How To Reheat Biryani – I Test 5 Methods [Pics]

This article was updated on 10th August 2023 for clarity and to add a new method I tested; steaming.

Are those extra servings of biryani from last night tempting you again today? But the rice is all hard and claggy? Luckily for you, I’ve experimented with five different ways to reheat biryani and bring it back to its former glory.

In a hurry?

The best way to reheat biryani is in a skillet, frying it really helps to re-awaken all the wonderful flavors and aromas. Set your pan over medium-low heat and sprinkle in 1-2 tablespoons of water or stock. Add the biryani to the pan and heat it for 5-6 minutes. You can also use a steamer or a microwave.

How I tested reheating biryani

I ordered a few portions of biryani from my favorite Indian restaurant (along with their famous onion bhajis, which I tested reheating here) and, after eating my fill, put the leftovers in the fridge.

I tested the following reheating methods:

• Skillet: The best flavor and texture.
• Steamer: Moist and fluffy.
• Oven: Acceptable results.
• Microwave: Okay if you’re in a rush.
• Rice cooker: Not recommended.

Related: How To Reheat Naan (who doesn’t love naan and biryani together?)

Reheating biryani in a skillet

Time: 5-6 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan with a tight-fitting lid on medium-low.
2. Cover the bottom of the pan with water or stock. You can also add some butter for a bit of extra flavor.
3. Place the biryani in the heated pan and cover with a lid.
4. On medium-low heat, steam-fry for 5-6 minutes.
5. Stir occasionally to distribute the heat evenly.

The rice will tend to clump together, so gently break up any sticky balls that form to make sure the biryani heats through evenly. Also, the rice will stick to the bottom of the pan if it dries out, so check often to make sure this isn’t happening. If the pan seems dry, simply add some more water or stock.

If you want to add a bit of crunch to your rice, use high heat and add a little oil. This will give you more of a fried rice effect. You can also add extra flavors to the pan like garlic or chili.

Results: Heating biryani in the skillet gave great results. The rice was moist and fluffy without being mushy. And frying brought out the flavors of the biryani wonderfully. The other methods left the flavors a bit muted.

Reheating biryani in the steamer

Time: 4-5 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Fill the skillet with water or stock. If you use water you can also add spices like cinnamon or cloves.
2. Bring the water to a boil and then spread the biryani out in the steamer.
3. Cover the steamer with a lid and heat for 5-10 minutes, depending on portion size.

I definitely recommend either using stock or flavoring the water with herbs and spices to spruce up the flavor of the biryani. And if you don’t have a steamer you can make one pretty easily with a pot of water, a sieve, and a lid. Or by putting a smaller pot inside a bigger pot.

Results: This method surprised me and the results were actually really good. The rice had a decent flavor and was deliciously fluffy. I recommend!

Reheating biryani in the oven

Time: 10-15 minutes
Rating: 7/10

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and transfer the biryani to an oven-safe dish.
2. Spread the rice out in an even layer, breaking up any clumps of rice.
3. Add a tablespoon of water or stock per cup of rice.
4. Cover the dish with a lid or foil to keep steam in to avoid drying out the rice.
5. Bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on portion size.

Adding liquid to the rice is essential in the oven because, without it, the rice would dry out. It can be tempting to open the foil to check on the rice but avoid doing this too often because it will let all the steam out.

Results: While the flavor and texture were pretty good, the biryani ended up slightly drier than I would have liked. Overall, I’d recommend the oven for mass heating. But for smaller portions, I’d go for the skillet.

Reheating biryani in the microwave

Time: 1-2 minutes
Rating: 7/10

1. Fill a microwave-safe dish with biryani and gently break up any clumps.
2. Cover the dish with a damp paper towel and microwave the biryani in 30-second intervals for up to 2 minutes.
3. When the dish is heated through, remove it from the microwave and let it rest for 30 seconds before serving.

I suggest 30-second increments because this means you can check the rice often and stop heating it as soon as it’s warm enough. This will prevent the rice from becoming overly gummy, which is a risk in the microwave.

Top tip: avoid heating seafood biryanis in the microwave. The fish will take on a rubbery, unappetizing texture and any flavor will disappear.

Results: The results from the microwave were okay, and definitely acceptable for someone in a hurry (or who’s just really hungry). The texture of the rice was good, but the issue was that the biryani lacked some flavor and didn’t have the same vibrancy as the day before.

Reheating biryani in a rice cooker

Time: 5-10 minutes
Rating: 5/10

1. Add the biryani to the rice cooker along with one teaspoon of water for every cup of rice.
2. Select warm and wait for 5-10 minutes, depending on portion size.

Avoid putting too much water into the cooker at first, you can always add extra later if you need to.

Results: The rice cooker heated the rice fine, but I’d be concerned that not all rice cookers would be able to get chicken/meat to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Also, rice cookers aren’t that common in the West.

How to store biryani

Biryani will last for up to 4 days in the fridge, but the taste and texture will start to deteriorate after 2 days. Before you put the rice in the fridge, cool it to room temperature and then scoop it into an airtight container.

Psst… takeaway boxes aren’t airtight!

Can you freeze biryani?

Yes, you can successfully freeze biryani for up to 3 months. Once the mixture has cooled, separate it into portions and place each portion in an airtight container. If you’re using freezer bags, remember to remove the air before placing them in the freezer.

Too much air exposure = freezer burn. If you’re using a container, put a film of plastic wrap over the top of the rice to protect it. And to get the air out of freezer bags, you have a few options.

• Squeeze it out with your hands
• Suck it out with a straw
• Submerge the open freezer bag in water and force the air out (my favorite option)
• Use a vacuum sealer (the best option, if you have one)

Always make sure the rice is cool before you freeze it. Otherwise, condensation will turn into ice crystals, which will ruin the texture of the rice.

How to thaw biryani

To thaw biryani, take it out of the freezer the night before you want to use it and leave it in the fridge. It should be defrosted the next morning. If it’s not, or you’re in a hurry, hold the frozen biryani under a cold running tap. 

You can also use the microwave, but as a general rule, I try to avoid defrosting things in the microwave because it can be unpredictable.

Read next: What To Serve With Biryani

How To Reheat Biryani [Tested Methods]

Are those extra servings of biryani from last night tempting you again today? But the rice is all hard and claggy? Luckily for you, I've experimented with 4 different ways to reheat biryani and bring it back to its former glory.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 minute min

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 6 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 1 person

Calories 144 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 portion biryani

Instructions

 

• Heat a heavy-bottomed pan with a tight-fitting lid on medium-low.
• Cover the bottom of the pan with water or stock. 
• Place the biryani in the heated pan and cover with a lid.
• On medium-low heat, steam for 5-6 minutes.
• Stir occasionally to distribute the heat evenly.

Notes

As you know, rice tends to stick to the bottom of the pan if it dries out.

Check often to see that it is not burning and that there’s sufficient moisture to avoid catching.

You may need to add a little extra water or broth to get the best results.

If you want to add a bit of crunch to your rice, use a high and add a little oil. This will give you more of a fried rice effect.

Keyword biryani, how to reheat biryani