Brown rice is the entire grain, containing only the inedible outer husk removed.
It has a delicious nutty flavor and can be used as an ingredient to create so many different types of dishes.
The good thing about cooked brown rice is that it can be refrigerated when needed.
But how long does cooked brown rice last in the fridge?
Cooked brown rice will last for about 4-6 days if stored properly in your refrigerator.
If you are using brown rice for recipes that call for precooked or refrigerated rice, the cooked brown rice will only last about 1-2 days.
How to refrigerate cooked brown rice correctly?
When it comes to brown rice storage, the factors to take into consideration are as follows.
Brown rice contains a lot of oil which can turn rancid if left exposed to air or light for too long.
Cooked brown rice should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated at all times after being cooked.
The best way to store cooked brown rice is to keep it in the fridge and make sure it doesn’t sit out too long.
If refrigerated immediately, cooked brown rice should stay good for about 3-4 days.
If you’re planning on keeping it longer than that, you can freeze cooked brown rice and thaw it later on for an easy microwave meal.
It can be frozen for up to 6 months.
However, it is best when it’s used within a week of being cooked, but this may vary depending on how you cook it or store it.
How long can cooked brown rice be left out at room temperature?
Cooked brown rice can be left out at room temperature for about two hours, but it’s best to eat the rice sooner rather than later.
If you must leave cooked brown rice out of refrigeration for longer than two hours, keep it in a tightly closed container and place in an area where it will not be exposed to excessive heat.
This is a basic way of extending the shelf life of cooked brown rice at room temperature.
How long does cooked brown rice last in the freezer?
Cooked brown rice can last in the freeze for about 3 to 4 months.
However, the length of time depends on how you are storing the rice.
Cooked brown rice can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months if it is wrapped tightly in freezer wrap or aluminum foil and placed inside a heavy-duty freezer bag.
How to tell if cooked brown rice is bad?
Bad cooked brown rice can be detected by its appearance, taste, and smell. Cooked rice can spoil in as little as four hours.
Step 1: Appearance
Bad cooked brown rice will appear to be slimy with a sulfur-like odor.
Cooked brown rice should have a firm, dry surface with no signs of discoloration or sliminess.
It should not have an alcoholic smell. Cooked brown rice should be tan to light pink in color, depending on the type of rice used.
Also, it should be slightly translucent, has a stickier texture than fresh cooked or fully-refrigerated rice.
Sometimes, it has a bubbly surface but is not necessarily an indication of spoilage.
Step 2: Taste
Bad cooked brown rice has a sour and pungent taste.
Cooked brown rice should have no odor or flavor other than cooked rice flavor.
It should not taste like raw brown rice and should have an earthy flavor, but it should not be sour or pungent.
Most importantly, it should not taste rancid.
Step 3: Smell
Bad cooked brown rice will have an ammonia-like smell.
Cooked brown rice may smell like rotten eggs or sulfur, but should not smell like ammonia.
If cooked brown rice smells like ammonia, it has gone bad. Also, it should not smell sour, rancid, or alcoholic.
Cooked brown rice should have only a slight cooked rice smell and should not have a strong or overpowering odor.
It is normal for cooked brown rice to have a stronger, more pungent smell if kept at room temperature for an extended period of time.
Cooked brown rice may turn sour when it is kept at room temperature for an extended period of time, but it should not have a sour or rancid odor.
Does brown rice go bad after cooking?
It depends on how you store it.
Cooked brown rice has a life of about 7 days when stored in the fridge in an air-tight container.
Cooked brown rice does not go bad after being cooked, but it can become dry and unpalatable if not stored properly.
It should not be left at room temperature before being put in the fridge or freezer.
This is because cooked brown rice can become germy if left at room temperature for a while, especially the longer it is out.
What is the shelf life of brown rice?
Cooked brown rice can be stored in a pantry for about 5-7 days if it is kept at room temperature.
It can be stored in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days.
Cooked brown rice can be frozen for several months when it is placed in an airtight container.
However, cooked rice stored in the freezer will get hard and dry but it can still be eaten.
So before refrigerating or freezing your cooked brown rice, make sure that you know the potential results.
Final Thoughts
Brown rice is one of the healthiest staple foods you can enjoy on a regular basis.
The good thing about cooked brown rice is that you can store the leftover for later use.
You can refrigerate it to keep safe from contamination.
If you have read the whole article, you might already know that cooked brown rice can last for about 4-6 days in the fridge.
By following the tips and recommendations in this post, you’ll find the refrigeration process of cooked brown rice easy.
I hope this helps. Thanks for stopping by.