If the water used to rinse rice has that color, discard it immediately.

As the weather becomes humid during the summer, rice can develop mold. If you wash moldy rice and the rice water turns black or blue, it should be discarded immediately. Eating rice in this condition can impair stomach, kidney, and reproductive functions.

When mold grows on grains such as rice, cereals, beans, and nuts, mycotoxins are produced. These are a type of fungal toxin created by molds, and toxins such as 'Aflatoxin,' 'Ocratoxin,' and 'Zearalenone' can form on rice mold. All of these can cause acute and chronic health issues. Aflatoxins detected in rice, barley, wheat, peanuts, and corn are carcinogenic substances that can induce liver cancer, and they are not completely eliminated during normal cooking processes because they only break down at temperatures above 270-280°C. Ocratoxin can affect the kidneys, causing nephritis, and Zearalenone is known to cause reproductive dysfunction and infertility.

To check if rice has mold, look at the color or smell it. Moldy rice usually appears black, gray, or green, unlike regular rice.

If you're unsure just by looking at the rice, try washing it with water. Normal rice will produce cloudy white water when washed, but moldy rice will produce black or blue water. Moldy rice should be discarded immediately. Mold toxins are produced inside the rice and are resistant to heat. Washing moldy rice and cooking it does not eliminate the toxins.

How should I store rice to prevent it from spoiling?

The Rural Development Administration stored rice in airtight containers for 12 weeks at temperatures of 4°C, 15°C, and 25°C (room temperature) to investigate quality changes. As a result, it was found that at 4°C, rice maintained its taste, freshness, and color for up to 82 days; at 15°C, for up to 58 days; and at 25°C, for up to 12 days.

Therefore, it is best to store rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, if refrigeration is difficult and it must be stored at room temperature, it is recommended to keep it in a cool place where the temperature is below 15°C. However, during the hot summer months with high temperature and humidity, there is a risk of microorganisms such as pests, mold, and bacteria, and the quality can deteriorate quickly. In this case, it is advisable to purchase rice in small packages and consume it as soon as possible.

When selecting rice, carefully check the rice grains through the transparent window on the packaging. Fresh rice is transparent, shiny, and has few broken grains or undercooked, pure white rice.