat it, make sure to cook or heat the rice evenly before consuming it. Also, avoid reheating rice more than 1 time.
photo: freepik.com
Well, to prevent the growth of these bacteria, it is important to ensure that the rice is cooked until done and stored properly. A closed and sterile container can reduce the potential for bacterial growth in rice stored in the refrigerator. However, the safest way is to cook the rice and finish it immediately. Or if you want to store it, finish the rice immediately in less than 24 hours so that the body is not contaminated with bacteria that cause digestive disorders.