How to Reheat Fried Rice? Check Out Our 4 Listed Methods to Find the Best One for You

Fried rice is my comfort food and go-to meal. It requires significantly less time and effort to prepare. So, I always cook fried rice in a large pot to have enough leftovers to reheat and enjoy later. 

However, if rice is not stored or prepared properly, it might cause food poisoning, possibly leading to death. So, as long as you have cooled and stored your leftover fried rice in the fridge, there are a few techniques you may use to reheat and revive your fried rice meal from yesterday.

For reheating fried rice, I have used different methods over time to find out which works best for me. So, here I am, presenting you with my favorite reheating method, as well as three others. I hope you will stick around till the end. 

Things You Need to Remember While Reheating Fried Rice

1. Avoid heating any type of rice more than once. Otherwise, the texture of the rice will deteriorate and it won’t taste good.
2. Reheating rice at a high temperature is required to destroy any bacteria.
3. Occasionally stirring the rice while reheating helps ensure it is heated evenly throughout.
4. While reheating, to replicate the texture of freshly made fried rice, add a little liquid to help it maintain its original texture.

How to Reheat Fried Rice on the Stovetop (My Favorite Method)

To me, using a stovetop to reheat fried rice is the best bet. It maintains a similar texture and prevents ingredients from getting mushy. And using this method, you can add some other ingredients, too, such as eggs. However, this method is a little bit time-consuming.

Here are the steps for reheating fried rice on a stovetop:

• On a stovetop over medium heat, place a saute pan or skillet. Add 1 tbsp of butter, sesame oil, or neutral cooking oil to the pan. I prefer butter.
• When the pan is heated, add the leftover fried rice and spread it evenly on the surface using a wooden spoon. Set the heat to medium-high.
• For about 4-5 minutes, or until the rice is steaming hot, cook the rice. Remember to stir occasionally.

How to Reheat Fried Rice in an Air Fryer

The air fryer is my second favorite method! An air fryer crisps up the rice rather than drying it out, just as on the stovetop. Also, it doesn’t turn the rice mushy. And it warms the rice in a flash! Another advantage is that no liquid is required; it will naturally protect the moisture.

Heating instructions:

• Put the leftover fried rice in the air fryer.
• Cook on high heat for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Wait until the rice becomes piping hot. If you want to be safe, wait an extra 2 to 3 minutes.
• Once thoroughly heated, serve and enjoy.

How to Reheat Fried Rice in the Oven

If you need to rewarm fried rice for many people, consider using the oven to heat your meal. 

Reheating fried rice in the oven is the easiest alternative, but it takes the longest. Also, the oven can make fried rice turn overly dry, brown, or sticky. To prevent this, coat your baking dish with butter, oil, or cooking spray, whichever you prefer.

Follow these steps to rewarm fried rice is the oven:

• Set the oven’s temperature to between 425 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Put your leftover fried rice in an oven-safe dish.
• Add a few teaspoons of water or broth. To moisten each grain of rice without turning it into soup, you need to add the right amount of liquid. Depending on how much fried rice you reheat, you will need a different amount of liquid.
• Put a lid on your dish to ensure that the rice and moisture are kept inside.
• Now, place the dish in the oven and bake it for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, remove the lid, and cook for an additional 3–5 minutes to let some of the steam escape. And you are done.

How to Reheat Fried Rice in the Microwave (You Must Add Liquid)

Reheating fried rice with this technique is both the quickest and most typical option. Although the microwave does its job, due to the speed at which it heats the rice, it can turn the rice dry. And this is even more true for fried rice. So, you need to add a little liquid to the rice to ensure it is moist and fluffy.

Follow the below steps to rewarm fried rice in the microwave:

• Transfer your leftover rice to a microwave-safe bowl. Add two tablespoons of water or broth to the rice.
• To preserve moisture inside the bowl while allowing some space for some air to escape, cover the bowl loosely using a plate or a bigger bowl inverted over the top of your food.
• Let the fried rice heat up on high for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, stir well to distribute the heat. After that, place your bowl inside the microwave for another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Once done, allow the rice to cool and enjoy.

Best Reheating Method for Different Types of Fried Rice

• To reheat chicken fried rice, the oven is your best bet. Using an oven will ensure the moisture of both the rice and the chicken.
• Using a stovetop to reheat Chinese fried rice is the most effective way. Restaurants’ Chinese fried rice normally contains enough oil, so you may not need to add extra oil while reheating the rice.
• To reheat brown rice, you can use an air fryer, as brown rice has more crunch than white rice. However, if you don’t have an air fryer, you can use a skillet to steam fry the brown rice or use an oven.
• Reheating vegetable fried rice can be tricky, as vegetables tend to warm rapidly and become soft if overheated. The microwave method is ideal for vegetable fried rice because it heats the food faster.

FAQ