Can heating rice in the microwave cause food poisoning? – ZAP News

Heating rice in the microwave can even cause food poisoning. However, it all depends on how it was stored.

Rice is a staple in many cuisines around the world and Portugal is no exception. But did you know that reheating rice can cause food poisoning? It’s not the act of reheating itself that poses a risk, it’s how the rice was stored before being reheated.

Raw rice can be the home of Bacillus cereus, a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. These spores can survive the cooking process and remain in the cooked rice.

If cooked rice is left at room temperature for a long period of time, the spores can multiply and produce toxins which may cause vomiting or diarrhea.

According to US Department of Agriculturethe symptoms of food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus usually occur within 1 to 5 hours after consumption of contaminated rice and may include relatively mild symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, which generally last for about 24 hours.

So how can you safely serve rice to avoid the risk of food poisoning?

• Serve the rice as soon as it is cooked: Ideally, rice should be served immediately after it has finished cooking. This minimizes the time the rice sits at room temperature, reducing the risk of bacterial growth.
• Put the rice quickly in the fridge: if you have leftover rice that you don’t plan on eating right away, it’s important to get it in the fridge as soon as possible, preferably within an hour. This helps to prevent the growth of bacteria.
• Reheat the rice completely: When reheating rice, make sure it reaches a warm temperature the entire time. This helps to kill any bacteria or toxins that may have formed during storage.
• Avoid reheating rice multiple times: It is important to note that rice should not be reheated more than once. Reheating rice multiple times can increase the risk of bacterial growth and disease transmission.

It is important to handle rice and any leftovers with proper food safety practices to minimize the risk of food poisoning. Ensuring rice is stored, cooled, and reheated properly can help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and toxins.