California eFoodHandlers Practice Exam

Cooked rice was left out on the counter all night, the safe way to handle it is to:

1. Reheat it to a high temperature

2. Serve it for breakfast

3. Throw the rice into the garbage

4. Refrigerate it immediately

The correct answer is: Throw the rice into the garbage

Rice is notorious for harboring bacteria that can cause food poisoning when left out at room temperature for extended periods of time. Reheating it to a high temperature may not fully kill the bacteria and could still result in illness. Serving it for breakfast is not safe either as the bacteria would have grown overnight. The safest option is to discard the rice and not risk any potential foodborne illness. Refrigeration may also be an option, but it is best to err on the side of caution and not consume the rice.