Sometimes we find ourselves having to deal with tight schedules that don’t allow enough time to prepare meals. If you think you will run out of time to cook, why don’t you make your food ahead of time and freeze it?
After all, buying pre-cooked food might not be an option for you as these products are expensive.
As much as freezing food saves you time and money, sometimes you can get skeptical about the kind of foods you should freeze, and the ones you shouldn’t. For instance, you may wonder whether it’s okay to freeze your cooked rice.
You can freeze cooked rice without problems, even if the rice has other ingredients such as vegetables mixed in. Remember to store it quickly after cooking to prevent bacterial growth. You can store rice in the freezer for about a month before it starts to change in taste and texture.
Read on to find out how you can freeze your cooked rice safely and how long you should keep it.
How Long Can Cooked Rice Last In the Freezer?
While freezing cooked rice prolongs its shelf life, this pro-longing of shelf life is usually limited. You may freeze rice for up to 6 months, once it’s cooked.
Some claim it can go up to 8 months in the freezer without going bad. That’s a considerably long time, keeping in mind that cooked rice lasts for about 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
On rare occasions, your frozen rice could go bad when you least expect it. Here are a few things you can look for if you are suspecting your rice is no longer safe to eat.
First, you should examine the smell of your rice. Spoiled rice has an unpleasant or strange smell that’s easy to detect.
Second, you should check for mold. Rice with mold often has green, black, or blue spots. Therefore if you notice a color variation that’s a clear sign that your rice has gone bad.
Lastly, observe its texture. Unlike safe rice which is fluffy, expired rice appears slimy and gooey.
That’s all you need to avoid food poisoning from frozen rice. So, if you notice or suspect any of those changes in your rice, make sure you discard it right away.
What’s the Best Way to Freeze Cooked Rice?
Freezing food slows down the growth of bacteria, but it doesn’t kill them. So if you want your frozen rice to last longer you must handle it well.
Before freezing your cooked rice, always allow it time to cool if it’s still hot, otherwise it will clump. Warm foods also cause condensation while in the packaging, which is not good for the quality of your frozen rice.
Keep the rice at room temperature until it stops producing steam, before packing it.
Sometimes rice becomes sticky after freezing, therefore you can sprinkle some oil to keep the rice grains separated. But, make sure you don’t add too much oil to the rice, as it could make it overly wet.
After these steps, it’s now time to transfer your rice to the storage material.
If your rice is mixed with other components like chicken, you should pack them separately. Placing different ingredients of different shapes in the same container could leave air pockets which is detrimental to the quality of your rice.
Zip-top bags are the best for freezing your cooked rice because you can squeeze out all the air. Getting the air out of rigid containers while you need to store your cooked food can be hectic. However, if you don’t have or can’t find the zip-top bags, containers are fine.
It also helps to wrap the rice in a plastic wrap before placing it in the container or bag. The sheet of wrap protects the rice from freezer burn.
Ensure you add the right amount of rice to the storage bags or containers. Once you’ve scooped all the rice into your storage bag, press as much air out as possible, and then zip it.
Next, place your rice in the freezer. If there’s enough space in the freezer, don’t stack things on one another to prevent breakages. Placing heavy items on your bags of rice can also mash your rice, and that’s not something you’d want to happen.
Label the container or bag with the current date so you can always confirm how long the rice has been frozen. But if you will consume your rice within a short time, you can skip this step.
Should You Defrost Frozen Rice or Reheat Immediately?
You should thoroughly defrost your rice before reheating it. Defrosting can help kill some of the bacteria in the rice(as it is usually just dormant and not dead while frozen), before eliminating it completely by reheating.
Better still, defrosting your rice allows it to reheat quickly, unlike frozen or partially frozen rice.
Now that you know the benefits of defrosting your rice before reheating it, how do you do this?
The fastest way to defrost cooked rice is by placing it in the microwave. All you have to do is place your rice in a microwave-safe plate or bowl, turn on the ‘defrost’ setting, and run your microwave. Add a few drops of water to the rice if it seems very dry during the microwaving process.
You can also defrost your food in the fridge. If you prefer this method, ensure you plan ahead as you may have to leave the rice in the fridge overnight.
Another alternative method of defrosting your rice is by placing it under cold running water, while it’s still packed in containers or bags.
Preferably, you can fill a large container with water and dip your rice inside. Ensure the water you are using is clean, to avoid any cases of contamination.
Seal the container or bag well while defrosting the rice using cold water, if you don’t want your rice filled with water.
Allow 10-minute intervals before checking whether the rice is defrosted. Remove the rice from the packaging and fluff it with a spoon to check whether it’s still frozen.
Sometimes you can defrost your rice or any other food at room temperature, but it’s not advisable to do this. For better and safe results, stick to the above methods.
Don’t mix your rice with other foods such as raw meat while defrosting it to avoid contamination. And, once you have defrosted the rice, consume it as soon as possible, preferably within one day.
Does Freezing Rice Make It Mushy?
Mushy food is usually unappealing, so you should do what’s necessary to prevent your rice from falling into this category as you freeze it.
If you want to avoid mushy rice, ensure you freeze it as soon as possible. However, don’t forget to let it cool down, otherwise, you will still ruin your frozen rice.
Does Frozen Rice Taste Good?
It’s often believed that you can’t freeze rice without ruining its flavor or texture, however, this is false.
Your frozen rice will taste good provided you handle it well while freezing and don’t allow it to stay for too long in the freezer.
Good freezer management is also key when you want to maintain the taste of your frozen rice and other items in the freezer.
Here are tips you can follow, to make sure you are getting the best out of your freezer.
- Always keep your freezer door closed. Open it only when you have to, and close it as soon as you are done.
- Position your freezer in a cool and dry place in your house. Ensure the temperature of that area is always constant.
- Don’t fill your freezer to the maximum, instead keep it three-quarters full so that it functions efficiently.
- Clean the condenser coils regularly.
- Always defrost your freezer.
Lastly, if your cooked rice smells or tastes different even after following the correct freezing procedures, throw it out immediately to avoid unnecessary illness.