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Why can leftover rice be dangerous?
Dr. “Theres a whole host of germs out there that you can get sick with” through food, according to Frank Esper of Cleveland Clinic Children’s center for pediatric infectious diseases, who spoke with USA TODAY.
According to him, these microorganisms can either “grow in food that’s been left out too long, or can make a toxin in the food.” Occasionally, food contamination occurs instead of food spoilage. ”.
Due to the presence of the bacteria Bacillus cereus in rice, pasta, and other foods, experts advise against storing leftover rice improperly. Heat and extended exposure to the bacteria cause them to produce a toxin.
And this isn’t just a problem for rice. The bacterium can also be linked to sauces, soups and other leftovers left out at room temperature.
After the teenager consumed leftover rice and noodles, doctors amputated his fingers and legs hours later.
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How can I safely store leftovers?
“Cooking things properly will kill most of the bacteria, and then handling after to ensure that too much bacteria doesn’t grow,” said Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietician and nutritionist at the Mayo Clinic, to USA TODAY.
Let’s say you wish to store the leftovers from a meal you just finished. Zeratsky advised “cooling leftovers quickly, within two hours, to refrigerator or freezer temperatures to ensure safety.”
She advised storing food in a shallow container so that it can spread out and cool down more rapidly, saying, “You want to help that food come down to refrigerator temperatures most quickly.”
It’s advised to reheat leftover food to a temperature of 165 degrees in order to guarantee that it’s safe to eat and that the bacterial load has been reduced if you wish to do so later. ”.
You can use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached 165 degrees, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If you’re microwaving food, you may want to check to see if its heated through.
The USDA states that any perishable food that is left out at room temperature for longer than two hours needs to be thrown out. Additionally, in warmer months, discard perishable food that has been left out at room temperature for longer than an hour if the temperature reaches more than 90 degrees.
Wondering about reheating that week-old pizza in the back of the fridge? Toss it. Leftovers can be refrigerated for three to four days. You can find additional safety tips on storing and reheating food here.
