Mix some leftover rice with a beaten egg and a mix of finely chopped onion, garlic, and herbs. Heat some oil in a skillet and fry up little patties of rice until they become toasty fritters, pressing them into the pan to create extra crispiness.
If the rice is consumed shortly after cooking there is no problem, as very few bacteria have had the time to multiply. But if the rice is saved, and even stored in the refrigerator for too long, the amount of bacteria will grow.
Properly stored, leftover fried rice will last for 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator.
Do not reheat rice unless it has been chilled down safely and kept in the fridge until you reheat it. Do not reheat rice more than once. Check that rice and dishes containing rice are very hot (steaming) all the way through, with no cold spots.
According to FoodSafety.gov FoodKeeper App, leftover rice can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days, and it can be stored in the freezer for one to two months. If you stored your rice in the freezer, then it's important to thaw it properly.
Microwave in 30-second increments until hot—the rice will rehydrate from the steam, and you can use a fork to fluff it up after it comes out of the microwave. Alternatively, you can put a little bit of water in a saucepan along with the rice, cover, and gently reheat.
Tips on serving rice safely
Keep rice in the fridge for no more than 1 day until reheating. When you reheat rice, always check that it's steaming hot all the way through. Do not reheat rice more than once.
The NHS recommend within an hour, ideally. You can then keep the rice in the fridge (but for no more than one day) before reheating. It's worth noting you should also check the rice is 'steaming hot' all the way through when you're reheating it, and never attempt to reheat it more than once.
Distribute rice in an even layer. Splash some water or broth over the top (about 2 Tbsp per cup of rice) and cover the plate with a damp paper towel or napkin. Heat for short time intervals (30 to 20 seconds), fluff, and repeat for about 2 minutes or until heated through.
Preheat your oven to 425 F and transfer your fried rice to an oven safe dish that has a lid. Add about 2 tablespoons of liquid (water or broth) to your rice. Put the rice in the oven and let it cook for about 13-15 minutes.
Please throw your leftover rice away if it's more than a week old! In culinary school, I was taught that five days is really the maximum lifespan for any leftovers—after that, you're risking foodborne illness with each passing day (plus, nothing tastes that delicious after a week).
How Long Can You Keep Leftover Chinese Food For? Leftover Chinese food should be okay for two or three days if stored in the fridge, provided it was placed there as soon as it was cold and not left at room temperature for a long period. Leftovers could also be frozen if you don't plan to eat them immediately.
One of the most common bacteria found in fried rice is Bacillus cereus. It is a spore-forming bacterium also commonly found in soil and the environment. Upon contamination, these bacteria can grow in the food and produce toxins that can cause food poisoning – this is known as the “fried rice syndrome”.
Microwave method: For a quick option, place the leftovers in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lid or vented plastic wrap, and reheat at medium power, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating. Be cautious of hot spots and uneven heating in microwaved food.
Open the storage container and remove the lid. For each cup of rice, add 1–2 tablespoons of water. Place the lid lightly back on top to allow the rice to re-steam. Place in the microwave and heat for 3–4 minutes, or until piping hot throughout.
Reheating rice in a microwave
One of the quickest and most effective ways to reheat rice is in the microwave. Simply place your rice in a microwave-safe bowl, add 1–2 tablespoons of water, and heat in 30-second intervals until piping hot throughout.
Store in an airtight container
Transfer the cooled, cooked rice into an airtight storage container or a ziplock plastic bag (remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing) then store in the refrigerator.
Yes, you can safely heat boiled rice, fried rice, risottos, egg fried rice or any other dish containing cooked rice as long as it did not stand for more than two hours at room temperature before it was cooled and refrigerated.
Remove the lid from the rice storage container. For each cup of rice, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. Place the lid lightly back on top to allow the rice to re-steam. Warm in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes, or until piping hot throughout.
The answer is yes - as long as you know how to reheat your takeaway the right way, you can make it taste and look just as good as when you bought it the day before. If you store leftovers in different containers to allow them to be cooled evenly in the fridge, your food can keep for as many as four days.
Why Is Rice Risky to Reheat? Rice is high risk because it might contain bacteria called Bacillus cereus, a naturally occurring spore that can survive some cooking processes.
Just put your rice in a microwave-safe bowl along with a splash of water. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or set a microwave-safe plate or wet paper towel on top, then microwave in 20-second increments, stirring and re-covering in between, until heated through.
How to Reheat Rice in the Air Fryer. Transfer the leftover rice to a 6-inch air fryer pan or cake pan. Tightly cover the pan with a piece of aluminum foil, then place the rice in the air fryer. Cook at 320 degrees F for 5 to 6 minutes until nice and hot.