Why is my fried rice hard?

The starches in the rice that absorbed water and swelled up during cooking will contract as they cool, trapping the moisture into microscopic crystals. This makes the surface of the rice feel hard and dry, but the rice technically isn’t dried out. … After that, it’ll be too dried out for fried rice.

How do you fix hard fried rice?

Whatever the case, if your rice is looking dried out, or the texture is still hard or crunchy when all the liquid has been absorbed, add up to ½ cup water and return to a simmer with the lid on. Be patient. Don’t raise the temperature to rush the rice—that’ll just put you right back where you started.

Does frying rice make it softer?

After the rice is well drained, it is stir-fried for several minutes using a small amount of oil in a large skillet. … The rice can be a bit chewy if it is slightly undercooked (which is preferred by many people) or the texture can be softer and creamier if the rice is cooked for a longer period and more liquid is used.

Is fried rice supposed to be crunchy?

If you like it crispy, make it crispy. Just make sure it’s crispiness from frying, and not hardness from undercooked rice (less appealing texture). No, chinese/thai fried rice is never crunchy.

How do you keep rice from being mushy?

Remove your pan from heat and uncover, placing a kitchen towel (as described above) over pan to keep moisture from dripping onto rice. Cover the pan tightly with lid. Let rice stand, covered, for 15-20 minutes to firm up. Remove the lid and fluff cooked rice with a fork.

What do you do if you put too much water in rice?

1 Dry it out



If you think your rice is cooked but there’s still water, simply drain the water out and keep cooking on low heat, uncovered. This will help the water evaporate. As soon as it’s dry, remove it from heat, or maybe even transfer it to a bowl to aerate. Fluff it up with a spoon!

Can you fry hard rice?

You can’t fry uncooked rice and expect it to come out soft – some kind of liquid has to be added to make it edible. … That’s perfectly fine, we call that rice pilaf, not exactly like the Asian style of fried rice, but also delicious. You fry the rice & onions first then add a soup stock to cook the rice in.

Is fried rice difficult?

It’s extremely easy. Boil some rice until it’s the consistency you’d normally eat it then either leave it to cool or put it in a sieve and run cold water through it to cool it down. If you leave it to go cold, you should still run water through it to get the starch out.

Does rice have to be cold for fried rice?

Use cold, leftover cooked rice. Left in the fridge overnight, the rice grains will firm up, making it easier to separate and decreasing the chances of your fried rice turning out mushy. If you can’t wait, air freshly cooked rice to remove moisture and refrigerate the rice for a few hours before cooking. 2.

How do you dry rice for fried rice fast?

for the quick way lay out the rice in a thin layer on the counter with a baking sheet or some other material. let it sit for about 30 minutes. then portion the rice and freeze in a zip-lock for a few hours.

What kind of rice do Chinese restaurants use for fried rice?

Medium-grain white rice: The variety you’ll most commonly see in Chinese restaurants. Like jasmine, medium rice grains boast a great balance: They’re strong individuals, but also good team players. White rice has less of a floral aroma than jasmine, which makes it a little more versatile.