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Whip up this easy fried rice recipe with leftover rice in just 20 minutes. It makes an easy lunch option, and stops you feeding your leftover rice to the chickens (Just me?) TOTAL TIME INVESTMENT: 20 MINUTESI have a real soft spot for this quick fried rice recipe. Nary a week goes by when I don't have it for lunch at least one day. And I have taken to cooking more rice than I actually need for dinner just so I have enough to make myself a bowl of fried rice for lunch the next day.
There was a time when the only leftover meal I would eat was lasagna. Everything else went in the bin. Then I met Mr Grumpy, and for years he would take all the leftovers to work for his lunch.
Over time though, I have become better at repurposing our leftovers and turning them into new meals. Nowadays Mr Grumpy and I fight over who gets to eat any leftovers from dinner.
What about you? Do you struggle with using up your household leftovers? To help you out, I have put together a quick guide with some suggestions for using up the most common leftovers. You can download the guide from my Resource Library by clicking the link below or by requesting the password at the end of this post.
My quick fried rice recipe with leftover rice is so easy to customise, and is really all about what I have on hand in the fridge. One thing I do stress though is that the rice must be cold. Freshly cooked rice will result in a gluggy mess in the fry pan (Not that I would know ...)
So open the fridge or freezer, have a rummage, and see what you have on hand to whip up your own bowl of this super easy fried rice recipe.
*We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Ingredient Substitutions for this easy fried rice recipe
This fried rice recipe with leftover rice is very much about the ingredients I have on hand at the time, rather than a specific list. So it can easily be changed up according to your family preferences and the ingredients you have on hand.
- Substitute the bacon for shredded chicken, chopped up leftover roast pork or any other protein you have on hand.
- Finely sliced onion can be used in place of the spring (green) onion.
- Any frozen vegetables can be used in place of, or in addition to, the frozen corn. Frozen peas work extremely well.
- A teaspoon of ginger paste can be used in place of the freshly grated ginger. Omit the ginger if you are not a fan.
- Tamari or shoyu can be used in place of the soy sauce. Using a gluten free tamari will make the recipe gluten free.
- This is about the only recipe that I make that specifies white pepper. I really do think it makes a difference here. However you can easily use normal black pepper or simply leave it out if preferred.
Frequently asked questions about leftover rice
Can leftover rice make you sick?
Rice is one of the most frequently produced leftovers in the kitchen, and also has the potential to be the most dangerous.
Rice can contain a bacteria called Bacillus cereus which is surprisingly heat resistant and which can survive the cooking process. Leftover rice needs to be cooled quickly and stored in the fridge to prevent the bacteria reproducing.
Incorrectly handled leftover rice can give you food poisoning.
Is it OK to eat leftover rice?
Leftover rice that has been handled correctly is perfectly safe to eat. Rice can be stored for up to three days in the fridge, after which time it should be discarded.
Rice can also be stored safely in the freezer for up to three months.
How do you cool rice quickly?
Rice should be cooled as quickly as possible to discourage bacterial growth. The fastest way to cool rice is to remove it from the hot cooking container and to spread it out in a shallow container.
Transfer the cooled rice to the fridge within 1 - 1 1/2 hours after cooking to prevent bacteria multiplying.
How do you store cooked rice in the fridge?
Rice should be stored in a sealed, airtight container in the coolest part of the fridge.
Do not store rice in the fridge for more than 3 days.
How do you reheat leftover rice?
To reheat leftover rice either add it to a dish during the cooking process (such as in this fried rice recipe) or simply zap it in the microwave for serving as a side dish.
Does microwaving rice kill bacteria?
Microwaving the rice may kill the bacteria, but will not remove any toxins produced by the bacteria. It is the toxins that cause food poisoning.
If your rice has been stored correctly, it is perfectly safe to microwave. If the rice is more than 3 days old, discard it.
Fried Rice Recipe With Leftover Rice: Some Final Tips
I make this simple fried rice recipe with leftover rice regularly, and it is slightly different every time. So I wanted to leave you with a few final tips that I have discovered along the way:
- This fried rice recipe works with any type of rice. I have used Jasmine, Basmatti and brown rice over time, and cannot say I have a preference for one rice variety over another.
- The rice must be cold. Hot rice will give you a gluggy mess.
- I freeze rice in 1 cup portions so I can whip up this fried rice recipe at any time.
- This recipe is sufficient for a decent lunchtime serve. It is easily scaled up by adding more of all the ingredients (and using a larger fry pan).
- I buy spring onions by the bunch, and chop the whole lot when I get home from the market as they go limp so quickly. Then I simply freeze them in old take away containers, which helps makes this recipe even quicker. I simply scoop the frozen spring onions into the fry pan with the frozen corn, where they quickly defrost.
- The beansprouts are a nice addition, but I don't always have them in the fridge. I regularly make the recipe without them, and like it just as much.
- A sprinkle of crispy onions over your bowl of fried rice is a great way to finish off the dish. I buy tubs of crispy onions from my local Asian grocer. They are a "nice to have" not a "must have".
Looking for more recipe ideas for using your leftovers?
One of the best resources I have found for repurposing leftovers is Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's (of River Cottage fame) book River Cottage Love Your Leftovers: Recipes for the resourceful cook. I adore this book, and pull it off my shelf regularly to turn the bits and pieces in my fridge into something useful.
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Enjoy!
