How to Reheat Rice
Updated Jan 19, 2026
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Reheating rice doesn’t have to mean settling for dry or clumpy leftovers. With a little moisture and the right method, leftover rice can be brought back to life and taste nearly as good as when it was freshly cooked. This guide walks you through the best ways to reheat rice—whether you’re warming up a single bowl or feeding a crowd.
If you’ve ever reheated rice only to end up with something dry, crunchy, or oddly chewy, you’re not alone. The good news is that learning how to reheat rice properly is simple — and it makes a big difference. With a splash of water and a bit of steam, leftover rice can become fluffy, tender, and ready for whatever you’re serving it with, from stir-fries to soups to next-day grain bowls.
So go ahead — don’t just make enough rice for one dinner. Once you know how to reheat rice, you can repurpose leftover rice all week long.
The Golden Rule of Reheating Rice
Rice dries out in the fridge, so reheating it successfully is all about adding moisture and trapping steam. A little water goes a long way, and covering the rice while it heats is the difference between fluffy and disappointing.
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What's In This Post?
- How to Reheat Rice on the Stovetop (Best Texture for Larger Amounts)
- How to Reheat Rice in the Microwave (Best for Small Amounts)
- How to Reheat Rice in the Oven (Best for a Crowd)
- What Kind of Rice Can You Reheat?
- Does the Type of Rice Matter?
- Tips for Make-Ahead Rice
- FAQs
- How to Use Reheated Rice
- How to Reheat Rice Recipe
- More Rice Recipes
Discover two easy and fast ways to heat leftover rice. In a pan on the stove or in the microwave, no dry or sticky rice for dinner tonight!
How to Reheat Rice on the Stovetop (Best Texture for Larger Amounts)
This method gives you the most control and is great for weeknight dinners. If you don’t have a microwave, reheating rice on the stove is the way to go.
- Add the rice to a saucepan or skillet. Sprinkle with a few tablespoons of water or broth.
- Cover tightly and heat over low, stirring occasionally. Cook until the rice is heated through and fluffy.
Kitchen Smarts
There’s a secret third way to reheat your rice…make it into stir-fried rice! Try vegetable fried rice, kimchi stir-fried rice, or shrimp fried rice.
How to Reheat Rice in the Microwave (Best for Small Amounts)
Tip: Let the rice sit covered for 30 seconds after heating to finish steaming.
- Place the rice in a microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle 1–2 tablespoons of water over the rice (more for larger portions).
- Cover loosely with a microwave-safe lid or damp paper towel.
- Microwave for 1 minute, stir, then continue heating in 30-second bursts until hot. The rice in the middle will still be cool, so you want to redistribute it so it heats more evenly.
How to Reheat Rice in the Oven (Best for a Crowd)
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Spread the rice in an oven-safe dish and sprinkle with a few tablespoons of water.
- Cover tightly with foil.
- Heat for 15–20 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
This is ideal if you’re reheating rice as part of a larger meal.
What Kind of Rice Can You Reheat?
These methods work to reheat most kinds of rice: white rice, brown rice, basmati, jasmine, Texmati, black, and even wild rice.
You can use these methods to reheat leftover risotto or other dishes made with Arborio rice. This also goes for other very starchy short-grain rice types, sticky rice, and glutinous rice. However, do know that if you choose to reheat these types of rice, you will get hot rice, but not fluffy, separate grains, since they weren’t fluffy or separate to begin with.
Does the Type of Rice Matter?
Yes—slightly.
- White rice (jasmine, basmati): Reheats easily with a splash of water.
- Brown rice: Needs a bit more moisture and time due to its chewiness.
- Sticky or sushi rice: Reheat gently with extra steam to avoid drying out.
Tips for Make-Ahead Rice
If you are making rice with the intention of reheating some of it later in the week, it’s a good move to cool it down quickly so it doesn’t get clumpy, sticky, or too soft sitting in the pot.
An easy way to do this is to spray a rimmed baking sheet or tray with nonstick cooking spray or cover it with parchment paper, and then spread whatever rice you plan to store on the sheet or tray. When it cools to room temperature, scoop it into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. This will help keep the rice more separate.
FAQs
Reheating rice in the microwave is not just safe, but it’s actually recommended. It’s fast and easy, and with a few handy tricks like adding water and covering the rice with a damp towel, your rice will come out just as fluffy as if it had been cooked the same day.
Like all hot food, rice tends to attract bacterial growth. The longer it sits on the counter uncovered, the more bacteria it might be exposed to. Reheating your rice opens up that window of possible exposure even more. That’s why it’s generally a good idea to get your rice in the fridge as quickly as possible after cooking it and to only reheat it once.
It needs more moisture and better steam trapping—add water and cover it.
Yes! Reheat straight from frozen using the microwave or stovetop with added water.
How to Use Reheated Rice
You can use reheated rice much the same as you would use freshly cooked rice. It makes a great side to pretty much everything (we have rice at least a couple times a week in my house, and at least one is reheated!). I love it with simple main dishes, like Baked Bone-In Chicken Breasts or Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce. And I would never serve chili without rice: try it with White Chicken Chili or Turkey Chili. And, of course, rice goes perfectly with Asian food of all kinds. Try it with:
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How to Reheat Rice
Equipment
- Saucepan (for stovetop)
Ingredients
- Leftover rice
- Water (as needed)
Instructions
On the Stovetop:
- Place the leftover rice in a pot, and add about 2 tablespoons of water for each cup of rice. Don’t use a very deep pot — you want to be able to stir easily so that the rice reheats more quickly and doesn’t get all scorched and broken while you are stirring it.
- Cover the pot and heat the rice over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until the rice is hot throughout.
In the Microwave:
- To reheat rice in the microwave, put it in a microwave-safe dish or shallow bowl. Use a bowl deep enough to allow you to stir without flinging the grains everywhere, but not so deep that it’s hard to stir the rice easily.
- Drizzle over a couple of tablespoons of water per cup.
- Cover the rice with a damp paper towel. This prevents hydration from escaping, which prevents the rice from drying out.
- Blast the rice for about 20 seconds per cup until it’s hot. For larger amounts of rice, stir occasionally once it gets hot on the outer edges of the bowl. The rice in the middle will still be cool, so you want to redistribute it so it heats more evenly.
Very good recipe. Thank you.
Pat
Thank you, thank you, thank you, I am a widower and never learned to cook. I will be 80 in six months, bless your heart for your help-
Bob