If you’ve ever found yourself reheating rice from a takeaway, you might have worried about the potential health risks. Fortunately, experts assure that there’s a safe way to enjoy your leftovers without the fear of getting sick. Narriman Looch, who leads the food hygiene department at the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), emphasizes the need for caution when dealing with rice.

In an interview with consumer watchdogs at Which?, Looch pointed out that some takeaways might pre-cook rice and reheat it before delivery. The FSA, however, advises against reheating food more than once, which raises the question: what’s the best approach?

The key to safely reheating rice lies in how it was initially prepared, cooled, and stored. Firstly, if you’re unsure, it’s wise to ask the restaurant whether the rice was freshly prepared or reheated prior to serving. Secondly, if the rice is deemed safe for reheating, it should be cooled quickly, ideally within an hour, and then refrigerated.

When it comes time to reheat, ensure the rice is steaming hot throughout. Experts warn against leaving rice at room temperature, as this common mistake allows bacteria like Bacillus cereus to flourish, potentially causing food poisoning.

How to reheat rice safely

Reheating rice using a rice cooker is an option, but only use the cook or steam settings, as the “keep warm” mode doesn’t reach the necessary temperature to eliminate harmful bacteria. To prevent dryness, consider adding a splash of water before reheating.

For those looking to get creative with their leftovers, experts recommend transforming safely stored rice into crispy rice cakes. Mix the cold rice with a beaten egg and chopped spring onions, shape into patties, and fry in a pan with a little oil until both sides are golden brown. These crispy cakes make a delightful accompaniment to fish dishes.

Remember…

• Reheating means cooking your food again, not just warming it up, so make sure it’s steaming hot all the way through

• Cool leftovers quickly (within one hour) and refrigerate them

• Eat chilled leftovers within 2-3 days

• Never reheat food more than once

Narriman Looch, head of food hygiene at the FSA, told Which: “It’s OK to chill or freeze some leftover takeaways to reheat later. Ideally, you should check with the takeaway or restaurant to ensure the food is suitable for chilling or freezing and reheating, and follow good food hygiene at home. Never reheat food more than once.”

They conclude by reminding people that when in doubt, throw it out. “Don’t take the risk” they warn, adding: “It’s better to be cautious than to end up with food poisoning.”

NHS warning – food poisoning

Symptoms of food poisoning:

1. feeling sick or being sick
2. diarrhoea
3. tummy pain
4. a high temperature
5. feeling generally unwell

Call 111/NHS 24 if:

• you’re worried about a baby under 12 months
• your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they’re ill
• a child under 5 years has signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies
• you or your child (aged 5 years or over) still have signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets
• you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
• you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
• you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days

Call 999 if you:

• vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee
• have green vomit (adults)
• have yellow-green or green vomit (children)
• may have swallowed something poisonous
• have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
• have a sudden, severe headache
• have a sudden, severe tummy ache
• have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
• are having severe difficulty breathing, or taking lots of quick, short breaths
• are confused or not responding as usual