How poisonous is cold rice?

I heard that raw rice always contains spores of a type of bacteria (called Bacillus), this is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning, and can survive at high temperatures, meaning that even if you cook the rice, this type of spores will still exist.

If you eat it right away, it is okay, but if cooked rice (left at room temperature) is left for a while, for example from breakfast to lunch, these spores will become real bacteria and multiply in large numbers. When eating rice containing these bacteria, the eater will be poisoned, causing vomiting, acute diarrhea, and in severe cases, hospitalization.

Previously, many people also speculated that eating reheated cold rice can cause stomach cancer. The reason is because rice is mainly composed of starch, and in conditions of temperatures of 60oC or higher, the process of "starch gelatinization" will occur. The gelatinous form caused by starch expansion greatly affects digestion. Therefore, regularly eating recooked cold rice can lead to indigestion, and in the long run can cause stomach cancer.

The best way to eat rice

Rice will be most nutritious if it is eaten immediately after cooking. The longer rice is left, the more likely it is to have a negative impact on health due to improper storage.

Experts advise women that if they want to keep leftover rice for the next meal, they should put it in the refrigerator as soon as possible, no later than 1 hour after the rice is cooked. You can cool the rice quickly by using a fan or soaking the rice cooker in cold water and then putting it in a tightly covered box and storing it in the refrigerator. However, mothers must remember not to leave rice for more than 24 hours, after that time, do not regret it but throw it away immediately.

If steaming with a rice cooker, you can add a little water or steam it on top of the newly cooked rice. Steaming with a microwave can help the rice to be hot enough without drying out.

Note, only reheat rice once. If you have reheated rice but still do not eat it all, do not eat it again no matter how much you regret it! No one wants to waste rice, but saving a little bit means sacrificing the health of the whole family. It's not worth it. The best way is for mothers to learn from their experience so that next time they cook less rice, and balance it so that it's enough to eat, and not leave leftover rice.