How to Freeze Rice

Can you freeze cooked rice? Absolutely! In this post, I will walk you through how to freeze rice and how to defrost it. Plus, I answer other FAQs about freezing rice. 

Can You Freeze Rice? 

If you’ve never meal prepped a big batch of rice and frozen it for later, you’ve been missing out! 

Cooked rice freezes like a dream — provided you store and reheat it correctly, that is. So long as you know the proper technique for freezing rice, it taste just as good reheated as it did the day you made it. 

I know it’s tempting to purchase packets of pre-cooked or frozen rice at the grocery store, but they’re incredibly overpriced for the amount of rice you get in them. Making a big batch of rice and freezing some for later is easy and much more budget-friendly! 

Knowing how to freeze rice also comes in handy for times when you accidentally prepare too much for dinner and can’t eat the leftovers before they go bad. 

This post will explain how to freeze rice so it doesn’t get freezer burn, how to defrost and reheat frozen rice, and also share the types of rice you can and cannot freeze. 

Does Rice Freeze Well? 

Surprisingly, yes it does! The only thing to keep in mind is that frozen, reheated rice can dry out more easily than freshly steamed rice. 

To prevent frozen rice from drying out while reheating it, add a splash of water to the pot or bowl. So simple! 

What Types of Rice Can You Freeze? 

Before I go into detail about the best method for freezing rice, I first wanted to discuss the types of rice you can freeze. I know I’ll get a lot of questions about it otherwise! 

• Can you freeze white rice? Yes, this type of rice freezes the best and reheats well. 
• Can you freeze brown rice? Yes, but it’s more prone to drying out so be sure to cook until fully tender and then add a splash of water when reheating it so it doesn’t get crumbly or mealy. 
• Can you freeze Mexican rice? Yes, just note that if you made homemade Mexican rice with onions and other aromatics, the texture of the vegetables might change slightly upon freezing. I recommend chopping any aromatics very finely to avoid this issue. The flavored rice itself will reheat perfectly though. 
• Can you freeze Spanish rice? Yes, but with the same notes as the Mexican rice. 
• Can you freeze fried rice? Technically yes, but all of those veggies and the scrambled eggs in fried rice will change texture once frozen. As such, I don’t recommend freezing fried rice if you can help it. 

Can you freeze uncooked rice? 

Yes, you can freeze uncooked rice in a freezer bag to preserve its shelf life.

However, this is unnecessary in my opinion since uncooked white rice lasts for years if stored in a cool, dry place. Brown rice contains more oils than white rice and only lasts for 6 months.

If your family doesn’t eat rice very quickly, you might want to freeze it raw. Otherwise, there’s no need to take up previous freezer space with uncooked rice!  

What Are the Best Containers for Freezing Rice? 

You can freeze rice in a variety of storage containers and freezer bags. Use whichever you have on hand that fits the amount of rice you want to freeze (or whatever you have that can comfortably fit in your freezer!). 

Here are the freezer containers for rice  that I recommend: 

• Tupperware: I prefer using freezer-safe glass meal prep containers for freezing individual portions of rice. I personally like these Glass Meal Prep Containers because they are the perfect size for single portions for lunch for me, they reheat well in the microwave since they’re glass, and I can eat right out of the glass container.
• Ziploc Bags: Be sure to get Ziploc freezer bags. They’re thicker than regular Ziploc bags and do a much better job at preventing freezer burn. I recommend freezing Ziploc bags flat on a cookie sheet and then storing them vertically once frozen solid to save space. 
• Vacuum Seal Bags: These special bags remove all of the excess air from the bags of rice, which makes them last longer in the freezer. You’ll need a special vacuum pump to suck the excess air out of the vacuum bags. 

How to Freeze Rice 

Freezing cooked rice is a straightforward process that anyone can master. Below is an overview of the freezing process. 

Step 1: Prepare Rice 

• I love cooking rice in the Instant Pot, but you can prepare it in a rice cooker or on the stovetop as well. 
• If making a flavored rice recipe (such as Spanish or Mexican rice), follow the rest of the recipe as instructed. 

Step 2: Cool Completely 

• You can spread the rice onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet to speed up the cooling process. 
• Alternately, leave in the saucepan, Instant Pot, or rice cooker to cool. 

Step 3: Portion Into Freezer Bags or Containers 

• Fluff the cooked rice very well with a fork to separate the grains. 
• I recommend freezing in 1- to 2-cup portions so you can reheat the exact amount you want in the future. 
• See section above for tips on the best freezer containers to use! 
• Label and date, being sure to include how much rice is in each container. 

Tip: If freezing rice in Tupperware or glass freezer containers, press a square of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the rice before securing the lid on top. This prevents any air in the container from coming in direct contact with the rice and subsequently causing freezer burn. 

Step 4: Freeze  

• If using vacuum bags or freezer bags, lay flat on top of each other until hardened. Then, you can freeze vertically, like books, to save space in the freezer if needed. 
• Frozen rice will last up to 2 months without issue. 

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How Long Can You Freeze Rice? 

In my experience, frozen rice will last for two to three months in the freezer. After that, it’s more prone to developing freezer burn and / or drying out. 

Frozen rice that has freezer burn will still be safe to eat, but it would be better if used in soups or other “wet” dishes where the rice will absorb lots of liquid rather than reheating it on its own as a side dish or for a stir-fry. 

How to Defrost Frozen Rice 

Defrosting frozen rice is often optional. Rice can be reheated from frozen in the microwave or on the stovetop, and it can also be added directly to soups. 

However, if for some reason you’d like to defrost your frozen rice prior to reheating it, simply place it in the fridge overnight. 

Or, submerge the freezer container or bag in a large bowl filled with cold tap water. Change the tap water every 15 minutes, or until rice is thawed. 

Can Frozen Rice Be Used Without Defrosting It? 

If added straight to a soup or chili, yes! The rice will defrost as it cooks in the hot soup, so there’s no need to defrost it beforehand. 

You can also reheat rice from frozen in the microwave or on the stovetop — no need to defrost first! 

How to Reheat Frozen Rice 

Reheating frozen rice is quick and easy, no need to defrost it first if you don’t want to! Here’s how I recommend reheating frozen rice: 

1. Break the block of rice into smaller chunks to make reheating easier. You can do this by gently beating the rice with a rolling pin or ladle (either in the freezer bag or in the bowl you plan on reheating it in). 
2. Add a tablespoon of water to the bowl or saucepan. 
3. Microwave: Cover tightly with plastic wrap, heat for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, check doneness, then continue heating for 30-second intervals as needed. 
4. Stovetop: Cover saucepan with lid, place over medium-low heat, warm until rice is done. 
5. Fluff rice with a fork before serving. 

Tips for Freezing Rice 

• Rice freezes best without any mix-ins, such as onion or other aromatics. However, if you plan on freezing flavored rice (such as Mexican or Spanish rice), chop any veggies or aromatics finely so that they freeze well too. 
• After 2 months, frozen rice tends to dry out. It will still be safe to eat, but you might need to add extra water to the bowl or saucepan when reheating. 
• If your reheated rice seems dry, you might need to add an extra splash of water or broth when reheating frozen rice. 
• Vacuum bags are best for preventing freezer burn, but use what you have! 
• Portion into 1- or 2-cup portions to make future defrosting easier. I love being able to reheat individual servings of rice at a moment’s notice!  
• Season rice generously with salt while it cooks! You don’t want your rice to be bland. 

Try This Tutorial at Home! 

Next time you have leftover rice you don’t know what to do with, try freezing it! 

Did you love how easy it was to freeze and reheat rice? Leave a comment below and give this tutorial a review for others to see what you thought.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of your frozen rice! 

More Freezing Tutorials: 

Knowing how to freeze soup and which soups that freeze well makes meal prep a breeze! In this post, I share the best ways to freeze soup, plus how to defrost soup and which soups you can and can’t freeze.

Can you freeze butter? Absolutely! In this post, I walk you through how to freeze butter and how to defrost it. Plus, I answer other FAQs about freezing butter. 

Don’t want those fresh eggs to spoil before you can use them up? Freeze them! Freezing chicken eggs is a great way to preserve their shelf life and ensure you never run out of eggs for baked goods.

While you’re preparing a lasagna for dinner, you might as well make a second to freeze for later! In this post, I’ll explain how to freeze lasagna as well as how to thaw and reheat frozen lasagna.

Having freezer enchiladas prepped and ready to bake is a huge time saver on busy weeknights! This post will walk you through how to freeze enchiladas and the best methods for reheating them.

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