What is the Best way to reheat fried rice?

What is the Best way to reheat fried rice? Whether it is chicken egg fried rice or vegetable fried rice, fried rice is easily one of the most delicious dish around the world. Whether homemade or takeaway, you will often end up having excess rice that you’d want to eat later in the morning or whenever you feel like hungry. Leftover fried rice can be just as appetizing as the first meal but what’s tricky here is how to reheat leftover fried rice?

What is the Best way to reheat fried rice
Image credit: canva.com

So what is the best way to reheat fried rice? The best way to reheat fried rice is to add a little moisture back in to the rice before reheating so they don’t dry. You can either use a microwave, stovetop or oven for the process. No matter what method you go with, you will have to add a little broth, oil or water to prevent the leftover rice from drying out.

What is the Best way to reheat fried rice? Guideline

In this guide, we will discuss 4 different ways to reheat fried rice. Each of the four methods is fairly easy but takes different amount of time and use a different kitchen tool. There are four ways to reheat your fried rice leftovers which are as following:

  1. By using a Microwave
  2. By Using an Oven
  3. By Using an Air Fryer
  4. By Using a Stovetop

Reheating fried rice using a Microwave

Reheating with Microwave is the most common way for people use to reheat their leftovers. However, it has the tendency to dry out rice, especially fried rice. In order to prevent the rice from drying up into tiny little rocks you will need to add some liquid to maintain a minimum moisture level in your fried rice.

The quickest solution is to add a tablespoon or two of water into the leftover. If you want to enhance the taste a little bit, add a few tablespoons of chicken or vegetable broth into the leftovers.

Here are few simple steps you should follow to reheat your fried rice:

  1. Place the rice in a microwave-friendly bowl and mix it with two tablespoons of water, oil or broth.
  2. Cover the bowl with a microwave splatter guard.
  3. Cook the rice on high for at least two minutes, give it a good stir and cook it again for another two minutes.
  4. Let it cool down and enjoy.

Reheating up to 4 minutes in the microwave is more than enough to get the perfect results. Reheating more than that might result into dried out rice.

Reheating fried rice using an Oven. Best way to reheat fried rice

Reheating your fried rice in an oven is another easy and simple process but it might seem time consuming to some. Here are few simple steps to follow:

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Place your leftover fried rice in an oven-safe and add a few drops of water or a tablespoon or two of broth.
  3. Make sure there is enough liquid and moisture to keep the rice from drying out.
  4. Cover the dish with the lid so that the moisture stays inside the rice.
  5. Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes at 425-450 degree Fahrenheit.
  6. Once the reheating cycle is over, take the dish out, and remove the lid to allow some of the steam to escape.
  7. Stir, serve and enjoy!

Reheating fried rice using an Air Fryer – Best way to reheat fried rice

Air fryers are amazing and futuristic devices that work really well for reheating any kind of leftovers. It is perhaps the easiest method for reheating anything but it has the tendency to dry out the ingredients. Air fryers are considered expensive appliances but we have put together a guide if order to help out our readers to find some of the best air fryers under 100$.

To reheat fried rice in an air fryer, one needs to follow these steps:

  1. Transfer the leftover rice into your air fryer’s frying pot.
  2. Add a spoon or two of oil or water, and cook on high mode for 6-8 minutes.
  3. Turn the air fryer off, take the dish out, let it cook, and enjoy!

Reheating fried rice using Stovetop

Using a pan on your stovetop is the most common and easy way to reheat your fried rice. This method will not only retain the texture of food but also produce the best taste however; it does require a little more work on your part.

Since fried rice is already fried, so frying it again will only add to the original taste and flavor of the dish. Here is how to reheat fried rice on the stovetop:

  1. Considering how oily your leftover fried rice is, add a little water, oil or broth to your pan and warm it up for a while. A non-stick pan would be great otherwise rice will stick to the pan and cleaning will be a lot more annoying.
  2. Add the rice to the pan once it is warmed up and stir continuously. You can use a wooden spatula for the purpose.
  3. Cover the pan and cook the rice for 5-6 minutes.
  4. Serve and enjoy!

Read also: Panasonic Rice Cookers

Various types of Fried Rice

Chicken egg fried rice, Chinese fried rice, vegetable fried rice, and fried rice can all be reheated using any of the above-mentioned methods, however, there are few points one should consider while doing so.

Chicken Egg Fried Rice

While reheating Chicken Egg Fried Rice, the key is to prevent the rice and the chicken from drying out. Our recommended method to reheat chicken egg fried rice is in the oven. Using a covered dish helps regulating the temperature and keeping the leftovers moist enough to keep it from drying out.

Vegetable Fried Rice

Reheating vegetable fried rice gets tricky as veggies will reheat in no time and go soft if overheated. So the microwave is the best option for reheating vegetable fried rice. Microwave eliminates the problem of veggies sticking to the frying pan or overcooking.

Chinese Fried Rice

Chinese fried rice from a restaurant often has a lot of oil than if you would cook at home. Using a non-stick frying pan on a stovetop would be just right for Chinese fried rice as you will not have to add much oil because restaurants usually add enough oil already. It would be wise to transfer the rice from a takeaway container to an airtight container before for storing in the fridge.

Best way to reheat fried rice
Image credit: lafoy.ru

FAQs: What is the Best way to reheat fried rice?

How long cooked rice may last?

Rice properly stored can last up to 4 days in the refrigerator though we’ll advice you should eat it sooner than later. Cooked rice offers perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Hence, sealed in an airtight container, refrigerated in time will ensure the rice will last longer. If rice gets dry or hard, smells funny or slimy, the best solution is to bin it.

Is it safe to reheat rice?

Yes! Reheating is safe but make sure the rice is stored in an airtight container to avoid any bacteria. Reheat thoroughly to kill off any potential bacteria that may have snuck in. Again, it is advised to eat the rice within a day or two but certainly not more than 4 days.

How to reheat crispy rice?

Add the leftover crispy rice in an oven-safe baking-covered dish. Splash some water; use a fork to break up large clumps, and cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake at 300F for about 15-20 minutes and you are good to serve!

Conclusion: What is the Best way to reheat fried rice?

Concluding the guide, we’ll advice, no matter what method you go with, always use oven-safe / microwave-friendly dishes and pots to reheat anything not just rice. Make sure you follow all the health and safety measures using the utensils in an oven or microwave. Bake or reheat thoroughly to make sure all the bacteria is killed if any.

We hope the content of the article may help in some ways. If you find it helpful do share it with likeminded folks. Let us know what’s your favorite method of reheating fried rice leftovers?

Related Articles

  1. How To Prepare Healthy Brown Rice Tabouli
  2. How Long Does it Take to Cook Rice in a Rice Cooker?
  3. How to fix undercooked rice?
  4. Can you cook beans in a rice cooker?
  5. How to prepare healthy and favorite rice recipes?
  6. How to cook black rice in rice cooker?
  7. How to cook jasmine rice in a rice cooker