Using the pre-cooked food that you store in the freezer, you can assemble a delicious dinner with ease. Unfortunately, however, the defrosting process is not the same for all foods. For some ingredients, such as rice, extra attention is required to safeguard their quality and prevent bacterial proliferation. If you defrost it properly, the rice will stay moist and grainy and will save you time when it comes to making dinner. Depending on how much time you have available, you can let the rice defrost in the refrigerator overnight, soak it in cold water for 30 minutes or use the microwave to defrost it ultra-quickly.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Defrost the Rice in the Microwave
Step 1. Place the rice in a container with a lid suitable for use in the microwave
Plastic wrap, plastic bags and some containers can melt and deteriorate inside the microwave. If the container in which you frozen the rice is not suitable for use in the microwave, transfer it to an appropriate container.
- If you have frozen rice in individual portions wrapped in cling film, transfer the desired amount to a container with a lid suitable for microwave use and discard the cling film.
- If you have frozen the rice in a container that is not suitable for use in the microwave, place it in the sink upside down and run the hot water on the bottom for a few seconds. The rice will detach from the sides of the container and you can transfer it to a container suitable for use in the microwave.
Step 2. Place the lid on the container, but do not close it
It simply has to rest on the edges, so that the steam is formed which will be used to defrost the rice. Do not seal the container, or the lid may pop off forcefully and the rice will not defrost properly.
Step 3. Heat the rice in the microwave at one minute intervals, stirring it from time to time until it is completely thawed
Break up larger piles with a spoon and shell the grains of rice to speed up the defrosting process. Continue to heat it at minute intervals and shell it until it is completely thawed.
If the rice is a lot, you can heat it for 2 minutes at a time, but don't wait any longer to stir it and check if it has thawed. If you leave it in the microwave for too long, it may dry out
Step 4. If the rice feels dry, add a tablespoon (15ml) of water to replenish the lost moisture
If necessary, you can incorporate more as it thaws, but it's best not to add too much all at once. Frozen rice tends to trap moisture, so you have to be careful not to add more water than necessary, so as not to ruin its texture.
Step 5. Let the rice sit in the covered container for 10 minutes
In this way the parts that may still be frozen will thaw thanks to the residual heat. After 10 minutes, don't wait too long before eating the rice. If it stays at room temperature for more than an hour, the bacteria could begin to proliferate.
Method 2 of 3: Thaw the Rice in the Refrigerator
Step 1. Put the frozen rice in the refrigerator
If you have stored it in various bags or containers, space them without overlapping them, otherwise the rice will not defrost evenly. This method allows you to defrost the rice in a very simple way, but it takes several hours.
- Do not try to speed up the time by letting the rice defrost at room temperature. The risk of developing harmful bacteria is very high, so be careful not to leave it at room temperature for more than an hour.
- The container in which you frozen the rice may not be airtight. To prevent a puddle of water from forming in the refrigerator, place a plate or paper towel under the bowl with the frozen rice.
Step 2. Let the rice defrost in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours
After spending 12 hours in the refrigerator, it should be at least partially thawed. From time to time, break up larger mounds with a spoon to speed up the defrosting process. You will know that the rice is completely thawed when you can easily stir it with the spoon.
After 12 hours, you can finish defrosting the rice using the microwave. If you let it partially defrost in the refrigerator, it won't have lost any moisture, so you won't need to add water. Transfer it to a microwave safe container and simply reheat it every minute until it's steaming hot and completely thawed
Step 3. Eat the rice within 2-3 days
After it has thawed completely, you can keep it in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days. When you're ready to eat it, simply heat it in the microwave for a minute or until it's as hot as you want.
Do not heat the rice in the microwave more than once to prevent bacterial growth. Only reheat the portion you are sure you can eat
Method 3 of 3: Thaw the Rice in Cold Water
Step 1. Place the frozen rice portion in a plastic bag
The water must not penetrate into the container or bag in which the frozen rice is contained, otherwise it will be absorbed by the grains which will then become mushy. Seal the bag properly so that it acts as a barrier and protects the rice from water.
If you want to defrost several portions of rice, use a waterproof bag for each
Step 2. Place a large pot in the sink and place the bag with the frozen rice in it
Choose a pot that is large enough to hold it easily, especially if you need to defrost several portions of rice at the same time. If there is insufficient space, the rice will not defrost properly.
Step 3. Fill the pot with cold water
The cold water will protect the rice from the hot kitchen air. If the water doesn't keep cold, harmful bacteria will have a chance to proliferate.
It is important that the water stays cold. If the weather is hot, you can leave the tap slightly open to ensure continuous water exchange and keep the temperature at the correct level throughout the entire defrosting process
Step 4. Check the rice every 10 minutes to see if it has thawed
You can check this by opening the bag and mixing it with the spoon. If there are any areas where it is still firm, reseal the bag and soak it in cold water for another 10 minutes.
To defrost a single serving of rice, it will take about 20-30 minutes. If there are several bags in the pot, it may take up to an hour
Step 5. Eat rice within a day
Remove the bag from the cold water when you are sure the rice is completely thawed. You can heat it in the microwave in one minute intervals until it is steaming hot and ready to serve. If you don't intend to eat it right away, you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to a day. After 24 hours the bacteria will start to proliferate, so you will have to throw it away.
