Satisfying and refreshing, the rice salad is one of the typical dishes of the summer. Everyone eats it, but few know that it can be harmful. Beware of the health hazard that lurks in the cold rice salad.
Beware of the health hazard that lurks in the cold rice salad
Often the summer heat reduces the appetite. This is why many prefer cold dishes. Among these, the rice salad is certainly among the most popular. It is in fact nutritious, fresh, satiating and lends itself to a thousand variations. In short, it never gets boring. But few know that a health hazard can be hidden in cold rice salads.
It is a bacterium called bacillus cereus. This proliferates not only in rice, but in all cooked cereals (therefore also pay attention to pasta, spelled, barley …). The bacterium causes food poisoning which can manifest itself in two different ways.
On the one hand, the bacterium can cause nausea and vomiting within one to six hours of ingesting the contaminated food. On the other hand, intoxication can manifest itself with abdominal colic and diarrhea (these symptoms appear between 8 and 24 hours after eating the offending food). Either way, symptoms can last up to 24 hours.
In short, certainly an unpleasant situation. But how, then, to prevent the proliferation of bacteria in the rice salad?
How to prepare and store it correctly
The fundamental rule to prevent the spread of Bacillus cereus is to respect the cold chain. In fact, the bacterium proliferates in food when it is left at room temperature. Everyone knows that rice salad can be stored in the refrigerator. But few abide by some important rules when preparing the dish.
The ingredients must be added to cooked rice when it is cold. But it is important not to leave the rice at room temperature for a long time to allow it to cool. It is best to rinse it with cold water immediately after cooking, then spread it out on a tray instead of pouring it into a bowl.
The salad must then be kept in the refrigerator in a covered container. It is best to mix the contents from time to time to ensure that the refrigeration is uniform. Finally, when serving rice salad, don’t take it out of the fridge too early, and be careful not to leave it in the sun.
Deepening
–
(We remind you to carefully read the warnings regarding this article, which can be consulted who”)
