Tainted Rice?

My Mom always told me to throw out whatever was left out on the stove, because if it is moist it will attract bacteria that grows into fungus.

I have always just done this to be safe.

good luck.

It's fine! They do this all the time in Rio. The rule of thumb is that you can leave it out that first night you cook it and then have to refridgerate afterwards. I do it. Now for freezing, I usually seperate it out and put it that day but no harm has been done. i really wouldn't worry too much. If it were that easy, there'd be a lot of people with a lot of problems. Yes, bacteria, but there is bacteria everywhere and on everything. If your rice goes that bad that fast then you have other problems on your hand.

Oh, and it can't be too too hot out...

P.,
I have a masters degree in public health and took a class specifically on foodborne illnesses. Like the other moms said, rice is cheap, throw it out and don't take a chance, especially with little kids. They are more likely to get sick than you.
Foodborne bacterial growth depends on time, temperature, water content and other variables. Once you hit a critical point which can vary, depending on all those variables, bacterial growth becomes exponential....meaning something left out a few hours might be okay, but a few more hours can make you deathly ill depending on how your body reacts.
Now the most common rice bacteria from what I remember is bacillus, which will probably just give you diarrhea for a few hours, but why go through that.
And not knocking the lady in Hawaii, but this is a story from Hawaii. There was one boy in the public health class from Hawaii. His mom cooked rice every day and left it on the counter and they just helped themselves whenever. Diarrhea was a way of life for him until he went away to college and the diarrhea stopped! It was from eating the contaminated rice every day!

Ditto. Yes, any kind of rice.... if left "moist" will turn sour.

Here in Hawaii we eat rice daily as a staple.. any kind of rice. It's okay if plain rice, white or brown, is left covered over night just on a counter... that is what we do here. It does not have to be refrigerated. BUT, if it is a humid day or the rice is left moist and not allowed to "air-out"... then it will turn sour by the next day. Then you have to throw it out. And, only for 1 day can rice be left out... by day 2, it will get sour by then.

We typically cover the rice pot with a dish towel... not a saran wrap kind of thing because it traps moisture in the rice pot, and then it can't "breathe."

But, if your rice is cooked in broth or other things or with butter etc., then yes, you have to refrigerate it as soon as it cools down, or within a reasonable amount of time. So it does not get sour or spoiled.

Yes, I would throw it out.

Good luck,
Susan

better safe than sorry! rice is cheap enough & it wont be worth it if someone gets sick!...C.

Yes. Throw it out. Rule of thumb (according to my Nutrition Professor in college) is if it has been out for 2 hours, throw it out.

when in doubt throw it out

I usually leave my rice in the pot sitting out for 1 to 2 days depending on the weather and how warm the house is. Over night the kitchen is cold enough and the metal pot keeps it kool enough. I reheat it before eating, so any small amount of bacteria will be killed off in the microwave. I smell it to make sure the it still smells ok. If it turns and you get a sour vinegar kind of smell, dump it. I know lots of people in Hawaii that would tell you that rice does not go in the refrigerator ever. They make the rice for dinner, leave it out and eat it for breakfast and lunch. None of them were ever sick from eating rice.

P., you sound pretty conscience since you are asking. My husband eats food all the time that is left out and does not refrigerate his lunch. He could careless if there is a ice pack in there and if he doesn't eat it one day he will eat it the next, even Turkey! Well he always has a bad tummy. He thinks I am ridiculous with my eating habits and I think he is dumb with his. What more can I say.

Although, I will say that depending on cultures, many people leave food out and are used to it. Every one's system is different and every one handles foods differently.

My daughter once left chicken out overnight and ate it. She wound up sick from it and wound up in the hospital. Worse, she was barely pregnant at the time (she hadn't missed her period yet and didn't know). The baby was born with multiple major birth defects and was stillborn. Don't take a chance.

I would not eat it. They say that any food left out after 2 hours starts to grow bacteria. Ss they say when in doubt don't.

Sandy

Hey- Trader Joes has Frozen boxes of brown rice- I think its even organic that contains 3 bags, about two serving in each bag, and you just microwave for 3 mins. I was done with the rice cooker and the hour on the stove! Its sooo easy and tastes great! Good Luck!!!

Shouldn't be a problem. I also do that with vegetarian vegetable soup. Left it out all night and day. If the rice wasn't made with beef or chicken broth, should be fine. Never gotten sick fom eating rice that sets out all night and day.

Dear P.,
I am no Biologist, but I would guess that brown rice is all right to eat with such a slight amount of "fermentation", especially this time of year. It sounds like you are a very fastidious and conscientious woman with good ideas for health food. Was the lid of the pot open since the cooking? (this is a factor to consider) I am quite sure that most meats would need to be tossed out-ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER!