You cooked too much rice. It’s also hard to estimate exactly how much rice you need. But don’t worry: this is the ultimate guide to storing rice. Handy, that way we don’t have to cook it the next day or later in the week. How to store and reheat dry and cooked rice you will discover in this article.
Storing rice
Storing rice is a breeze. In this article, we discuss several ways to properly store rice.
How long can you store cooked rice?
Cooked rice stays good in the refrigerator for about 4 – 5 days. If you want to keep the rice longer, you can freeze it. Frozen rice stays good for up to 3 months.
How long can you store dry rice?
Dry rice will keep for up to a year (sometimes even longer). However, it is important to keep it in a cool, dark and dry place. The basement is often a good place because it meets all the conditions (cool, dark and dry). Make sure the can or container is properly sealed with a lid.
Storing rice in the refrigerator
First, let the rice cool for about 2 hours. Then place the cooked rice in a container with a lid. Make sure it is tightly sealed. The temperature of the refrigerator should be about 4 – 7 degrees.
TIP: Are you making fried rice? Then you can leave the lid off for best results. Just make sure there is no raw poultry or meat nearby.
Freezing and thawing rice
Frozen rice lasts up to 3 months in temperatures below -18. Want to freeze a lot of rice? Then divide it among several containers so you don’t have to defrost all the rice.
How to defrost rice?
Thawing rice is very simple. You place the container or bag of frozen rice in the refrigerator in the morning. Let the bag or container down on the counter for faster results.
How to heat up rice?
You heat rice in a stir-fry pan, a wok, a microwave, or by steaming. The best method depends on your preferences:
Quick reheat: put the rice with a little water in the microwave for 4 – 5 minutes at about 600 – 700 watts. Adding a little water is important otherwise the grains will become dry.
Fried rice: for fried rice recipes like nasi goreng, always use a wok pan with a little oil. This will give the outside a crispy crust. If you do not want this, add a little water again. This takes about 7 – 8 minutes.
Fluffy rice: do you like fluffy rice? Steam the rice with a steamer, steamer pan or by placing an iron colander in the pan. Then don’t forget to put the lid on top. This takes about 5 – 8 minutes, depending on the amount of rice.
Is reheating rice safe?
Reheating rice is safe if you do not leave cooked rice on the counter for more than 2 hours and you do not have the refrigerator warmer than 7 degrees. Finally, consume the rice within 4 – 5 days and remember to heat the rice properly.
The risk of contamination of basilius cerius bacteria is higher with starch ingredients such as rice and pasta. Hence, it is important to follow the above instructions carefully.
Conclusion rice preservation
Little can actually go wrong if you use the rice from the refrigerator within 5 days. I always find it handy to have some rice in the fridge or freezer. Make your own curry paste (you can also keep this in the freezer), cook it in a stir fry pan with some meat AND steam the vegetables along with the rice. This should take less than 20 minutes.
Also read: the best rice cookers of 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. To eat rice safely, it is important to store it properly and consume it within a certain time frame. Ensures that the rice is heated properly when heated so that unwanted bacteria are killed.