Is It Safe to Eat Cold Rice? Here’s What You Need to Know

Yes, you can eat cold rice — but only if it’s been stored properly. If rice is cooked, cooled quickly, and stored in the fridge, it can be eaten cold the next day without risk. However, rice is one of the highest-risk foods for food poisoning if mishandled, so it’s important to understand the risks and how to avoid them.

Why Rice Can Be Risky

Cooked rice can contain Bacillus cereus, a type of bacteria that survives the cooking process. If rice is left at room temperature for too long, these bacteria can multiply and produce toxins that cause food poisoning — often leading to vomiting and diarrhoea within hours.

This is sometimes referred to as "fried rice syndrome" because it’s commonly linked to rice that’s been left out before reheating.

When Is Cold Rice Safe to Eat?

Cold rice is safe to eat if:

• It was cooked properly to start with

• It was cooled quickly (within 1 hour)

• It was stored in the fridge in a sealed container

• It’s been in the fridge for no more than 1 day

• It smells and looks normal

If the rice has been left out for more than 2 hours, or overnight at room temperature — throw it away, even if it looks fine.

How to Store Rice Safely

1. Cool it quickly – Spread rice out in a thin layer on a plate or tray, or transfer to a shallow container.

2. Refrigerate within 1 hour – Don’t leave rice sitting on the hob or in the rice cooker for too long.

3. Keep for up to 24 hours – After that, it’s safer to bin it.

4. Store in an airtight container – This helps prevent contamination and drying out.

Can You Reheat Cold Rice?

Yes — but it must be piping hot all the way through before eating. Don’t reheat it more than once.

If reheating in the microwave, add a splash of water, cover loosely, and stir halfway through. On the hob, add a little oil or water and stir while heating.

Never reheat rice that’s been left out at room temperature — the heat won’t destroy toxins that may have already formed.

Eating Cold Rice in Dishes

Some dishes like sushi, rice salads, or leftover takeaway are commonly eaten cold. This is fine as long as the rice was:

• Freshly cooked and chilled quickly

• Stored in the fridge

• Eaten within 24 hours

If you’re unsure how it was stored (especially with takeaway rice), it’s better to reheat it or avoid it altogether.

Final Thought

Yes, you can eat cold rice — but only if it’s been cooked, cooled, and stored correctly. When handled properly, cold rice is safe and tasty in salads, sushi, or leftovers. Just be careful: rice can carry food poisoning risks, so when in doubt, throw it out.