Side Dish: Cook Ahead Freezer Rice

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How to Freeze Rice

To start, all you need to do is cook your rice as normal. Either on the stove top or in a rice cooker.

After rice is cooked, remove from heat and pour a little bit of olive oil in with the rice and fluff it around.

Place the amount of rice that you need for a meal into a freezer bag, either a quart or a gallon-size bag. Be sure to label it with what’s in the bag and the date that you are putting it in the freezer. You can also vacuum-seal cooked rice if you have a vacuum sealer and prefer to do that.

Spread the rice out in the bag so that you can freeze it flat. Stack the bags into your freezer until you need them.
Reheating Frozen Rice

To reheat Rice on the Stove

To reheat frozen rice that will make it taste almost like it was freshly cooked, place the rice in a saucepan on the stovetop with a little bit of water covering the bottom of the pan. Warm it up on low heat, stirring often. Once it’s heated through, it shouldn’t be dry.

To reheat Rice in the Microwave

Take the frozen rice out of the freezer and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. You may want to use a larger bowl than you think you need, as the rice expands during reheating.

To prevent the rice from drying out, add a splash of water or broth. The liquid helps create steam that will maintain the rice’s moisture.

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a microwave-safe lid. This is crucial to help steam the rice effectively. If using plastic wrap, make sure it’s vented slightly so that steam can escape without creating pressure.

Place the covered bowl in the microwave and reheat on high power. Start with short intervals: For a single serving (about 1 cup): Heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway.
For larger portions: Begin with 4-6 minutes, stirring every 1-2 minutes until evenly heated.

Always check the temperature of the rice before serving. It should reach at least 165°F to ensure food safety.

Once the rice is heated through, carefully remove it from the microwave (it will be hot!). Remove the plastic cover carefully to avoid steam burns. Use a fork to fluff the rice gently before serving. This restores its texture and separates any grains that may have stuck together during freezing.

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