In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question” does rice mold” with an in-depth analysis of signs of molded rice. Moreover, we are going to highlight the difference between brown and white rice and their shelf life.
Does rice mold?
Uncooked rice can last for eternity. When they are stored properly, they can last for a longer time. When they are stored in a humid and warm place, they can develop organic growth such as mold. If water is present in uncooked rice for a long time, then the molds can grow on rice.
Brown rice contains fatty acids, so they can go bad if they are exposed to air.
Signs to find out that rice has gone bad:
Presence of mold:
If you see any sign of mold on rice then immediately throw them. The presence of green, black or blue spots on the rice surface means that they have grown mold, so you immediately throw them.
Smell:
If the smell of rice is funny. It is because they might catch the smell of other foods. When you eat rice and they smell like other foods, then you can hardly eat them because of their smell. Even if cooked rice doesn’t smell good, then it means they have gone bad.
Expired rice has an unpleasant and or strange smell, due to which you would not like them to eat.
Slimy texture:
If you see a slimy texture, throw it away immediately. Cooked rice when stored in the freezer, becomes hardened. But if you store cooked rice in the fridge, you find that they have gone hard and crunchy. So, they are not useful for consumption.
Expired rice has a slimy and gooey texture. While normal rice is airy and fluffy.
Shelf life of uncooked rice:
The shelf life of uncooked rice depends upon which type of rice you are storing. The main difference in shelf life is present between brown rice and white rice. Both types of rice have a stable shelf life when they are in dry form.
Brown rice:
Brown rice has higher contents of fat and oil. It is not milled or polished. It can become rancid more quickly than white rice. Brown rice has a shelf life of 3 to 6 months from the date of its manufacture.
White rice:
The shelf life of white rice is up to 2 years if it is kept at room temperature.
Shelf life of cooked rice:
Cooked rice can last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. But they can last for 8 months if you store them in the freezer.
The main difference between brown rice and white rice:
All types of rice contain carbs and small amounts of proteins. But they have no fat.
Brown rice:
It is a whole grain. It consists of all parts of grain including the fibrous bran, the nutrition out germ, and the carb-rich endosperm. It’s chewy. It takes a little longer to cook due to its tough bran exterior.
Benefits:
- Brown rice is a nutrient-rich rice
- It has higher contents of fiber and antioxidants.
- It contains vitamins and minerals.
- It is high in magnesium and fiber which help to control blood sugar levels.
White rice:
White rice does not contain bran and germ. Both of these are the most nutritious part of the grain. Due to this reason white rice has very low nutritious contents. White rice is softer and cooks more quickly than brown rice.
Benefits:
- It is a quick source of energy.
- It has simple carbohydrates which can easily break after entering the body.
- White rice is easily digested. If you are facing the problem of diarrhea then you should eat white rice.
- White rice is affordable. You can take it with other nutritious ingredients to make a healthy meal.
Health risks of eating expired rice:
Contamination of mold in dry rice reduces its nutritional quality.
Food poisoning:
- When rice is expired, it is mostly contaminated by mold or fungi. Fungi or mold produce mycotoxins which become the reason for food poisoning.
- Improper food handling of cooked rice can also increase the risk of food poisoning. It is because of Bacillus cereus which becomes the reason for abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Bacillus cereus is a bacteria that is found in rice, this bacteria can survive even after cooking.
- When you cook rice and don’t refrigerate it within 2 hours of cooking, then it can produce bacteria in it. Bacteria produce toxins that can make you sick.
Other health problems:
Mycotoxins become the reason for vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain convulsions, and coma. The risk of cancer increases due to mycotoxins. The immune system becomes weak.
Here, you can find answers to your questions about moldy rice.
Conclusion:
In this brief guide, we answered the question “Does rice mold?” with an in-depth analysis of signs of molded rice. Moreover, we discussed the difference between brown and white rice.