How to Make Rice for Fried Rice

💛 Hi, dear lovely foodies! I get asked all the time how to make rice for fried rice, so let’s break it down. Great fried rice doesn’t start in the wok—it starts with properly cooked rice. Get this step right, and your fried rice will be fluffy, fragrant, and never mushy.

What Type of Rice Should You Use?

The good news is that almost any rice works for fried rice—short, medium, or long-grain. That said, the rice most commonly used in Chinese takeout restaurants is jasmine rice.

Jasmine rice is lightly fragrant with a soft yet non-sticky texture, making it ideal for high-heat stir-frying.

How to Cook the Rice?

Ingredients
1 cup jasmine rice
1 cup water

Cook in your rice cooker on the regular rice setting. This yields about 3 cups of cooked rice, which is perfect for about 2 people.

The water amount is slightly less than what you’d normally use for steamed rice. This keeps the rice firmer and drier.

Fresh Steamed Rice vs Overnight Rice:

You can use fresh steamed rice or overnight rice, depending on the texture you prefer.

Option 1: Fresh Steamed Rice
Use the 1:1 rice-to-water ratio above. Once cooked, immediately spread the rice on a plate or tray. Let it cool and air-dry for at least 15 minutes to release excess steam before stir-frying. This method creates a softer texture in fried rice.

Option 2: Overnight Rice
For firmer, well-separated grains, use overnight rice. Growing up, my family always had leftover rice in the fridge, so this has always been my go-to. Cold rice dries out naturally, making it easier to stir-fry without clumping. Before cooking, gently break up any clumps with your hands.