How to Freeze and Reheat Rice Perfectly Every Time

A simple, straightforward guide to freeze and reheat rice so that it turns out moist, fluffy, and delicious every time! This is a fantastic option for an easy weeknight side, prepping meals ahead, or serving a crowd. 

Have you ever frozen and reheated rice? It is one of our family’s go-to cooking hacks for SO many reasons.

• Great make-ahead option and a convenient side dish for busy weeknights.
• Avoids wasting leftovers.
• GREAT for serving to a crowd (it can be made in large batches and is hands-free the day of serving).
• Rice is very economical. Making your own and freezing it is definitively cheaper than buying it pre-made at the store. 
• It’s easy and convenient. If you are already making rice, just double it and freeze half for a future meal.

If you haven’t joined the bandwagon already, it’s not too late. This guide will give you all the tips and tricks to freeze and reheat rice like a pro.

How to Freeze Rice

1. Make rice as directed. Leave off any fresh ingredients normally added before serving (i.e. lime juice, shredded coconut, green onions, etc.). Finished rice will look moist but be very flat in the pot.

2. Use a fork to fluff the cooked rice. Scrape the tines across the surface of the rice, starting shallow and moving deeper as you go until all the rice is evenly fluffed.

3. Spread the rice into an even layer on a baking sheet, keeping it fluffed with the fork as you go (don’t press or smash the rice onto the pan). If the rice layer is thicker than your baking sheet, spread it onto additional sheets for thinner layers. Allow to cool on the counter or in the fridge until it has reached room temperature. Don’t rush this step - cooling it thoroughly maintains it’s fluffy texture and prevents it from becoming one giant clump in the freezer.

4. Scoop the rice into a ziptop bag, squeezing out as much extra air as possible (you could also store in an airtight container or disposable baking pan). Gently pat the rice until the bag lays flat. Freeze flat on a baking sheet until frozen solid (this makes the rice easy to stack or store in tight spots in the freezer). Frozen rice keeps well for 1-2 months.

How to Reheat Rice

1. Place frozen rice in a baking pan. Sprinkle lightly with water (no more than ½ tablespoon per cup of rice). Cover with tinfoil and bake at 300°F for 30 minutes or, if you have allowed it to partially thaw, at 300°F for 20 minutes.
2. Fluff the rice with a fork again. If needed, top with fresh ingredients (i.e. lime juice, cilantro, shredded coconut, green onions, etc).
3. Serve rice very soon after reheating to avoid it drying out.

What kind of rice can I freeze?

You can freeze practically any rice recipe out there. They all follow the same essential steps to be frozen and reheated. I have tried this with white rice, brown rice, pilafs, Mexican rice, and even other grains like quinoa.

How can I use frozen rice?

First, rice can simply be reheated to make an easy side dish. This works best with flavored rices and pilafs. However, you can also use frozen rice in soups, stews, stuffed peppers, Mexican burritos, rice cereal, and any other recipe that calls for already cooked rice.

Great rice recipes to try

Want to give freezing rice a try? Here are some of our family favorite rice recipes that work great for freezing and reheating! 

• Toasted Coconut Rice - Slightly sweet, definitively addictive, and subtly tropical. 
• Brown Butter Rice Pilaf - Packed full of flavor with only 4 ingredients!
• Pineapple Lime Rice - A perfect compliment to tropical, Asian, or Mexican flavors (Sounds too good to be true, huh?). 
• Cilantro Lime Rice - A bright and zesty rice perfect in or alongside your favorite Mexican main dish.

Tips & Tricks

• Make sure to thoroughly fluff the rice with a fork before freezing. Do not use a mixing spoon since spoons tend to squish and mash rice. 
• Avoid overcrowding the sheet pan. The layer of rice should not rise above the rim of the sheet pan. If it does, use additional pans for thinner layers.
• Do not freeze the rice until it is room temperature. Warm rice sticks and becomes clumpy, but cool rice will maintain it’s fluffy texture. 
• Never reheat rice uncovered. Keeping it covered with tinfoil traps the moisture and prevents the rice from drying out. 
• If serving a crowd, freeze the rice in a disposable baking pan. You can pull it straight from the freezer, bake it, and serve it all in the same pan.

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