Cooked rice is best eaten within 1 day of cooking. Cool it within 1 hour, keep it covered in the fridge, and reheat only once until piping hot.
How to store it
- Cool the rice quickly — within 1 hour — by spreading it out on a tray or wide dish.
- Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate as soon as it's cool.
- Keep at 0–5°C and use within 1 day.
How long it keeps
Eat refrigerated cooked rice within 1 day. To keep it longer, freeze it (for up to a month) rather than leaving it in the fridge.
Signs it has gone off
- A sour or fermented smell.
- A slimy texture or any visible mould.
Food safety: Rice needs extra care: uncooked rice can carry Bacillus cereus spores that survive cooking and multiply if rice is left warm. Cool it fast, refrigerate promptly, use within a day, and reheat only once until piping hot.