How to Reheat Egg Fried Rice - 3 Best Methods - Asian Kitchen Recipes (2024)

If you’ve been wondering how to reheat egg fried rice (or even if you should!) then read on for my best tips and advice.

Whether you have made the egg fried rice yourself or got it from a Chinese takeaway, there are a few best practices for reheating and refreshing this delicious side dish.

No matter which method you choose to reheat your rice, you will need to cool it within 1 hour after cooking and place it in the fridge until you are ready to heat it up again. You will also need to make sure that it is piping hot the whole way through without any cold places.

If your rice contains meat (such as pork or chicken) check the internal temperature with a thermometer (it should read 74°C or 165°F) to make certain it is safe to eat.

You might also like to add a fresh garnish of chopped scallions and/or a little drizzle of sesame oil to serve.

1 How to Reheat Egg Fried Rice in the Microwave

If you want to reheat egg fried rice in the microwave you will need to follow these simple instructions:

• Place the rice in a microwave-safe dish (as in glass, ceramic or an approved plastic container)
• Add 1-2 tablespoons of water (or chicken/veg stock) and fluff with a fork
• Cover the container with a lid (you can also use a damp piece of kitchen roll) and microwave the rice on high for 3 minutes
• Pause the microwave every minute and stir the fried rice to ensure even cooking
• If needed, add an extra minute or more if the rice contains any cold places
• Carefully remove the container from the microwave using oven gloves
• Give the reheated egg fried rice a final stir and then serve

2 How to Safely Reheat Fried Rice in a Wok or Pan

To reheat egg fried rice in a wok or pan follow these step by step instructions:

• Get a wok or pan up to medium high heat on the hob and add a little oil or butter (remember the rice has already been fried in oil so don’t add too much)
• Add the chilled fried rice to the pan and use a spatula to break up any clumps, trying to get the rice spread out in a thin layer across the bottom of the wok to ensure even cooking
• Add a little water, place a lid on the top and let the rice heat through for a couple of minutes
• Remove the lid and stir thoroughly to make sure the rice is fully heated through – if the rice is beginning to dry out add a little more water or oil
• Replace the lid and cook for another minute or two until the rice is steaming hot and serve

3 Reheating Rice in the Oven

Cooking food in the oven always carries with it the risk of it drying out. To get round the problem try reheating the rice in an oven-proof dish with a little water and covered with tinfoil which has a handful of holes to let the air circulate, but also allow the rice to steam.

• Get your oven up to a temperature of 160°C or 320°F
• Place the chilled rice in an oven-proof with a little water
• Cover the dish with tinfoil and then make 3-4 small gashes in the tinfoil with a knife
• Cook the rice for around 10 minutes or so in the oven until it is fully heated through
• Stir and serve hot with optional chopped scallions and a little sesame oil if you like

FAQ’s About Reheating Fried Rice

Is it OK to Reheat Egg Fried Rice?

It is OK to eat fried rice under certain conditions:

• As long as the rice has been cooled within 1 hour of cooking and placed in the fridge to chill until you are ready to reheat it
• As long as you don’t reheat it more than once
• Provided the rice has been evenly cooked throughout and is piping hot the whole way through (ie there are no cold parts which haven’t been reheated properly)

How Do You Reheat Fried Rice without Drying it out?

The best way to avoid dry reheated fried rice is to add 1-2 tablespoons of water to it (especially if you are reheating in a microwave). If you have it, chicken or vegetable stock (broth) is a great way to boost the flavour as well. This will produce steam in the rice preventing it drying out and making sure it has great texture.

If you would like a recipe for egg fried rice then you might like to read my article on Young Chow Fried Rice. If you are looking for some tips on how to reheat egg noodles try the link.

For a useful video on the topic try the Youtube one below.