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I find it almost impossible to portion out rice when I’m cooking it, so I often end up with way more than I need.

Then I put it in the fridge, only to find it dried-out out and crunchy the next day (yuk).

Can you restore its soft, fluffy texture?

I did an experiment to find out.

The best way to reheat rice is in the microwave. Place your leftover rice on a microwave-safe plate and break up any clumps. Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water over the rice. Cover with a damp paper towel, making sure the towel touches the rice. Microwave in 30-second intervals until piping hot.

A note on my experiment

I made a big batch of white rice and left it in the refrigerator overnight.

The following day, I tested 6 different reheating methods to see which one worked best.

I tested:

In the microwave (my go-to method)
On the stove (moist and fluffy rice)
In the oven (good for big portions)
Stir-fry (great to use up leftovers)
In the steamer (moistens dry rice)
Boiling water (can waterlog your rice)

The microwave is a fast, easy way to reheat your rice with basically no change in taste or texture.

Putting a portion on the stovetop is more effort but still produces soft, fluffy rice.

They were my two favorite methods.

Reheating the rice in boiling water was my least favorite because I thought the rice came out quite wet.

This article is about normal rice, but if you have fried rice, check out my other article: How To Reheat Fried Rice

Tips for reheating rice

Moisture is key.

Rice naturally hardens in the fridge, so you need to re-introduce that moisture when you reheat it.

Water is the easiest thing to add, but if you have some stock on hand, it can elevate the rice and give it a savory bite.

Another tip is to add a pat of butter to the rice while you’re reheating it.

Butter adds moisture and flavor.

Reheating rice in the microwave

To reheat rice in the microwave, place your leftover rice on a microwave-safe plate and break up any clumps. Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water or stock over the rice. Cover with a damp paper towel, making sure the towel touches the rice. Microwave in 30-second intervals until piping hot.

How to reheat rice in the microwave:

Place your rice on a microwave-safe plate.
Break up any clumps.
Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water or stock over the rice.
Cover the top with a damp paper towel. Make sure it touches the whole surface of the rice.
Microwave in 30-second intervals until piping hot (1-2 minutes).

You can tell the rice is done when the bottom of the plate (in the middle) is hot to the touch.

The damp paper towel ensures the rice comes out nice and fluffy.

I also tried a few other methods for re-moisturizing the rice while it reheated.

Reheating the rice with an ice cube on top (a popular life hack you’ll see all over tik tok)
Reheating the rice with a glass of water in the microwave
Sprinkling 2-3 tablespoons of water over the rice and covering it with plastic wrap

The damp paper towel method was my favorite because it was easy and gave excellent results.

I suggest using a plate rather than a bowl in the instructions because you can spread the rice out more, so it steams efficiently.

My verdict

Reheating rice in the microwave produced great results without much effort.

I personally couldn’t tell the difference from fresh rice, so I would choose this as my go-to method.

The only downside is that you can’t reheat more than 1 or 2 servings at a time.

Reheating rice on the stove

To reheat your leftover rice on the stove, add 2-3 tablespoons of water or stock per cup of rice to a pan, then add your rice, breaking up any clumps. Turn the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Heat the rice for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

How to reheat rice on the stove:

Add 2-3 tablespoons of water or stock per cup of rice to a pot.
Add your rice to the pot, breaking up any clumps with a fork.
Cover your pot with a lid and heat the rice on low for 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir occasionally to prevent any rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Keep your heat low and don’t be tempted to turn it up.

High heat will dry your rice out and scorch the grains on the bottom of the pan.

If you notice the pan or rice getting dry as you check on it, add more moisture.

When picking your pan, opt for a wide pan rather than a deep one.

Not only is it easier to stir the rice, but the steam can penetrate better.

If you don’t have a lid that fits the pan you’re using, use a sheet of foil. Anything that traps the steam will do.

My verdict

Heating rice on the stove is definitely more effort than using the microwave.

But it produces great results, so it’s perfect if you have a large portion that won’t fit in the microwave.

Reheating rice by steaming it

To reheat your leftover rice in the steamer, set your steamer up and bring the water to a boil. Spread the rice out inside the steamer and steam for 3-4 minutes. You can use lots of things as a steamer. You just need to elevate the rice above some boiling water and place a lid on top.

How to reheat rice by steaming it:

Prepare your steamer by bringing the water to a boil.
Spread the rice out inside the steamer.
Steam for 2 to 3 minutes.

If you’re worried about the rice falling through the holes in your steamer, line it with parchment paper.

Pierce a few holes in the paper to make sure enough steam will get through.

One idea for a makeshift steamer is to place a sieve on top of a pot of boiling water.

Or you can put some water in the bottom of a skillet and place a plate on some aluminum balls to raise it up.

Put the rice on the plate and cover the skillet with a lid.

My verdict

The steamer method was effective but more effort than the microwave for similar results.

One situation where I think steaming would be superior is if your rice is super dried out.

The onslaught of steam will help hydrate dried-out rice.

Reheating rice in the oven

To reheat leftover rice in the oven, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Put your rice into a baking dish, and break up any clumps. Sprinkle over 2-3 tablespoons of water or stock for each serving of rice. Cover tightly with a lid or foil. Heat for 10-20 minutes.

Note: timings will vary depending on how much rice you’re heating, so check often.

How to reheat rice in the oven:

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
Put rice into a baking dish.
Break up any clumps.
Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of water or stock (per serving) over the top of the rice.
Cover tightly with a lid or a sheet of foil.
Heat for 10-20 minutes.

Keep an eye on your rice.

A lot can happen in 20 minutes.

If it seems dry when you check on it, add more liquid.

Just make sure you cover it again afterward, or it will dry out because all the steam will escape.

My verdict

I got better results using the microwave and the stove (and in less time), but the oven is convenient if you’ve got a massive portion.

Don’t be shy when it comes to adding extra moisture.

Reheating rice by frying it

To reheat leftover rice by stir-frying it, heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet or wok on high heat. When the oil is hot, add the rice straight from the fridge and toss it in the pan for 3-4 minutes until hot. Add in some egg to make egg-fried rice.

How to reheat rice by stir frying:

Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet or wok until smoking.
Place the rice in the skillet straight from the refrigerator (cold rice stir-frys better, warm rice will end up stodgy).
Toss in the pan for 3-4 minutes until heated through.

Stir-frying your rice will give it a new texture and taste, so it’s a great way to spice things up if you’re bored of plain rice.

While you can fry rice on its own, it will be much tastier if you add some things to it.

Take a look in your fridge and see if there are any vegetables going out of date that you can add.

Add some protein in the form of eggs, tofu, or chicken, and you have a complete meal!

I also like to add a splash of soy sauce and sesame oil for that restaurant-fresh take-out taste.

My verdict

Stir-frying leftover rice is a great way to use leftovers and spice up weeknight meals – mine ended up really tasty.

Tip: I don’t recommend refrigerating and reheating your rice a second time, so only stir fry what you’re going to eat.

Reheating rice in boiling water

To reheat leftover rice in boiling water, bring a pot of water to a boil. While you’re waiting for the water to boil, break up any clumps in your rice with a fork. When the water boils, add the rice. Heat for 10 seconds, then drain immediately.

How to reheat rice in boiling water:

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Make sure there’s enough water to completely submerge your rice.
Break up clumps in the rice with a fork.
As soon as the water starts to boil, add the rice.
Heat the rice for 10 seconds.
Drain and serve.

Before putting the rice in the pot, make sure the water is actually boiling.

If it’s just simmering, the rice won’t heat as effectively.

Breaking up the clumps is also important. If you have any clumps, the middle just won’t heat.

Be ready with the colander or sieve (or whatever you’re using to drain the rice).

If the rice spends too long in the water, it will start to cook, which isn’t what you want.

My verdict

I would only use this method if you have super dry rice that needs a lot of extra moisture, and you can’t steam it.

I found the end result to be quite waterlogged, which took away from the fluffiness of the rice.

Is it safe to reheat rice?

Yes, it’s safe to reheat rice, as long as you’ve stored it correctly. The problems come when rice is left warm or out at room temperature for too long. Cool and store your rice in the refrigerator or freezer within an hour of cooking it to avoid bacterial growth.

Reheat the rice until it’s piping hot, and never reheat rice more than once.

With takeout rice, you can’t be sure how long it’s been left out at room temperature, which is why people advise against reheating it.

How to store rice

To safely store rice, cool and refrigerate it within an hour after cooking. To cool the rice quickly, spread the hot grains out on a baking sheet and let them cool for 20 minutes. Then, transfer the rice to an airtight container and put it in the fridge. Eat the rice within 3 or 4 days after storing.

Spreading the rice out to cool means the heat can escape quickly.

If you leave a big pot of rice to cool, the middle can take ages to cool down and spend too long in the ‘bacterial growth danger zone’.

If you only have a small portion of rice, you can just put it straight into the fridge without cooling it.

You can also wrap portions of rice tightly in plastic wrap.

This gets rid of any air and is an excellent way to keep the rice moist. I don’t like using unnecessary plastic though!

Can you freeze rice?

All kinds of rice, even fried rice, freeze well. It is best to freeze your rice right after cooking so it doesn’t have a chance to dry out. Then, when you reheat it, the rice will still be soft and fluffy. Wrap the rice up well to reduce the risk of freezer burn and use within 6 months.

How to freeze rice:

Cool your rice quickly by spreading it out on a baking sheet for around 20 minutes. You want room temperature rice.
Optional: separate the rice into ½ cup portions (one serving) for easier storage and reheating.
Wrap the rice tightly in several layers of Saran wrap or seal it in a freezer bag. Make sure there is no air in your packaging. Squeeze it out with your hands, or you can even suck the air out of freezer bags with a straw.
Store the rice in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Make sure to get all of the air out of your container before storing it – air is the enemy in the freeze and will give you rice a freezer-burnt taste.

How to reheat frozen rice

Reheat your rice straight from frozen. Thawing the rice first can make it gummy.

Break apart any big chunks with your hands. Place the frozen rice on a microwave-safe plate, and sprinkle a few tablespoons of water or stock over it. Cover the rice with a damp paper towel and microwave in 30-second intervals until hot and steamy.

You can also reheat the frozen rice on the stove or in a steamer.