The Key To Perfectly Reheated Rice Is Actually In Your Freezer

"Makes great leftovers" isn't a phrase commonly associated with rice, but a clever cooking hack can actually help you turn this versatile food into a delicious next-day meal that will satisfy the most discerning of palettes. Most of us can relate to failed attempts at reheating rice in an effort to save money and avoid wasting food, only to end up with an unappetizing bowl of stale and hard-to-eat grains. Thankfully, the solution to perfectly reheated rice might just be lurking in your freezer in a surprising place — the ice cube tray.

While you may be tempted to toss a damp paper towel over your rice and stick it in the microwave, that will only add a bit of uneven moisture and heat to your dried out morsels, and throwing it in a pan with some extra water on the stovetop will overcook it into a mushy, unappealing mess. To bring life back to your rice so you can whip up a quick and easy meal that won't disappoint, place an ice cube on top of your rice, cover it with a paper towel, and let the magic happen.

When placed in the microwave (which is actually a great tool for cooking rice dishes like risotto), cooking the rice for about a minute will melt the ice just enough to create the steam needed to revitalize the rice. You'll end up with moist and tender grains that will elevate your next meal.

If you're worried about using that reheated rice, a few simple steps will ensure it's okay to use in your favorite dishes. According to the Food Standards Agency, it is safe to reheat rice as long as safety precautions are followed, like never reheating rice more than once and ensuring it gets thoroughly heated over 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures below this allow for Bacillus cereus, a bacterium commonly found in rice that causes food poisoning, to grow.

Once you've mastered the art of safely storing your leftover rice and using an ice cube to bring it back to life, the question remains of what to do with it. Thankfully, rice is one of those universal dishes that makes cooking such a pleasure. It is a key component of most cuisines, makes a great accompaniment to just about any protein, and there are endless ways to prepare it.

One of the best ways to use those leftovers is no secret to chefs in the know: Leftover rice makes killer fried rice. It can also be used to make the perfect accompaniment for classic Indian dishes like butter chicken or aloo gobi, perked up with some lime juice and cilantro as a side to carne asada tacos, added to a soup, or mixed with some cheese and breaded into a delicious croquette to serve with a dipping sauce. When it comes to rice, the possibilities are only limited by the power of your imagination and the ingredients in your pantry.