Egg fried rice is one of the most popular Chinese takeaway orders and can be served alongside curries, oriental dishes, or just as it is. But if you have some egg fried rice leftover, is it safe to reheat it?
To reheat egg fried rice, transfer the rice to a casserole dish, add a splash of water then reheat in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Egg fried rice can also be reheated in the microwave or in a pan on the stove.
How to Reheat Egg Fried Rice
You can reheat egg fried rice in several ways, but doing so in a frying pan on the stovetop produces the best results. Alternatively, you can reheat egg fried rice in the microwave or oven, as we explain in detail below:
How to Reheat Egg Fried Rice in the Oven
Supposing you’re not pushed for time, you can reheat egg fried rice in the oven, which is perhaps favourable to microwaving it. Here’s how to go about it:
- Preheat Oven
Switch on your oven and heat it to 180C or 350F. - Add Rice to a Casserole Dish
Transfer your rice from its container into a suitably sized casserole dish. - Add Moisture
Choose an appropriate liquid (water/soy sauce/broth) and add two tablespoons to your egg fried rice. - Cover
Place the lid on top of your casserole dish if it has one. If not, you can cover the dish with tin foil. - Reheat
Place your dish in the centre of the oven and reheat for 20-30 minutes. - Check the Temperature
When you’re reheating egg fried rice, you need to check it’s at least 75C or 165F before serving. - Serve and Enjoy
When your egg fried rice is piping hot, you’re ready to serve it up to your expectant dinner guests.
How to Reheat Egg Fried Rice in the Microwave
If you don’t want the hassle of reheating egg fried rice on the stovetop, you can heat it in the microwave in the following way:
- Add Rice to a Microwave-Safe Bowl or Dish
Place your egg fried rice in a microwave-safe dish or bowl. If it was delivered to you in a tin tray, you mustn’t place this in the microwave! - Break Up Any Clumps
With a fork, break up any clumps within your rice so it will reheat evenly in the microwave. - Add Moisture
Choose a liquid again and add two tablespoons to your egg fried rice. - Cover
Cover the rice in microwave-wrap or with paper towels. The former is better, as it helps the rice retain its moisture. - Reheat
Switch your microwave onto its medium setting, and reheat at ninety-second intervals, checking and stirring the rice each time. - Check the Temperature
When you’re reheating egg fried rice, you need to check it’s at least 75C or 165F before serving. - Serve and Enjoy
Once your egg fried rice is piping hot, it’s ready to serve up alongside your curry or chosen sauce!
How to Reheat Egg Fried Rice on the Stovetop
To enjoy flavoursome egg fried rice with a great texture, it’s best to reheat it on the stovetop by following these simple steps:
- Heat a Frying Pan
Add a splash of cooking oil to a frying pan, and heat it over medium heat for 30-60 seconds. - Add the Egg Fried Rice
Once the pan is hot, add your egg fried rice, spreading it evenly across the pan’s surface. Make sure you break the rice up well, so there aren’t any clumps. - Reheat
Heat your egg fried rice for 8-10 minutes, stirring it consistently, so it doesn’t stick to the pan. - Add Moisture/Sauce (If Desired)
After around five minutes, you can add some soy sauce or any other flavoursome sauce or moisture if you wish. You can even add some broth if you think the rice is drying out, but this is totally optional and not necessary. - Check the Temperature
When you’re reheating egg fried rice, you need to check that it’s at least 75C or 165F before serving. - Serve and Enjoy
Your egg fried rice is now ready to serve up with your chosen accompaniment!
How to Reheat Egg Fried Rice Successfully
Now that you have three methods for successfully reheating egg fried rice, we’ve got 3 tips to bear in mind when reheating it:
- Reheat All Types of Rice – You can reheat so many types of rice, including shop-bought, restaurant-ordered, or homemade. You can also reheat egg fried rice that contains meat, seafood, and veggies. But no matter which type of egg fried rice you’re reheating, you need to make sure it’s at least 75C or 165F before eating it.
- Store in the Fridge – You shouldn’t keep egg fried rice at room temperature. As soon as you’re done cooking it in the first instance, and it has cooled, you need to get it in the fridge as quickly as possible. You can then keep it in the fridge, covered, for 3-4 days.
- Reheat Accompaniments Separately – Most people enjoy egg fried rice as an accompaniment to another dish, whether it’s a tasty helping of sweet and sour sauce or Chinese chicken curry. If you’re planning to enjoy your egg fried rice as a side dish, make sure you reheat your rice separately so it heats evenly and thoroughly.
Is It Safe to Reheat Egg Fried Rice?
To ensure your fried rice is safe to reheat, you should only keep it at room temperature when it is absolutely necessary. It needs to be refrigerated as quickly as possible so it doesn’t go rancid.
You should only reheat fried rice once, and you need to ensure it’s piping hot (or at least 75C or 165F) before you eat it. If you follow these guidelines, it’s perfectly safe to reheat rice.
Reheating Egg Fried Rice FAQs
If you still have questions about reheating egg fried rice then these FAQs might help you out:
Although it can be safe to do so, we would avoid reheating takeaway rice as you don’t know the process it has been through. You don’t want rice reheated twice, and there’s a risk that your favourite takeaway has already reheated it once.
Once cooled, egg fried rice should be portioned out into airtight containers and then popped into the fridge where it will keep for between 5 and 7 days.
Ross is a freelance writer with a passion for delicious food and drinks, having worked in the hospitality industry in the past. He began working with Let’s Foodie when it first launched to provide information on how to reheat, freeze and microwave different foods.