How To Freeze Brown Rice
Here's your go-to guide for How to Freeze Brown Rice the right way. Follow these easy steps whether you're cooking in bulk or just want to save those leftovers. Freezing rice is not only super simple but also a great way to cut down on kitchen waste.
Servings: 1 person for every ½ cup of cooked rice
Calories: 154kcal
Ingredients
- cooked brown rice - Any rice recipe in any amount
Instructions
- Cook brown rice according to the preferred method.
- Use a fork to fluff the cooked rice. Run the tines of the fork across the surface of the rice, until all the rice has been fluffed.
- Evenly spread the rice onto a baking sheet, keeping a light touch. Do not smash or press down on the rice. The goal is to keep the grains separated and fluffy. If the layer of rice is thicker than the cookie sheet, spread it onto more pans for to keep the layers thin.
- Allow to cool at room temperature or in the refrigerator until it is completely cool. Don’t hurry through this step - cooling it helps to maintain the fluffy texture and prevents it from becoming a large mass in the freezer.
- Scoop the rice into a zipper bag, squeezing out as much extra air as possible. Carefully, press the rice flat while inside the bag. Alternatively, you can store it in an airtight container or a tightly covered disposable foil pan.
- If using a zipper baggie, 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 up to 3 months if tightly covered.
Notes
Tips & Tricks
- Freeze cooked brown rice while it's still fresh to keep it moist. If you wait to freeze it after it's been in the fridge for a few days, it won't reheat as well.
- Don't overcrowd the baking sheet—the brown rice shouldn't be higher than the rim. If it is, spread it out on more pans for thinner layers.
- Be gentle when spreading it on the pans. Don’t smash it down, or the rice grains will stick together and become one big mass.
- Let the rice cool completely before freezing to keep it fluffy. Warm rice tends to stick together and get clumpy.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Iron: 2mg
