What’s Growing in Your Leftover Rice? The Fridge Isn’t Always Safe

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Most of us don’t think twice before tossing leftover rice into the fridge. It’s a popular habit: cook a big batch, store the rest, and reheat it for tomorrow’s lunch or dinner. But here’s something most people don’t know—leftover rice can become a hidden danger, even when kept in the refrigerator.

Yes, rice can grow bacteria, and it doesn’t always take bad smells or visible mold to signal that it’s unsafe to eat. The biggest culprit? A bacteria called Bacillus cereus—and it can survive cooking.

When rice is cooked, any spores of Bacillus cereus present in the uncooked grains can survive the heat.

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