Boiled Rice (3 Viewers)

[sharon long]

Hi everyone! I'm feeding the birds all the time I make up a mixture of lard with wild bird seed, chopped peanuts, raisins, oats, digest biscuits and scones. Our friendly Wagtail loves mild grated cheese. The RSPCA said this morning to put out boiled rice but cold rice can make us ill so will it affect the birds?

 

[Marmot]

Here is a link to the RSPB food guide and it does say it is fine for rice but unlikely to be eaten by many birds, also there is little energy value to it, you would be better actually still making your lard cakes or getting some fat ball, bird seed, sunflower hearts, Peanuts. Even cake crumbs are normally good for birds
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/index.aspx

 

[sharon long]

As I said I'm feeding a mixture of lard with wild bird seed, chopped peanuts, raisins, oats, digest biscuits and scones. But as we have as many as 80 Starlings eating everything I thought rice would be quite cheap. But if there's no energy value then I won't bother. Thanks for letting me know

 

[Apodemus]

Cold rice can make us ill???? Please explain.

Mike

 

[rick ward]

Sounds great Sharon ill be round for tea Rick York

 

[DaveN]

Cold rice can make us ill???? Please explain.

Mike

That did cross my mind too. I've heard about re-heating rice making us ill but not eating cold rice.

 

[robinm]

Found this on the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbfood/NF2670471?thread=3298835

I always eat leftover rice straight from the fridge.

 

[The sniper]

I have always eaten cold rice but apparently once rice cools down it develops a bacteria which gives us a dicky stomach

 

[Monahawk]

I have always eaten cold rice but apparently once rice cools down it develops a bacteria which gives us a dicky stomach

Tell me about it Sniper. In my younger days I reheated some rice and was horribly ill for 2 days afterwards. Lesson:- Don't reheat the stuff once its cooled. If in doubt, just chuck it out. Never considered giving it to birds.

Si.

 

[Kentbloke]

I have always eaten cold rice but apparently once rice cools down it develops a bacteria which gives us a dicky stomach

Has anyone told Müller about this?

 

[Apodemus]

Well, you live and learn. Bacillus cereus. Sounds delicious.

 

[Marmot]

There was actaully a programme on TV last night and part of it was some health inspectors going to food premises, the one they went to was an Indian restaurant which had left a large container of cooked rice on the kitchen counter. The health inspector was worried about this as he said it first starts making spores which turn into toxins which can make anyone ill. From what he said it is alright kept at a cool fridge temp but not out in the warmth of a kitchen [but not for any long length of time]...I am glad our local authority have a think called "Scores on the doors" for the health rating on food premises.

 

[typo]

I must say I'm rather mystified by the the recent alarm about keeping cooked rice. Of course I would suggest that you should all follow good food hygene and freezing and refrigeration is definitely best practice for cooked foods.

However for a sane perspective. I've been married to an oriental lady for 26 years cooking rice at 3 or 4 days a week. We cook it by the boil dry method and the excess rice is left in the cooking pot at room temperature usually for reheating the next day. This is standard practice for her 60 million country men (and I suspect a billion other orientals) where fried rice for breakfast is the norm. Kept too long it can definitely go off. One sniff is a give away. I can promise that we have had no problems. Mind you, I didn't know about the psycotropic symptoms. Thats something to think about .

Used sensibly cooked rice for birds should be fine, but I suggest that any remaining uneaten at the end of a day should be discarded if you are concerned.

David

 

[michael23]

The bacteria in the rice only becomes a problem if you reheat it. Basically the temperature is no where near hot enough to destroy the bacteria. So cold rice is fine.

 

[Monahawk]

Well, you live and learn. Bacillus cereus. Sounds delicious.

Also bloody serious:eek!: Prefer to stick to good old spuds. Can't be poisoned by them unless you're foolish enough to eat one raw. Also baked potato skins make great bird food.

Si.

 

[Apodemus]

...Prefer to stick to good old spuds. Can't be poisoned by them .....

Si.

Hmmm. don't potatoes contain the deadly poison solanine?

Best off sticking to turkey twizzlers.