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Leftovers & Prepared

Cooked rice & grains

Fridge (4°C / 40°F)

3–4 days

Freezer (−18°C / 0°F)

6 months

Worth knowing

Rice left at room temperature is a real risk: Bacillus cereus spores survive cooking and make a toxin reheating won't destroy.

Store it right

  • Cool fast — spread on a tray, then refrigerate within 1 hour.
  • Reheat until steaming hot all the way through, once only.

Signs it has gone off

  • Hard, dry, or slimy grains.
  • Sour or musty smell.
  • Any stringiness when stirred.

Never taste food to test it — a small bite is enough to make you ill.

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