fried rice It is one of those dishes that everyone likes, and that can be done in many different ways. If you’ve ever ended up with too much fried rice and wondered what to do with it, you’ll be happy to know that you can reheat it.
whatWhat is the best way to reheat fried rice? The best way to reheat fried rice is to use a wok. and fry it again, because that’s how you’ll get the right texture and flavor, but you can also use a saucepan or air fryer.
If you are looking for a quick method, you can use the microwave, and if you are looking for the easiest way, you can always use the oven.
The best ways to reheat fried rice
You might think reheating fried rice is a no-brainer, but there are actually a few things to keep in mind and a few tricks to help you get the best results.
First of all, you need to know how to properly preserve fried rice. How long does leftover fried rice last in the fridge and freezer? The answer depends on how you store it.
As with any other food, you should refrigerate fried rice within two hours of cooking. To maximize the shelf life of your rice, use airtight containers.
If stored correctly, leftover fried rice will last up to 5-7 days in the fridge, and up to 6 months in the freezer.
When you do decide to reheat the fried rice, check to see if it has gone bad: If your leftover rice has an odd smell, taste, or appearance, it’s best to throw it away.
Another great tip is to spray a small amount of water over the rice just before storing it in the fridge to prevent it from drying out.
If you want to reheat pork fried rice, or if you want to reheat chicken fried rice, you’ll also need to pay attention to the meat, as both pork and chicken tend to dry out in the fridge.
In this case, the best way to reheat this type of fried rice is to use the oven and cover the rice with a pan to regulate the humidity. This will also help if you want to reheat shrimp fried rice, as shrimp can be difficult to reheat properly.
There are a few different methods for reheating fried rice and there is no really best or worst method. It all depends on how much time you have on hand and what’s in your kitchen. If you follow our guide, you can make it work regardless of what you have on hand and get great results with your reheated fried rice.
How to reheat fried rice in the microwave
One of the most used ways to reheat fried rice is to reheat it in the microwave – it’s a super quick and easy method, but it has a tendency to dry out the rice.
Luckily, there are some tips you can use to avoid it. The first thing you can do when reheating fried rice in the microwave is to add some liquid back into the rice, either a tablespoon or two of water or broth (chicken or vegetable). In this way, you will help the rice retain its moisture and enhance its flavor.
You should also cover your bowl of fried rice, to keep all the moisture in: you can use another plate or a larger bowl inverted on top of your bowl. Keep in mind that you want some air to escape, so keep it loose.
Here are the steps to reheat fried rice in the microwave:
- Choose a microwave-safe bowl.
- Take your rice and add some liquid.
- Cover the bowl.
- Reheat for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the rice.
- Reheat for another 4 minutes.
- Always reheat fried rice for more than 5 minutes total, for safety reasons.
- Let it cool down and serve it.
How to reheat fried rice in a saucepan
Retaining moisture is very important when reheating fried rice, and another great method for this would be to reheat fried rice in a saucepan.
Add a little oil or butter to the pan so the fried rice doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. In this case, the butter serves a dual purpose, because it makes your fried rice richer, but it’s not necessary, and using oil is just as good.
Another very good tip is to add water once you have started reheating the fried rice: you should add half a cup of water and then cover the pan with a lid so that steam begins to form and moisture can be added back to the fried rice.
Here are the steps to reheat fried rice in a saucepan:
- Choose a saucepan.
- Pour in a little oil or melt a little butter over medium heat.
- Add the fried rice.
- Break up the largest pieces of fried rice.
- Pour the water.
- Close the lid.
- Let it steam for 10-12 minutes
- Stir quickly.
- Check the temperature and serve it when it is well reheated.
How to reheat fried rice in an air fryer
If you’re looking for a quick method to reheat fried rice but don’t have a microwave, or just don’t think it’s going to work for you, you can always reheat fried rice in the air fryer. The air fryer is usually the best appliance to use for fried foods.
Although it takes a bit longer than microwaving, this method gives some pretty amazing results! If you have a smart microwave with an air fryer, you can use that too.
Best of all, you don’t even have to add any liquid as the air fryer will naturally lock in the moisture – you’ll have perfect reheated fried rice without too many steps!
Here are the steps to reheat fried rice in an air fryer:
- Put the fried rice in your air fryer.
- Put it on high heat.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes.
- Check the temperature.
- If you’re not sure, cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Let cool and serve.
How to reheat fried rice in the oven
Reheating fried rice in the oven is the easiest option of all, but it certainly takes more time than other quick methods like using the microwave or air fryer.
The oven method requires you to add a bit of water to the rice, just like the other methods, to avoid ending up with dry fried rice. Use broth if you want to enhance the flavor of the rice; otherwise, water is fine too.
The amount of liquid you need depends on how much leftover fried rice you have on hand – make sure it’s enough to add moisture, but not too much, or you risk turning your fried rice into a soup.
If you want a slightly crispy outer layer when you reheat the fried rice in the oven, cover the ovenproof dish. Covering the rice with a lid will help the moisture stay inside while giving the rice enough crunch.
Here are the steps to reheat fried rice in the oven:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Place the fried rice in an ovenproof dish.
- Add a few tablespoons of water or broth.
- Cover the pan with a lid.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the cap.
- Cook another 5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
How to reheat fried rice in a wok
Reheating leftover fried rice in a wok is the best method you can choose: unlike other fried foods, the fact that fried rice has already been fried at high temperatures with oil does not influence re-frying.
On the contrary, by re-frying the rice it will bring back the original texture and flavor that you want when you reheat Chinese rice.
Keep in mind that you should always add some moisture back to the fried rice, and the easiest is to add just 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth.
When you reheat fried rice in a wok you can also use additional ingredients like eggs, meat or other vegetables of your choice.
Here are the steps to reheat fried rice in a wok:
- Heat a little oil over medium to medium-high heat.
- Add the rice to the wok.
- (Optional) Add additional ingredients.
- Break up any large clumps.
- Pour some water.
- Cover with a lid.
- Wait for the steam to stop coming out.
- Remove from heat, stir and serve.
Can you reheat fried rice?
The great thing about fried rice is that not only can you successfully reheat it in many different ways, but you can also re-cook it without messing it up if you have a wok pan.
Reheating fried rice isn’t exactly complicated, and no matter which method you choose, as long as you put some moisture back in it, it will turn out great!
Remember to refrigerate fried rice within two hours of cooking and use airtight containers to maximize the shelf life of your fried rice. Fried rice can last up to 5-7 days in the fridge, and up to 6 months in the freezer.
Before reheating it, remember to check if the fried rice has gone bad. If it has a strange smell or taste, or if you see any mold, throw it away immediately!
The best way to reheat fried rice is to re-wok it – this will prevent the fried rice from being chewy or chewy, and you can add more ingredients as you go.
If you want a super easy method, you can reheat fried rice in the oven – not the fastest way, but you really can’t go wrong with it. If you want to reheat fried rice quickly and efficiently, you can opt for an air fryer.
If you don’t have an air fryer but want to reheat fried rice as quickly as possible, the microwave is your best friend. Just remember to add some liquid and stir the rice frequently.
Another option is to reheat the fried rice on the stove: use a saucepan and remember to add some more liquid and a little oil.
Each of these methods works quite well, as long as you follow the few tricks we have given you, so you can simply choose the one that best suits you and your needs.
By following our step-by-step guide, you can be sure to reheat your fried rice correctly, and you’ll end up with amazingly good leftovers even for days to come!