Can You Reheat Rice? How to Keep Leftover Rice Safe
Reheated rice can cause food poisoning if it was stored badly. Cool it within an hour, keep it in the fridge no more than a day and reheat it only once.
By the Forkful editorial team · Published
Quick answer
Yes, you can reheat rice, but only once and only if it was stored properly. Cool it as quickly as possible, ideally within one hour, keep it in the fridge for no more than one day, and reheat it until it is steaming hot all the way through.
Why rice is different
Uncooked rice can contain spores of a bacterium called Bacillus cereus. These spores survive cooking, and the longer cooked rice stays at room temperature, the more likely it is that bacteria or their toxins will make it unsafe to eat. That is why, according to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), it is not the reheating that causes the problem but the way the rice was stored before it was reheated.
The rules for safe leftover rice
Chill rice as quickly as possible, ideally within one hour. Dividing it into smaller portions or spreading it in a shallow container helps it cool faster. Do not leave rice to cool in the rice cooker, steamer or pan.
Keep it in the fridge for no more than one day before reheating. When you reheat it, check that it is steaming hot all the way through, and never reheat rice more than once.
Can you eat rice cold?
Yes, if it was cooled quickly. The FSA says cold rice is fine when you put it in the fridge promptly and eat it within 24 hours, for example in a rice salad.
Can you freeze rice?
Yes. Cool the rice quickly, for example by standing the container in cold water, then cover and freeze it. The FSA says that freezing within an hour of cooking stops bacteria multiplying and producing a toxin. Defrost it in the fridge and reheat it until steaming hot, then eat it immediately.
What about takeaway rice?
The FSA advises extra care. Ideally eat takeaway rice soon after buying it or after it has been delivered, because some food businesses pre-cook rice and then reheat it. You cannot know how it was stored, so do not reheat it more than once.
Why the general 2-hour rule matters
The USDA tells people to refrigerate cooked food within 2 hours (1 hour above 32 °C) and to throw away perishable food left longer at room temperature. Rice that has sat on the counter overnight should be thrown away, even if it looks and smells fine.
If you feel unwell afterwards
Food poisoning usually causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain, and the NHS says it normally gets better on its own within a week with plenty of fluids. Contact a doctor if you have bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea for more than 7 days, vomiting for more than 2 days, signs of dehydration or cannot keep fluids down, or if the person affected is a baby. This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice.
Make it at home
Frequently asked questions
Why can reheated rice make you sick?
Rice can carry Bacillus cereus spores that survive cooking. If cooked rice stays warm for too long they can multiply and produce toxins. The problem is the storage, not the reheating itself.
How long can cooked rice stay in the fridge?
The FSA advises no more than one day before reheating.
Can I reheat rice twice?
No. The FSA says never reheat rice more than once.
Is fried rice made from leftover rice safe?
It can be, if the rice was cooled quickly, refrigerated for no more than a day and cooked until steaming hot all the way through. Make only as much as you will eat.