How to reheat rice in the rice cooker?

Most of us are guilty of not measuring rice correctly, or adding a bit more for good measure. This usually leads to an excess of rice after dinner, but luckily, there is an easy way to reheat leftover rice using a rice cooker.

Not only does this keep you from having to re-cook the rice from scratch, but using a rice cooker to reheat the rice ensures that the rice stays fluffy and tastes fresh, compared to the soft, sticky rice you get from reheating. with other methods.

How do you reheat rice in a rice cooker?

Reheating rice in a rice cooker is very easy, you just have to add a little water, press reheat and leave it for an hour. The rice cooker can reheat rice from the cold, so there is not much to do to have a hot rice in less than an hour.

Reheat rice in a rice cooker

Most rice cookers have a reheat option, and some are located next to the start button. To reheat the rice you will have to add a tablespoon of cold water, place the rice in the rice cooker and press “keep warm”.

With the gentle keep warm function, the rice will slowly reheat in the rice cooker. Reheating the rice slowly is the best way to do it , as too much heat too quickly could burn the rice and rob it of its retained moisture, making it hard, soft, or both.

The tablespoon of water added to the rice cooker gives the rice just enough moisture so it doesn’t dry out, but doesn’t provide too much moisture, which could cause the rice to become soggy.

Simply leave the rice cooker on warm for an hour , checking from time to time until the rice has heated through.

Using a rice cooker to reheat rice is the most relaxed way to do it , since you don’t have to worry about stirring, adding more water, or checking the heat while it’s heating up; the rice cooker does it all for you, and you’ll have nice, hot, fluffy rice in just an hour.

Many rice cookers also have delay timers (like the Instant Pot), so if you want to reheat your rice, but only want it to be ready in two hours or so, you can set the timer to start heating the rice and be done exactly when you need it.

Reheating rice in a rice cooker is also great for keeping rice warm for longer . You can scoop up some rice, close the lid, and leave it to stay warm longer, so no one has to eat cold rice or worry about heating it up again.

How to reheat rice without a rice cooker

Not everyone has access to a rice cooker, but if you often prepare rice for meals at home, a rice cooker would be a great investment as it offers an easy, fail-safe way to make the best rice time and time again. , with minimal effort and even less preparation.

However, if you don’t have a rice cooker at home, here are three different ways to reheat rice:

1. In the microwave

Using the microwave to heat up the rice is possibly the quickest way to go, but it’s also quite risky. If not done right, the rice can harden or stick together in a sticky mess.

To reheat rice in the microwave

• You will need to place the cooked rice in a microwave-safe bowl, along with a small splash of water.
• Break up any clumps of rice with a fork and cover the bowl with a damp paper towel.
• Cook the rice at maximum power for 30 seconds.
• Take the bowl out of the microwave.
• Remove the rice, let it rest for 30 seconds and repeat the operation.
  • Letting the rice rest for 30 seconds between heatings allows the heat to distribute evenly. Continue like this until the rice is well heated.

If you are only heating a small portion of rice, you can place the rice on a plate and break up any clumps by covering the rice with a damp paper towel. This allows the rice to spread more, which causes it to reheat more quickly.

Make sure not to overcook the rice in the microwave, or let it get too dry, if you think it needs more moisture, you can add another tablespoon of water (you can even try adding rice milk ).

2. On the stove

When you reheat rice on the stove, you’ll want to steam it more than fry it . To do this, you will have to put the rice in a saucepan, along with a tablespoon of water, using a fork to break up the lumps of rice and distribute it evenly.

Place a lid on the saucepan and cook the rice over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the rice is heated through.

Don’t let the rice get too hot , as it could stick to the bottom and dry out. Be sure to use a tight-fitting lid so that none of the moisture escapes from the pan.

3. Oven

Reheating rice in the oven may not seem like the most obvious option, but it actually works very well. Mix some rice with a splash of water and spread it out on an ovenproof tray. Remember to break up any large lumps of rice with a fork.

Cover the rice on the baking sheet with aluminum foil and bake the rice for 20 minutes or until piping hot, at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since the rice is spread out, it will heat more evenly and quickly, preventing too much moisture from being lost. The foil covering also prevents too much moisture from escaping from the rice, keeping it hydrated and preventing it from drying out.

Is it safe to reheat rice?

Some people believe that it is not safe to reheat rice, but this is not especially true. Rice can be reheated and eaten, but it also depends on how you store it and your handling and cooking methods.

Rice may contain Bacillus cereus , which is a bacteria that can survive some cooking processes. This bacteria can cause food poisoning, and if the rice is not cooked properly, or stored properly, the bacteria can grow in leftover rice and cause illness.

When cooking rice, you need to make sure that it reaches a high temperature . The danger zone for bacteria to breed is 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so be sure to cook your rice above this temperature to kill off any bacteria. Rice should be served immediately after cooking.

If you plan to save leftover rice, try cooling it quickly . You can do this by dividing the rice between shallow containers or by placing the rice directly in the fridge or freezer. Don’t leave the rice out for more than an hour.

You can keep the rice in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge and up to 4 months in the freezer .  Make sure the temperature of the rice stays below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the growth of bacteria.

When you reheat rice, be sure to reheat it just enough to be piping hot, to further prevent the spread or growth of bacteria.

Related questions

Can rice be reheated after it has been in the fridge for more than a day?

It’s fine to reheat leftover rice that’s been in the fridge , but cooked rice should go into the fridge as soon as possible, preferably within an hour of cooking. Rice can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days, but the sooner you reheat and eat the rice, the better.

Be sure to reheat the rice well to ensure bacteria are killed and it can be eaten without the danger of food poisoning.

What is the best way to reheat rice?

The easiest way to reheat rice is in a rice cooker , after all, a rice cooker was made specifically for cooking and reheating rice.

It is very easy to do, you just have to put the rice and a little water in the rice cooker and leave it hot for an hour. The rice will get all the way through, staying hot enough to prevent bacteria growth.

Reheat rice in a rice cooker

A rice cooker is a very handy tool to have in the kitchen, especially if you cook large batches of rice often (don’t forget to rinse the rice before cooking). To make it even better to store, you can very easily reheat rice in a rice cooker, taking all the leftover work out for you.

Cook the rice, reheat it and keep it warm so everyone in the family can enjoy a steaming helping of rice for dinner.