How To Reheat Sticky Rice – I Test 5 Methods [Pics]

This article was updated on 9th August 2023 for freshness and to incorporate a new method I tested.

How many times have you made way more sticky rice than you need? Don’t worry. It’s happened to everyone, and the good news is you can revive the leftovers.

How do I know? Because I experimented with five different ways of reheating sticky rice to find out which one was best.

The short answer: The best way to reheat sticky rice is in the steamer. Set up your steamer and bring the water to a simmer, then break up the rice so there are no clumps and make a thin layer of it in the steamer. Cover it and steam it for about 5 minutes. You can also use the microwave.

How I tested reheating sticky rice

I made a big batch of sticky rice, then stored it in the fridge overnight (we’ll go over how best to store sticky rice later).

The next day, I experimented with five different methods of reheating the sticky rice. These methods include:

• In the microwave: Good for smaller portions.
• In a steamer: A great method, especially for big portions.
• In the oven: A bit drying.
• In a rice cooker: Okay for smaller quantities.
• In a skillet: Good for switching things up.

I tasted each portion of rice after reheating to see which method best preserved the stickiness and moisture of the rice.

Related: Best Way To Reheat Fried Rice

Reheating sticky rice in the microwave

Time: 40-60 seconds
Rating: 9/10

1. Put the rice in a microwave-safe bowl, making sure to break up any big clumps.
2. Add a tablespoon of water per cup of rice.
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and pierce a few small holes in it so steam can escape.
4. Heat on high for 20-second intervals until the rice is warmed through, stirring during the breaks to ensure even heating.

Instead of plastic wrap, you can also cover the rice in a damp paper towel, making sure the paper towel touches the rice. The plastic wrap or damp paper towel will trap steam, which keeps the rice moist.

If you overheat the rice, it will start to dry out, so stick to short time intervals.

Results: This was a very quick and easy way to reheat my rice, and it brought moisture back to the rice well. It’s the method I would use most often, simply because of convenience. But it’s not great for anything more than two portions.

Reheating sticky rice in a steamer

Time: 5 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Set up your steamer and bring the water to a simmer.
2. Add the rice to the steamer, breaking up any clumps, to make a thin layer.
3. Cover and steam for 5 minutes.

If you don’t have a steamer on hand, you can make a stand-in one at home! The simplest solution is to suspend a sieve or colander above a pot of boiling water and put a lid on the sieve.

I always keep my water at a simmer rather than a boil because boiling water can be too harsh and will overcook the rice. With simmering water, all you’re doing is warming – not cooking.

Results: The rice had a fantastic texture when I used this method. It was sticky and hot without any drying out, which is exactly what I was looking for! Using a steamer takes a bit more effort than the microwave, but it’s perfect if you’ve got a portion of rice that’s too big for the microwave.

Reheating sticky rice in the oven

Time: 5-10 minutes
Rating: 5/10

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
2. Combine the rice with 2-3 tablespoons of water in an oven-safe baking dish or pan. Use a fork to break up any visible clumps.
3. Cover the dish with a tight-fitting lid or aluminum foil.
4. Bake for 5-10 minutes, or until the rice is heated through.

The exact times will vary depending on the portion size and your oven, so check on it after 5 minutes and decide how much longer it needs. 

The water creates steam which keeps the rice moist in what is otherwise quite a dry environment. Make sure not to skimp on the water you put in the dish, or else the rice will dry out.

Results: This is an okay method for reheating a large portion of sticky rice, but only if you don’t have access to a steamer. It’s slow and the rice wasn’t as moist as the two previous methods.

Reheating sticky rice in the rice cooker

Time: 5-10 minutes
Rating: 7/10

1. Break up any large chunks of rice, and put it in the rice cooker.
2. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to keep the rice moist.
3. Set the rice cooker to ‘warm’ and heat the rice for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through.

It can be easy to forget about rice in the rice cooker (the longest I’ve left the rice cooker on warm is 18 hours!). Now I always set an alarm on my phone to remind me to go back and check on the rice. Nothing terrible will happen if you leave it for too long, but it will dry the rice out.

Results: This method surprised me! I know that rice cookers are, of course, good for cooking rice, but I hadn’t thought this method would reheat the sticky rice as well as it did. I would avoid big portions of rice because they’ll take longer to heat up.

How to store sticky rice

To store sticky rice, you need to cool it down quickly to prevent bacteria from developing. Spread the hot leftovers out on a baking sheet and put it in the fridge. Once cool, scoop the rice into an air-tight container and put it back in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

You can use a ziploc bag or a Tupperware-like container. If you use a container, I suggest covering the surface of the rice with a sheet of plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.

The longer the rice is in the fridge, the less sticky it will get! Aim to eat it as soon as possible.

Can you freeze sticky rice?

Sticky rice freezes really well. Appropriately stored in an airtight container, the rice will stay good for about two months. After that, it will still be safe to eat, but the quality will start to deteriorate, and the rice will be dry when you reheat it.

How to freeze sticky rice:

1. Start preparing the rice for storage as soon as you realize you’re not going to eat it.
2. If the rice is still hot, spread it out in a thin layer on a baking sheet and put it in the fridge to cool quickly.
3. When the rice has cooled, portion it out and put each portion in a freezer bag, removing any excess air.
4. Freeze the rice for up to two months.

I use a straw to remove air from freezer bags, but you can also dunk the open freezer bag into a bowl of water, then seal it. The pressure from the water will force the air out, and you can seal the bag.

If you have an actual vacuum sealer – even better! 

Portioning the rice before you store it makes things much easier when it comes to thawing and using the rice. I tend to fill a gallon bag and quarter the rice by pushing lines into it. 

How to reheat frozen sticky rice

You can reheat frozen sticky rice straight from frozen without thawing it. Remove the rice from the freezer and break up the solid block into smaller chunks with a rolling pin. Then put the rice into a microwave-safe bowl with a tablespoon of water. Cover the bowl and heat in 15-second intervals until warm. You can also use a steamer.

If you can’t make any progress with breaking up the rice, warm it slightly first to soften the rice, then break it up before continuing to reheat.

How to reheat lo mai gai

You can reheat lo mai gai in the microwave or steamer. The steamer is best for frozen lo mai gai, whereas the microwave is better suited for leftovers from the fridge. Steam frozen lo mai gai for 20-30 minutes. For the microwave, wrap each parcel in a damp paper towel and microwave them for about 1 minute.

To store lo mai gai, wrap each parcel in a double layer of plastic wrap or put them in a ziploc bag, and then store them in either the fridge or the freezer. This dish will last longer if frozen, and it freezes very well.

How to reheat zongzi

To reheat zongzi, re-boil them for about 15 minutes. If you have more time, you can also steam the zongzi for 30 minutes. Make sure to thaw any leftovers from the freezer before reheating them – just take them out of the freezer a few hours ahead of time and allow them to thaw.

To store zongzi, first allow the dumplings to cool to room temperature. Then wrap them in plastic wrap or a ziplok bag, and store them in either the fridge or freezer. Make sure to keep the reed leaves on when you store them.

How To Reheat Sticky Rice [Tested Methods]

How many times have you made way more sticky rice than you need? Don't worry. It’s happened to everyone, and the good news is you can revive the leftovers.

How do I know? Because I experimented with 5 different ways of reheating sticky rice to find out which one was best.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: how to reheat sticky rice, sticky rice

Prep Time: 1 minute minute

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 6 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 97kcal

Equipment

• Steamer

Ingredients

• 1 portion sticky rice

Instructions

• Set up your steamer and bring the water to a simmer.
• Add the rice to the steamer, breaking up any clumps, to make a thin layer.
• Cover and steam for 5 minutes.

Notes

I always keep my water at a simmer rather than a boil because I think boiling water can be too harsh and may overcook the rice. 

With simmering water, all you’re doing is warming – not cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 97kcal