How Long Can You Keep Cooked Rice?

How Long Can You Keep Cooked Rice?

Common food items like rice and its safe consumption time windows can be misunderstood. Times are tricky, and we want to save food waste, but sometimes rice is best in the worm farm or compost than in ours or our loved one's bellies.

How long can you keep cooked rice?

Cooked rice can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-6 days. It's important to cool the rice quickly after cooking it, ideally cooling it in the fridge and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to minimize the risk of bacterial growth.

If you want to store it for a longer period, you can consider freezing it. Frozen rice should be used within the month but some say you can keep it for up to 8 months. Flatten it into freezer bags or containers and then defrost it in the fridge ready to use the same day. 

Reheating rice

When reheating rice before you eat it, make sure it reaches a temperature of at least 74°C to kill any potential bacteria that may have multiplied during storage.  It's also recommended to reheat rice only once to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Always use proper food safety practices when handling and storing cooked rice