Learn how to freeze rice so it’s ready and waiting on busy days. With food safety tips, reheating tricks, and easy ways to serve rice to kids.
A few years ago, I noticed the bags of fully cooked rice at the store. They are so convenient but so much more expensive than doing a similar thing at home—and thankfully, the DIY version of freezing fully cooked rice is so simple!
Freezing portions of cooked rice means you can have toddler meals or family meals ready faster since you can skip cooking grains when you are short on time. And you can grab the rice from the freezer whenever you need it and warm it through in a few minutes.
This is a great way to meal prep a food you may use regularly, to save money, and to just make your life a little easier on busy days.
(For more yummy rice recipes, try my Cheesy Rice, Cheesy Broccoli Rice, and Broccoli Tots.)
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to have on hand to freeze rice so you know what to pick up from the store or have ready.
- Rice: I prefer to use this method with short-grain brown rice, long-grain brown rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice for the best results.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a preview of how to freeze rice so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of this post for the full information, including the amounts and the timing.
Step 1. Add the rice to a pot. Cover with cold water, stir, and carefully pour off the cloudy water. Repeat until the water is clear.
Step 2. Cook rice according to package instructions. Let cool fully.
Step 3. Place cooked rice in a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze until ready to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, just follow basic food safety methods (like you would for meat) and let it cool completely before transferring to a freezer container and freezing.
Add the rice to the pot or a large bowl and cover with cold water. Stir and carefully pour off the cloudy, starchy water—stopping when you start to risk pouring out the rice. Repeat as many times as needed until the water runs mostly clear. This helps tremendously.
I have found that the types that work best include short grain brown rice, long grain brown rice, jasmine rice, and basmati rice.
How to Store
Freeze rice for up to 6 months. Once the rice is frozen in the freezer molds, you can transfer it to a freezer bag so you can use the mold again.
My favorite freezer molds include Souper Cubes and Anyday.
How to Reheat Frozen Rice
Place the frozen rice in a heat-safe glass or ceramic dish, cover, and warm in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stopping to stir halfway through, or until warmed. Do not overcook—it warms up faster than you would think.
Recipes to Use Frozen Rice
You can warm the frozen rice through and serve as an easy side dish for kids, or you can use it to make my Rice Balls, which are an easy way for toddlers to eat rice with a little less mess.
Best Tips for Success
- Be sure to rinse your rice very thoroughly to remove all of the excess starch. This is key to ensuring that the frozen and thawed rice is not gluey.
- Use short-grain brown rice, long-grain brown rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice for best results.
- Be sure to let the rice cool before freezing.
- You can add butter and salt to the rice before freezing if that is how you plan to serve it once it’s thawed and warmed.
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