Lifestyle Desk: Is there more cooked rice in the morning? Left the extra rice in the fridge. It is okay to eat that rice at night, but many people may not have an idea about how long it can be kept in the refrigerator.

Many people leave rice in advance to avoid the hassle of cooking in a hurry while leaving the office. Just heat it up in the microwave before going. But is it healthy to cook rice and leave it in the fridge for days?

According to nutritionists, cooked rice can be kept in the refrigerator for two to three days. But not more than that. Leaving cooked rice in the fridge for longer will cause bacteria to grow. The rice may look fresh from the outside, but if it enters the stomach it can cause poisoning.

What kind of container you are keeping rice is also important. According to nutritionists, keeping rice in an airtight container with a lid will keep it fresh for two to three days. But if you put rice in a big wide pot or container and keep it open in the fridge, it can spoil within a day. Either water will come out of that rice or else it will smell. So it is important to keep rice in an airtight container in the fridge at all times.

After the rice is cooked, refrigerate only when it has cooled down. Refrigerating hot rice will spoil it quickly. It should be removed from the fridge half an hour before eating. After coming to normal temperature, it is better to boil the rice once more. It is better not to reheat rice in the same container again and again in the microwave.

After removing from the fridge, if you see that the rice has become soft and sticky, black or yellowish, it means that the rice has rotted. Germs and fungi have nested in it. It is better to throw away that rice.