A third of people reheat rice - this is how to do it safely according to an expert
Reheating rice can be a huge health risk if not done correctly 🍚
- 86% of households are guilty of poor food handling and hygiene habits, according to new research by Virtual College.
- Just under a third of people (30%) said they often reheat rice.
- Katherine Pavling, Head of Product at Virtual College, explains how to reheat rice safely.
From cooking a meal to reheating leftovers, proper food hygiene is essential to ensure your dinner doesn’t harm your health.
New research from online training provider Virtual College has found that more than four in five (86%) people across the UK admit to poor food handling habits, from not washing their hands before cooking to using the same chopping board for raw meat and vegetables.
It also found that just under a third (30%) reheat rice often, which can be a huge health risk if not done correctly, whilst a quarter of people (23%) forgot to refrigerate leftovers until the next morning, a fifth (19%) admitted to thawing frozen meat on the kitchen counter, and alarmingly, more than one in ten (13%) used the same chopping board for both raw meat and vegetables.
Katherine Pavling, Head of Product at Virtual College, said: “Even when at home and cooking for yourself, food hygiene and handling guidance should always be followed, treated more than just advice and instead as strict guidelines for you to follow.
“Straying from these guidelines can easily leave you or your family exposed to harmful bacteria that can, in turn, leave you seriously unwell, so it’s never worth the risk of cutting corners to make things easier.
“And if you’re ever unsure about how to properly prepare or store something, always check the packaging before you start a search online, as more often than not, you’ll be able to find the answers you’re looking for there.”
Is it safe to reheat rice?
The main risk associated with reheating rice is not how you reheat it, but how you store it. Bacillus ereus, a heat-resistant strain of bacteria, can thrive in cooked rice if it is left at room temperature for more than two hours.
Katherine recommends that to minimise the risk, make sure your rice is cooled quickly by spreading it on a thin tray, to avoid any heat being trapped. Then store your rice in the frige in an airtight container and eat within 24 hours.
Katherine said: “Contrary to popular belief, reheating your rice alone won’t kill Bacillus cereus, but it will kill other foodborne bacteria that may have developed. The key to safely reheating rice is ensuring it’s piping hot and steaming throughout, aiming for a temperature of 75°C, if you’re sure the rice was stored correctly overnight.
“Also, as a rule of thumb, you should never reheat food more than once, and this is especially true for rice due to the dangers posed by the bacteria it can carry.”
You can find out more about how to safely reheat food at the Food Standards Agency.