What to make with leftover rice
With leftover rice you can make fried rice, burrito bowls, stuffed peppers, rice soup, cheesy rice cakes, arancini or rice pudding. Cold, day-old rice is drier than fresh rice, which is exactly why it fries up crisp instead of mushy.
leftover rice
9 easy ideas with leftover rice
Family-tested favorites. Tap one to get the full recipe, scaled for your table.
Ten-Minute Fried Rice
15 minHot pan, cold rice, an egg, frozen vegetables and soy sauce. The reason to always make extra rice.
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Burrito Bowls
15 minWarm rice with black beans, corn, cheese and salsa. Everyone builds their own.
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Chicken and Rice Soup
30 minA comforting brothy soup where the rice goes in at the end so it does not go soft.
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Crispy Rice Cakes
20 minRice mixed with egg and parmesan, pan-fried into golden patties. A favorite with kids.
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Stuffed Peppers
40 minRice, seasoned meat or beans and tomato sauce baked in sweet pepper halves.
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Baked Arancini
45 minCheesy rice balls rolled in breadcrumbs and baked until crisp. A weekend project with kids.
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Bibimbap-Style Rice Bowls
25 minRice topped with sautéed vegetables, a fried egg and a little gochujang or soy.
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Creamy Rice Pudding
25 minLeftover rice simmered with milk, sugar and cinnamon into a cozy dessert.
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Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
35 minRice, broccoli and cheddar baked together as a side or meatless main.
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Kitchen notes on leftover rice
Cool it fast
Spread hot rice on a tray to cool, then refrigerate within 2 hours. Rice left warm on the counter can grow bacteria that reheating will not destroy.
How long it keeps
Cooked rice keeps 4 to 6 days in the fridge in a covered container, and up to 6 months in the freezer.
Reheat properly
Sprinkle a tablespoon of water over each cup of rice, cover and microwave until steaming hot throughout, at least 165°F.
For the best fried rice
Break up cold rice with your hands before it hits the pan so every grain gets coated and crisp.
Questions about leftover rice
Is it safe to eat leftover rice?
Yes, if it was cooled and refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking and eaten within 4 to 6 days. Reheat it until steaming hot all the way through and only reheat it once.
Can you freeze cooked rice?
Yes. Freeze it flat in portioned bags for up to 6 months. Microwave it straight from frozen with a splash of water.
Why is day-old rice better for fried rice?
Refrigerated rice loses surface moisture and firms up, so the grains stay separate and crisp in a hot pan instead of clumping and turning mushy.
