How to Make Fried Rice

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Fried rice is a tasty dish that is traditionally made from steamed rice stir-fried in a wok, but it can also be made in a pan. Fried rice is delicious with a variety of ingredients, including almost any type of vegetables, meat, and eggs. Not only is it easy to make, but it's absolutely delicious. If you want to know how to make fried rice, just follow these steps.

Ingredients

Simple Fried Rice

4 cups (946 ml) cooked white rice
1 carrot
1 medium yellow onion
1 clove garlic
1 tsp. (5 ml) fresh ginger
1 cup (240 ml) bean sprouts
3 eggs
1 pinch black pepper
1 tsp. (5 ml) salt
3 tbsp. (44.4 ml) soy sauce
2 tbsp. (30 ml) vegetable oil
2 tbsp. (30 ml) sesame oil
Green onion for garnish
1/2 lb. (0.23 kg) cooked chicken

Crispy Pork Fried Rice

1 1/2 (22.2 ml) tablespoons peanut oil
2 lightly beaten eggs
1/2 (120 ml) cup chopped onion
3 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp. (10 ml) minced ginger
2 diced cooked pork chops
1 cup (240 ml) cooked brown rice
1/4 cup (60 ml) reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp. (10 ml) sesame oil
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped cilantro leaves

Indonesian Fried Rice

1 1/2 cups (360 ml) long-grain white rice
3/4 cup (180 ml) water
1 3/4 cups (420 ml) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 qt. plus 3 tablespoon (44.4 ml). vegetable oil
8 krupuk (Indonesian shrimp crackers; optional)
2 cups (480 ml) thinly sliced shallots
2 large chopped garlic cloves
1 lb. (0.45 kg) sliced skinless boneless chicken breast
1 lb. (0.45 kg) medium shrimp
2 minced hot red chiles
1 1/4 tsp. (6.2 ml) salt
2 tbsp. (30 ml) ketjap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce)
1 tbsp. (15 ml) Asian fish sauce
4 sliced scallions

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Simple Fried Rice

1
Cook 4 cups of white rice. Just place the rice in boiling water and cook it for the amount of time listed on the instructions. Some types of white rice can take just 10 or so minutes to boil, while others can take 30 minutes or more. You can also microwave instant rice in the microwave, but it may not be as tasty. Once done, you can fluff it up so that it does not stick.^{[1]
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2
Prepare the vegetables. First, wash 2 cups of carrots, 1 medium onion, 1 clove of garlic, one ginger root, and 1 cup of bean sprouts. Then, dice the carrots and onions, and mince just 1 tsp. of fresh ginger. Set these ingredients aside.

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3
Pour 2 tbsp. of vegetable oil into a large pan. The pan should be very deep, almost like a wok.^{[2]
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4
Cook the vegetables in the pan for 3 minutes. Place the carrots, onion, garlic, bean sprouts, and ginger into the pan. Throw in 1 tsp. of salt and a pinch of black pepper. The vegetables should sweat a bit, but they shouldn't turn brown.^{[3]
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5
Throw 1/2 lb. of cooked chicken into the pan. You can use chicken that you've cooked for another meal the day before, or buy or make cooked chicken especially for the fried rice. Just dice the chicken into thin strips and place it in the pan.^{[4]
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6
Put up to 2 tablespoon (29.6 ml). of sesame oil into the frying pan. You can gradually add the oil when it becomes necessary -- you don't have to throw it in at once.^{[5]
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7
Add three eggs to the pan. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk them together. Then, pour the eggs into the pan.^{[6]
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8
Toss the cooked rice into the pan. Fry the rice and the other ingredients together for 2-3 minutes, just enough time to heat up the rice and mix the ingredients. Keep stirring as you fry the rice. Add 3 tablespoon (44.4 ml). of soy sauce to the mixture and fry the ingredients together for another 30 seconds.^{[7]
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Research source} Then, remove the pan from the heat.
9
Serve. Place the rice in a dish and garnish it with a few sprigs of green onion. Enjoy this dish as a main course.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Crispy Pork Fried Rice

1
Heat 1/2 tbsp. of peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.^{[8]
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2
Cook the eggs. Add 2 lightly beaten eggs to the pan. Tilt the pan to coat the surface with the eggs. Cook the eggs in an even layer until they're cooked all the way through. Halfway through the cooking, after about 2 minutes, flip the eggs. Then, remove the eggs, dice them into small pieces, and set them aside.^{[9]
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3
Add onion, garlic, and ginger to the pan. Heat 1/2 cup of chopped onion, 3 cloves of minced garlic, and 2 tsp. of minced ginger to the pan. Cook these ingredients together for 2 minutes in the remaining peanut oil.^{[10]
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4
Add 2 diced pork chops to the rice. The pork chops should already be cooked. Cook the diced pork for an additional 3 minutes, or until they're golden brown.^{[11]
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5
Add the rice, soy sauce, and sesame oil to the skillet. Add 1 cup of cooked brown rice, 1/4 cup of reduced-sodium soy sauce, and 2 tsp. of sesame oil to the pan and cook them for 2 more minutes. Season the fried rice to taste with salt and black pepper. Then, remove the fried rice from heat.^{[12]
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6
Stir in 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro leaves. Mix the cilantro well with the remaining ingredients.^{[13]
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Serve. Place this fried rice on a serving plate and top it with chopped eggs.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Indonesian Fried Rice

1
Rinse and drain 1 ½ cups of long-grain white rice.
2
Bring the rice, ¾ cups of water, and 1 ½ cups of chicken broth to a full rolling boil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan.
3
Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook the ingredients until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. This should take about 15 minutes. Then, remove the pan from heat and let it stand covered for 5 minutes, giving the rice time to absorb the flavors.
4
Transfer the rice mixture to a shallow bowl. Allow it to cool to room temperature – this should take about 30 minutes. Chill the rice mixture for 8 to 12 hours.
5
Heat 1 quart of oil a 4-quart pot over high heat. Heat it until a thermometer registers 375°F (190°C).
6
Cook the krupuk (optional). Gently drop 2 krupuk in the oil. Fry the krupuk until they float to the surface and curl up and expand, which should take about 20 seconds. Then, turn the krupuk over and fry them until they’re pale golden – about ten more seconds. Then, transfer them to a paper towel with a slotted spoon until they drain.^{[14]
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- Fry the remaining krupuk in 3 batches in the same way. When the krupuk is cooked, cool it and break it into pieces.
7
Break up the rice into individual grains. Do this with your fingers. This will help the rice absorb the other ingredients.
8
Heat the remaining 3 tablespoon (44.4 ml). of oil in a wok over high heat. Heat it until it's hot but not smoking. Then, add 2 cups of thinly sliced shallots and fry them in the heat for 1 minute. Add 2 large chopped garlic cloves to the mixture and stir-fry them for an additional 30 seconds.
9
Add the chicken to the stir-fry mix. Add 1 lb. of sliced skinless boneless chicken breast to the mixture until the chicken is no longer pink, which should take about 2 minutes.
10
Add the shrimp, chiles, and salt to the mixture. Add 1 lb. of peeled and deveined medium shrimp, 2 minced hot red chiles, and 1 1/4 tsp. of salt to the mixture and cook them for 2-3 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through.^{[15]
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11
Add the remaining broth and ketjab manis to the rice. Add 1/4 cups of chicken broth and the ketjab manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) to the mixture and stir-fry it until the rice is heated, which should take another 2 minutes.
12
Remove the mixture from the heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml). of Asian fish sauce and 4 sliced scallions until the mixture is combined well.^{[16]
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Serve. Serve the Indonesian fried rice on a platter with krupuk, cucumber slices, and hard-boiled eggs.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Other Types of Fried Rice

1
Make vegetarian fried rice. This type of fried rice is perfect for fried rice lovers who don't eat meat.
2
Make Japanese fried rice. Make this fried rice with a healthy portion of scrambled eggs and peas.
3
Make Chinese fried rice. Make this delicious fried rice with a few strips of bacon and a sliced omelet.
4
Make shrimp fried rice. Make this version of fried rice if you love adding tasty shrimp to your meals.
5
Make Thai fried rice. Make this tasty fried rice with a variety of ingredients that include peanut oil, fish sauce, and chili pepper.

Fried Rice Shopping List and Recipe

Sample Fried Rice Shopping List

Sample Fried Rice Recipe

Community Q&A

Question

Is it safe to reheat rice?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as the rice is cooled soon after cooking. Do not leave cooked rice at room temperature.
Question

What materials do I need to make fried rice?

Daidra Thomander

Community Answer

There are many different recipes that have different materials, but all fried rice will need a pot to cook the rice in, a pan, something to stir and/or serve it with, and the individual ingredients listed at the top of this article.
Question

Can I make it with just rice, oil and water?

Community Answer

Yes, these are the basic ingredients required for fried rice. Most recipes also include eggs and meat or seafood, and nearly all recipes include some vegetables; traditional styles may also require other ingredients.