Tips on How to Store and Reheat Cooked Rice

Everything you ever wanted to know about storing this kitchen staple.

Enjoyed as a main dish, side dish and even in sweet treats, rice is known to be a staple food valued across the globe, simply for its taste, versatility, availability and affordability.

Whether you are enjoying white, basmati, jasmine or brown rice, correct storage helps keep your rice from spoiling.

Here’s our guide to storing and reheating cooked rice safely.

Storing rice in the fridge

If you have leftover rice that you want to store in the fridge, you can follow these simple steps:

• As cooked rice is moist, it is a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria. With this in mind, it’s important that you cool your rice fully before preparing it for storage.
• Once cool, place your rice in an airtight container or a zipped plastic bag, ensuring that as much air as possible is removed before sealing, and put it in the fridge.
• When you’re ready to eat your rice, make sure that you reheat it with a little water to help loosen the dried grains. As a general rule of thumb, you should reheat the rice for 30 seconds, stir and repeat if needed.

Freezing cooked rice

Many people don’t realise they can also freeze cooked rice! So, if you’ve cooked too much, simply pop it in the freezer and use it when you need it (within one month of originally cooking it) – this is a great way to reduce food waste.

Here’s how to freeze cooked rice:

• Make sure your rice is fully cooled before you freeze it.
• Once the rice is completely cold, transfer it into freezer bags and flatten the rice as much as possible so that it can be sealed tightly and easily stored.
• Label and date your rice so you know how long it’s been kept in the freezer. Rice can be frozen safely for up to one month.

Reheating different types of rice safely

There are many different varieties of rice and it’s important to understand how to reheat some of the most widely used types of rice quickly and safely:

Reheating brown rice

Whether you’re reheating long-grain brown rice or short-grain brown rice, using your microwave is one of the best ways to reheat it; this is because it will rehydrate the grains as they cook so that the rice is plump again and ready to eat. Add a small amount of water and heat in 30-second intervals until the rice is cooked completely and evenly.

Reheating Basmati rice

Again, if you’re planning on reheating Basmati rice, one of the best ways to do this is by placing it in the microwave, and adding a splash of water. It’s important that you cover the rice with a microwave-safe plate before cooking for 30 seconds. Then stir, recover and heat for a further 30 seconds. Repeat until the rice is piping hot.

Reheating Jasmine rice

To reheat Jasmine rice, simply place your rice in a microwave-safe bowl along with a splash of water, cover it tightly with a microwave-safe plate and heat for 30 seconds. Once finished, stir, recover and reheat accordingly.

Best ways to reheat rice safely

Reheating rice in a microwave

One of the quickest and most effective ways to reheat rice is in the microwave. Simply place your rice in a microwave-safe bowl, add 1–2 tablespoons of water, and heat in 30-second intervals until piping hot throughout.

Reheating rice in the oven

If you want to reheat your rice in the oven, preheat it to 160 degrees, spread the rice over a baking tray and break up any clumps. Add 2 tablespoons of water and use foil to cover the rice. Allow 20 minutes for the rice to heat through. Remember to check it’s piping hot before serving.

Reheating rice in a pan

Add the grains to your pan along with 2 tablespoons of water per cup of rice. Cover the pan tightly and cook on a low heat for approximately 5 minutes until you are satisfied that your rice is piping hot.

Reheating rice in an air fryer

Air fryers are more popular than ever before, and they are a great tool for reheating all different types of rice. Simply pop your rice into your air fryer, cover it with tin foil and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until your rice is hot.

Reheating rice in a rice cooker

If you own a rice cooker, chances are you love rice just as much as we do! The good news is you can use this to reheat your rice effortlessly. Add a splash of water to the cooker, close the lid, and turn the cooker on the ‘warm’ or ‘reheat’ setting until your rice is piping hot.

Reheating rice in a pressure cooker

To reheat rice in a pressure cooker, place your rice into an oven safe container, add a small amount of water to the pot, cover with the lid, and set to the “steam” function for 5-10 minutes, or until the rice is piping hot.

Reheating rice in a slow cooker

We don’t recommend reheating rice in a slow cooker, as these are designed for long, slow cooks rather than heating up leftovers. It’s super important that you reheat rice correctly to ensure it’s safe to eat. Try one of our other methods instead!

How to reheat frozen rice

If you want to cook frozen rice directly from the freezer, put the rice into a microwave-safe bowl, add a tablespoon of water, and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it’s piping hot all the way through.

If possible, we would recommend breaking into chunks before heating to speed up the process!