Who Plans out their Dinners?

Well, I'm glad you're so happy!  Even though I love cooking, I am dead on my feet after working all day and I would probably cry if I was expected to cook a meal from scratch every night once I got home.  I'm also out at work events often during the week so I really can't guarantee I would be able to do it consistently either. I don't even commute like peedal!  But as StephanieLea said, I would be in a permanently bad mood if I tried. I seriously am impressed by you two. 

Thanks!  Did I mention I was also a single parent at the time??? Hence the permanent bad mood...if I didnt cook, we weren't eating!   I was a lot lazier about what i'd prepare though and were in real danger of falling into a routine,ie. fish and chips on Friday, pesto on swim night.  Now I don't repeat meals for 3 weeks, but again, i've got the time and energy and consider it at the moment, to be my "job".

They also think that reheating leftovers gives you food poisoning?  Especially rice.  Well, I've always made fried rice out of leftover white rice.  It doesn't even work very well with fresh cooked rice.  My husband has been won over by fried rice, but is still suspicious of most leftovers.

I found this on the Food Standards Agency's website:

I've heard that reheating rice can cause food poisoning. Is this true?

It's true that you could get food poisoning from eating reheated rice. But it's not actually the reheating that's the problem – it's the way the rice has been stored before reheating.

Uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, bacteria that can cause food poisoning. When the rice is cooked, the spores can survive. Then, if the rice is left standing at room temperature, the spores will germinate into bacteria. These bacteria will multiply and may produce toxins (poisons) that cause vomiting or diarrhoea. Reheating the rice won't get rid of these toxins.

So, the longer cooked rice is left at room temperature, the more likely it is that bacteria, or the toxins they produce, could stop the rice being safe to eat.

It's best to serve rice when it has just been cooked. If that isn't possible, cool the rice as quickly as possible (ideally within one hour) and keep it in the fridge for no more than one day until reheating.

Remember that when you reheat any food, you should always check that it's piping hot all the way through, and avoid reheating more than once.

Ah, that's interesting Chary.

I don't know why but we never seem to get tummy troubles?  I do put leftovers in the fridge right away, but have never taken any special trouble with rice.  I'm sure I got my recipe for fried rice from a cookbook suggestion years ago.  I'll try to be extra careful from now on though.

Wow, that is really good information, chary.  I use rice so many times in a row it is not even funny.  But I never let it sit once cooked. My MIL, on the other hand, cooks a huge pot of rice and after dinner, just leaves it on the stove overnight (doesn't even put it in the fridge).  

As with Tin, I have not once had any troubles with being ill from rice (or possibly ill but didn't know why).  DH makes fried rice all the time as well.

Thanks!  Did I mention I was also a single parent at the time???

I bow down to your greatness. 

I found this on the Food Standards Agency's website:

I've heard that reheating rice can cause food poisoning. Is this true?

It's true that you could get food poisoning from eating reheated rice. But it's not actually the reheating that's the problem – it's the way the rice has been stored before reheating.

Uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, bacteria that can cause food poisoning. When the rice is cooked, the spores can survive. Then, if the rice is left standing at room temperature, the spores will germinate into bacteria. These bacteria will multiply and may produce toxins (poisons) that cause vomiting or diarrhoea. Reheating the rice won't get rid of these toxins.

So, the longer cooked rice is left at room temperature, the more likely it is that bacteria, or the toxins they produce, could stop the rice being safe to eat.

It's best to serve rice when it has just been cooked. If that isn't possible, cool the rice as quickly as possible (ideally within one hour) and keep it in the fridge for no more than one day until reheating.

Remember that when you reheat any food, you should always check that it's piping hot all the way through, and avoid reheating more than once.

If you add an acid to the rice (like tomatoes, for example) it will prevent the bacteria from developing - but yes, plain rice is bad for leftovers. 

My parents have been reheating rice for years. They don't even put it in the fridge, just leave it in the rice cooker and reheat it the next day.  None of us ever had any tummy trouble from it but I have had tummy trouble from supposedly "fresh" rice from the Chinese takeaway.

My parents have been reheating rice for years. They don't even put it in the fridge, just leave it in the rice cooker and reheat it the next day.  None of us ever had any tummy trouble from it but I have had tummy trouble from supposedly "fresh" rice from the Chinese takeaway.

That's what my Mauritian relatives do too. And in university I once had a Chinese flatmate who used to do the same thing. Now, I rarely cook rice so it's not really an issue. I just thought the Food Standards stuff was interesting.

That's what my Mauritian relatives do too. And in university I once had a Chinese flatmate who used to do the same thing. Now, I rarely cook rice so it's not really an issue. I just thought the Food Standards stuff was interesting.

Leaving food standing in a pot overnight does seem a bit scary to me.  Thanks for the food standards thing Chary.  It would never have occured to me that rice had germs that can't be killed by reheating. I don't know how we've not been plagued by tummy stuff, but I don't think I can give up my fried rice.

You all have probably just built up an immunity to it!!!

I'm a bit lazy with rice, too. But am trying to be a bit better about it. I have IBS though, which makes it hard to determine if I'm really affected by anything.

You all have probably just built up an immunity to it!!!

I'd agree with that except the rice from the Chinese place made me sick and it was supposedly fresh. 

I had terrible food poisoning from rice once when I was a student.  I knew it wasn't anything else because all I had been able to afford that week was plain rice.  It was awful.

Well, my meal planning just got easier.  My lovely son announced this morning that he'll cook from now on  every Thursday and every saturday, he'll make pizza. 

Tonight, it's Mexican!  yay Adam!

Well, my meal planning just got easier.  My lovely son announced this morning that he'll cook from now on  every Thursday and every saturday, he'll make pizza. 

Tonight, it's Mexican!  yay Adam!

*Balmerhon glances over at Sammy and wonders how soon she can start training him...*

Well, my meal planning just got easier.  My lovely son announced this morning that he'll cook from now on  every Thursday and every saturday, he'll make pizza. 

Tonight, it's Mexican!  yay Adam!

Is this something a newly turned 2 year old could do?
lol

Is this something a newly turned 2 year old could do?
lol

ha ha!  I've only waited 13 years for this..