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Why Do You Need to Use Cold Rice for Fried Rice?

Rice frying is an ingenious way to repurpose leftover rice, and it's a fact that fried rice tastes better with stale rice. But why?

Administrator

18 December, 2024

The origin of fried rice, a dish that has captivated many, stems from the need to “recycle” leftover cold rice from previous meals. Cold rice tends to lose its appeal, and to make it more palatable, it is stir-fried with fat and seasonings over high heat. If you happen to have eggs from your backyard chickens, crack them into the pan, and you’ve got a gourmet dish.

Why do you need cold rice for fried rice? (Image: Thespruce)

Later, as lifestyles became more affluent, people started adding various “toppings” to their fried rice, such as meat, shrimp, sausage, and vegetables to counteract the greasy taste.

Why do you need cold rice for fried rice?

Nowadays, people make fried rice not necessarily to utilize leftover rice but simply because they crave this delicious dish. However, the key ingredient remains cold rice. Freshly cooked rice will not yield the same tasty results. If you only have hot, freshly cooked rice, you’ll need to let it cool down and mimic the characteristics of older rice before frying it.

Why do you need cold rice for fried rice instead of hot rice? It’s because freshly cooked rice tends to have a higher moisture content, and the grains are softer and stickier. When used for frying, the water in the rice will evaporate, causing the rice to clump together and even form a mushy mass, lacking the desired fluffiness of fried rice.

In contrast, cold rice has had time to dry out a bit, and the grains become firmer. When fried, the grains of cold rice remain separate, achieving the desired fluffiness.

Older rice grains will be drier and won’t stick together when fried, which is why cold rice is used for fried rice. (Image: Loveandlemons)

Cold rice has a certain firmness and resilience, allowing it to absorb flavors better without falling apart. When frying cold rice, seasonings like soy sauce, fish sauce, or oil can easily coat and penetrate each grain evenly. This results in a flavorful and appealing dish. With freshly cooked rice, the high moisture content hinders the absorption of flavors, and because the grains stick together, the seasonings don’t coat the surface evenly, making the dish less tasty.

If you plan to eat fried rice for the next meal, cook a larger batch of rice and store the leftovers in the fridge. If you’re impatient and don’t have cold rice on hand, spread the freshly cooked rice thinly on a tray and fan it to cool and dry it out before frying.

Cold rice will absorb flavors better. (Image: Fifteenspatulas)

Here are some simple yet effective ways to transform cold rice into delicious meals:

Yangzhou Fried Rice

Yangzhou Fried Rice is a familiar dish that harmoniously combines cold rice with various ingredients. To prepare this dish, you’ll need cold rice, sausage or pork roll, carrots, peas, eggs, garlic, and scallions.

First, sauté the minced garlic, then add the carrots and peas and cook until done. Next, put in the cold rice, season to taste, and stir-fry evenly to separate the grains and ensure uniform coloring.

Finally, add the sausage and fried eggs to the pan, stir-fry for a few minutes, and sprinkle in the chopped scallions just before turning off the heat.

Yangzhou Fried Rice is a familiar and easy-to-make dish. (Image: Nineshield)

Kimchi Fried Rice

If you’re a fan of Korean cuisine, Kimchi Fried Rice is a must-try. The ingredients you’ll need include cold rice, kimchi, pork belly, eggs, and basic seasonings.

To prepare this dish, finely chop the pork belly and kimchi, then sauté the pork belly until golden. Add the kimchi to the pan and continue cooking for a few minutes, adjusting the seasoning if needed.

Next, mix in the cold rice and top it off with a fried egg to make it even more enticing.

Seaweed Rice Rolls

This dish is not only delicious but also convenient for picnics or snacks. The ingredients include cold rice, seaweed sheets, cucumber, carrot, crab sticks, and eggs.

Start by beating the eggs and frying them into a thin sheet, then cut the eggs into strips. Also, cut the crab sticks, cucumber, and carrot into thin strips to prepare the filling.

Place a seaweed sheet on a bamboo mat, spread the cold rice evenly on the sheet, and place the prepared ingredients in the center. Roll it up tightly, then cut into bite-sized pieces and serve with soy sauce mixed with wasabi.

Cold rice can be used to make Seaweed Rice Rolls. (Image: Justonecookbook)

Fried Rice Cakes

Fried Rice Cakes are a unique and mouthwatering treat. All you need are cold rice, eggs, scallions, and some crispy coating mix.

Mix the cold rice with eggs and chopped scallions; you can also add a pinch of salt and pepper to enhance the flavor. Shape the mixture into small balls or flat rounds, then roll them in the coating mix. Fry the rice cakes in oil until golden, drain the excess oil, and serve with a sweet and sour sauce or chili sauce.