4 ms·

It works most of the time, but not always, traditions around food are important. Rice is particularly insidious, rice grains carry Bacillus cereus spores that g

It works most of the time, but not always, traditions around food are important. Rice is particularly insidious, rice grains carry Bacillus cereus spores that germinate after cooking. The trouble is that that particular bug grows at fridge temperatures and generates a heat-stable exotoxin. Any prepared rice older than 24 hours has the potential to give you really roaring diarrhea, even if it doesn't taste off.

jacquesm 4y ago
Good tip, thank you!
ShredKazoo 4y ago
Wait so even if rice goes directly from the cooker to the refrigerator, it should be eaten within 24 hours? I break this rule all the time, no diarrhea yet
- twelve40 4y ago
  yeah, weird... i reheat leftover rice all the time, both plain or say pilaf leftovers, and haven't had any problems yet...
  - HarryHirsch 4y ago
    Good luck to both of you.
    - twelve40 4y ago
      had to actually look that up: According to FoodSafety.gov FoodKeeper App, leftover rice can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days (my foodkeeper said 4-6 days) and the FDA is typically on the paranoid side of things, like recommending to toss chicken in a couple of hours.
      - HarryHirsch 4y ago
        The British NHS is much more conservative, they recommend one day: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can-reheating-rice-cause-food-poisoning/ https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can... Food poisoning from improper handling of rice is sufficiently common to have inspired studies on the risk. Here's one that's thorough from an age when public health still mattered: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2130471/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2130471/. The meat is on p. 440 - 10^5 - 10^8 colony-forming units is danger territory. Note - it's not the bacteria themselves that cause symptoms, it's an exotoxin that sends people to the bathroom, don't kid yourself into believing you "have immunity" or something. It's really a mystery why the government is so incautious with the matter, food poisoning in the very young and elderly is life-threatening. If you are young and healthy you'll survive, but for 48 hours it's a beastly experience that you are better off without. My theory is institutional capture by business interests, after CDC shortened COVID isolation guidelines upon the insistence of the airline industry no one should ever believe a word from them ever again. Imagine people went off rice - it's big business in Arkansas!

jacquesm 4y ago

Good tip, thank you!

ShredKazoo 4y ago

Wait so even if rice goes directly from the cooker to the refrigerator, it should be eaten within 24 hours? I break this rule all the time, no diarrhea yet

twelve40 4y ago
yeah, weird... i reheat leftover rice all the time, both plain or say pilaf leftovers, and haven't had any problems yet...
- HarryHirsch 4y ago
  Good luck to both of you.
  - twelve40 4y ago
    had to actually look that up: According to FoodSafety.gov FoodKeeper App, leftover rice can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days (my foodkeeper said 4-6 days) and the FDA is typically on the paranoid side of things, like recommending to toss chicken in a couple of hours.
    - HarryHirsch 4y ago
      The British NHS is much more conservative, they recommend one day: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can-reheating-rice-cause-food-poisoning/ https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can... Food poisoning from improper handling of rice is sufficiently common to have inspired studies on the risk. Here's one that's thorough from an age when public health still mattered: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2130471/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2130471/. The meat is on p. 440 - 10^5 - 10^8 colony-forming units is danger territory. Note - it's not the bacteria themselves that cause symptoms, it's an exotoxin that sends people to the bathroom, don't kid yourself into believing you "have immunity" or something. It's really a mystery why the government is so incautious with the matter, food poisoning in the very young and elderly is life-threatening. If you are young and healthy you'll survive, but for 48 hours it's a beastly experience that you are better off without. My theory is institutional capture by business interests, after CDC shortened COVID isolation guidelines upon the insistence of the airline industry no one should ever believe a word from them ever again. Imagine people went off rice - it's big business in Arkansas!