Can you eat heated-up rice when pregnant?

In this article, we are going to answer if you can eat heated-up rice when pregnant, can pregnant women eat cold rice or heated rice in the microwave, what is the risk of eating heated rice when pregnant, and how to cook rice and store it safely. 

Can you eat heated-up rice when pregnant? 

Yes, you can eat heated-up rice if it has been in the fridge for no more than one day. Check that it is steaming hot when reheated and you should not reheat rice more than once. 

Can pregnant women eat cold rice?

Yes, you can only if it has been cooked steaming hot before. If the rice is previously cooked, you can wait until it is cold to eat it or if the rice was in the refrigerator, first reheat it until steaming hot and wait until it is cold to eat it. 

Can pregnant women eat heated rice in the microwave?

As long as you are sure that the food has been heated evenly, yes you can. Microwaves do not heat food evenly. It is better and safer for pregnant women to heat rice in other appliances until it is steaming hot. 

You can’t eat cold rice directly from the refrigerator because it can have bacteria. 

What is the risk of eating heated-up rice when pregnant?

If the rice has been in the fridge for too long there is a high risk of food poisoning. Food poisoning can be very dangerous in pregnant women. Bacillus Cereus is a bacteria hard to kill and can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. 

Bacillus cereus causes an acute intoxication leading to gastrointestinal illness. There are two types of syndromes it can cause:

Anemic Syndrome

  • vomiting
  • nausea
  • diarrhea

Symptoms usually start 0.5 to 5 hours after eating contaminated food. Symptoms disappear in 6 to 24 hours.

Diarrhoeal syndrome

  • diarrhea, sometimes with blood or mucus
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain

Symptoms start 8 to 16 hours after eating contaminated food. Symptoms disappear in 12 to 24 hours. 

Pregnant women are at high risk to have complications from Bacillus cereus infections. It is not recommended to give antibiotics because symptoms are caused by the toxins of the bacteria and not the bacteria itself. 

How long is cooked rice good for in the fridge?

Cooked rice can last up to 3 to 4 days if properly stored. Always double-check the smell and texture before you eat it. 

How should I cook rice when pregnant?

  • Make sure it reaches 140 F to kill bacteria

How should I store leftover rice when pregnant?

According to the USDA, leftover rice should be stored in a proper container, in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 to 4 months.

Should be stored below 40 F and if you have any leftover rice that has been at room temperature for 2 hours or more you should throw it away. 

How to correctly reheat rice?

It has to be steaming hot so that you can kill all bacteria.

Microwave leftovers

  • Add one to two tablespoons of water for each cup of rice
  • Heat in a container with a lid
  • Heat for about 3 to 4 minutes until steaming hot
  • Internal temperature should be 165 F or more 

Stir-fry leftovers

  • Put rice with oil in a saute pan
  • Stir until all rice is covered with oil
  • Internal temperature should be 165 F or more

Steam leftovers

  • Put rice with oil or butter in a saucepan with a lid 
  • Add one to two tablespoons of water for each cup of rice
  • Stir until internal temperature should be 165 F or more

Other FAQs about Rice that you may be interested in.

Can you eat rice without reheating?

Can you eat rice without cooking it?

Can you eat rice without chewing?

Conclusion

This article answered the questions if you can eat heated rice when pregnant, can pregnant women eat cold rice or heated rice in the microwave, what is the risk of eating heated rice when pregnant, and how to cook rice and store it safely. 

Citation

https://alisonreedecoaching.com/pregnant/can-you-eat-cooked-rice-when-pregnant.html

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322775#conclusion

https://mycoosada.com/baby/can-u-eat-reheated-rice-when-pregnant.html

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