Yes, with care — you can freeze cooked rice.
How to freeze cooked rice
- Cool the rice as quickly as possible — ideally within 1 hour of cooking. Spreading it on a tray or wide dish speeds this up.
- Pack into airtight containers or freezer bags in portion sizes, pressing out air.
- Label with the date and freeze straight away.
How long it keeps
Keep frozen cooked rice for up to 1 month for best quality.
How to defrost
Defrost in the fridge, or reheat straight from frozen in the microwave with a splash of water.
How to reheat
Reheat until piping hot all the way through (steaming, at least 75°C) and reheat only once. Do not reheat rice more than once.
When not to freeze it
- Don't freeze rice that has already been left at room temperature for more than 1–2 hours.
- Don't refreeze rice once it has been defrosted and reheated.
Food safety: Uncooked rice can carry Bacillus cereus spores that survive cooking. If cooked rice is left warm, these can multiply and produce toxins. The key is to cool it fast, freeze promptly, and reheat once until piping hot — never reheat rice more than once.