Air Frying Rice: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a convenient and innovative way to cook food. However, they have limitations, and one of them is cooking rice. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around food, but they cannot bring water to a boil, which is necessary for cooking raw rice properly. Therefore, you cannot cook raw rice in an air fryer, but you can use it to make delicious fried rice with pre-cooked rice.

Air fryer rice recipes

Yes, you can cook rice in an air fryer, but it is not recommended to start with raw rice. Instead, use pre-cooked rice or cook the rice on a stovetop first.

Air Fryer Fried Rice

This recipe is perfect for using up leftover rice and can be adapted to include a variety of ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 1 cup frozen vegetables
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 3 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
• 120g frozen peas
• 2 green shallots, sliced
• 1 long fresh red chilli, thinly sliced
• Oyster sauce, to drizzle

Method:

• Preheat the air fryer to 350°F | 176°C for 5 minutes.
• Spray a 7" cake pan with oil.
• In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the frozen vegetables, pre-cooked white rice, and the whisked egg.
• Place the mixture in the cake pan in the air fryer and cook at 350°F | 176°C for 10-12 minutes, stirring twice during cooking.
• Chop up the egg as it hardens and add any additional ingredients such as chicken or bacon.
• Cook for a further 3-5 minutes, depending on the ingredients used.
• Serve sprinkled with chilli, shallots, and a drizzle of oyster sauce.

Tips for cooking rice in an air fryer:

• Rinse the rice several times before cooking to remove excess starch and prevent a gummy texture.
• Always use a cake pan or oven-safe dish to cook the rice, never place rice and water directly in the air fryer basket.
• Let the rice rest for at least 10 minutes after cooking for the best, fluffiest texture.

Can you cook raw rice in an air fryer?

Air fryers are a convenient and innovative way to cook food. However, they have limitations, and one of them is cooking raw rice. While an air fryer can produce crispy French fries and restaurant-worthy mozzarella sticks, it cannot cook raw rice effectively.

Air fryers work by circulating hot air around food, similar to a convection oven. They often come with inserts that might seem suitable for cooking rice and water. However, the heating element and fan in an air fryer cannot generate enough heat to reach the boiling point, which is necessary for cooking raw rice properly. As a result, your rice will not cook thoroughly, and you will end up with a hot mess.

Instead of using an air fryer, it is recommended to stick to traditional methods like a stovetop or a rice cooker for cooking raw rice. Once the rice is cooked, you can then use the air fryer to create delicious fried rice dishes.

If you want to cook rice in an air fryer, it is advisable to use pre-cooked or leftover rice. This way, you can transform plain rice into crispy and tasty fried rice by adding various ingredients like vegetables, proteins, and sauces.

Ingredients:

• Cooked white rice (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup of frozen vegetables
• 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• Soy sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Sesame oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (176°C) for 5 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, mix the cooked rice and frozen vegetables, excluding the eggs at this stage.
• In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk or fork.
• Spray a 7" cake pan with oil and place it in the air fryer.
• Put the rice and vegetable mixture into the cake pan.
• Cook at 350°F (176°C) for 10-12 minutes, stirring a couple of times during cooking.
• Pour the beaten eggs over the cooked rice and vegetables, and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, adjusting the time as needed.
• Scoop the fried rice into a bowl and serve!

So, while you cannot cook raw rice effectively in an air fryer, you can certainly use it to create delicious fried rice dishes using pre-cooked or leftover rice.

How to make fluffy rice in an air fryer

Ingredients and Tools:

• Basmati rice or jasmine rice
• A cake pan or oven-friendly cookware that fits inside the air fryer basket
• Tin foil to cover the pan
• Water
• Coarse sea salt (optional)
• Olive oil (optional)

Instructions:

• Rinse the rice: Start by rinsing the uncooked rice in cool water until the water runs clear. This helps remove any excess starch and ensures a better texture once cooked.
• Prepare the ingredients: In a cake pan that fits inside your air fryer basket, add the rinsed rice. Then, add the appropriate amount of water. If you want a softer texture, use more water. For a less mushy consistency, use less water. Add a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil to enhance the flavor.
• Cover and cook: Cover the cake pan with foil to create a seal and prevent steam from escaping. Place the pan in the air fryer and set the temperature to 300 °F (150 °C). Cook the rice for 30 minutes.
• Steam and fluff: After the initial cooking time, remove the foil and let the rice steam inside the air fryer basket for an additional 15 minutes. This allows the rice to absorb any remaining moisture and become even fluffier.
• Final touches: Once the steaming time is complete, use a fork or rice paddle to fluff the rice gently. This helps separate the grains and release any excess moisture. Your perfectly cooked air fryer rice is now ready to be served!

Tips:

• To achieve a softer texture, you can adjust the cooking time and ratios to achieve your desired consistency.
• Use room temperature water to ensure even cooking and minimize the risk of unevenly cooked grains.
• If you want to make your rice ahead of time, cook it the night before and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to four days.
• To reheat refrigerated rice, transfer it to a cake pan, cover it with foil, and air fry at 320 °F (160 °C) for 5 minutes.

Air fryer fried rice recipes

Yes, you can cook rice in an air fryer, but it is not recommended to cook it from raw. Instead, it is best to use pre-cooked rice, as an air fryer cannot boil water, which is necessary to cook rice properly.

Recipe 1:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked and cold rice
• 1 cup frozen vegetables (carrot, corn, broccoli, and edamame)
• ⅓ cup coconut aminos
• 2 eggs (optional)
• Oil

Method:

• Put the cold rice into a large bowl.
• Add the frozen vegetables to the rice bowl.
• If you are using eggs or another protein, add it to the rice bowl now.
• Next, add the coconut aminos and oil to the bowl.
• Mix well.
• Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe container.
• Place the container into your air fryer and cook at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, stirring three times throughout.

Recipe 2:

Ingredients:

• 300g chicken tenderloins
• 4 rashers rindless bacon
• 450g packet microwave long-grain rice
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 3 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 120g frozen peas
• 2 green shallots, sliced
• 1 long fresh red chilli, thinly sliced
• Oyster sauce, to drizzle
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp water

Method:

• Preheat the air fryer to 180 degrees Celsius.
• Place the chicken and bacon on the air fryer rack. Cook for 8 minutes or until cooked through.
• Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool slightly. Slice the chicken and chop the bacon.
• Meanwhile, separate the rice grains in the packet. Microwave the rice for 1 minute.
• Transfer the rice to a round 20cm, high-sided ovenproof dish or cake pan.
• Add the oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and water. Stir to combine.
• Place the dish or pan in the air fryer. Cook for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender.
• Stir through the egg, peas, chicken, and half of the bacon. Cook for 3 minutes or until the egg is cooked through.
• Stir in half the shallots and season with salt and white pepper.
• Serve sprinkled with chilli, the remaining shallot, remaining bacon, and extra oyster sauce.

Tips:

• It is recommended to use cold, leftover rice that has been in the refrigerator overnight. This will help to ensure the rice doesn't clump together.
• You can use fresh vegetables instead of frozen, but you may need to extend the cooking time or par-cook them first.
• You can add in whatever protein you like: eggs, tofu, chicken, or turkey.
• Be sure to stir the air fryer fried rice several times during the cooking period to ensure it cooks evenly.
• If you are gluten-free, be sure to check the ingredients of the soy sauce. Coconut aminos can be used as a gluten-free alternative.

How to reheat rice in an air fryer

What Type of Rice Should You Use?Long-grain rice, such as basmati or jasmine rice, is the best option for reheating in an air fryer. This is because these types of rice cook very dry and can absorb lots of liquids. Regular short-grain rice is more difficult to work with as it tends to stick together. Risotto rice is also harder to reheat in an air fryer as it contains lots of liquid and should be creamy.

First, place your refrigerated or frozen rice in a cake pan. Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes. Then, air fry your rice for 8 minutes if refrigerated or 10 minutes if frozen. Remove the rice from the air fryer and coat with cooking spray or drizzled olive oil, stirring to ensure the grains are coated. Return the rice to the air fryer, increase the temperature to 360 degrees Fahrenheit, and heat for another 5 minutes. Stir the rice once more and it is now ready to serve.

Other Tips:

To prevent food poisoning, it is important to note that rice should only be reheated once. If you have leftover rice, your only options are to eat it or throw it away. It is also important to ensure that the rice is heated all the way through to kill any bacteria.

Other Ways to Reheat Rice:

Aside from an air fryer, you can also reheat rice using a stove, an oven, or an instant pot.

Frequently asked questions