How to Reheat Rice and Pasta

Published on Friday, March 21, 2008, by Michele Foley / Edit Post

How to Reheat Rice and Pasta

Refrigerating leftover cooked starches can dry them out. Replenish their fluids!

CHOW Tips are the shared wisdom of our community. If you’ve figured out some piece of food, drink, or cooking wisdom that you’d like to share on video (and you can be in San Francisco), email Meredith Arthur and tell us what you’ve got in mind.

ALLCHOW Tip
POST A COMMENT |9 Comments

COMMENT

  • Great! I was wondering how to reheat cooked coconut rice for a family luncheon tomorrow. I would never have thought of a wet paper towel. Outstanding! Thanks for me avoiding serving mushy or dry rice! Kathy

  • I am really sorry, but this is not a cooking tip. You can reheat rice or pasta in about the same amount of time on the stove and it does not kill the flavor. Maybe my problem is I think microwaves drain the flavor out of food, let alone the nutrients.

  • good one plz send me more

  • not only does the wet paper towel lend some moisture, but keeps the microwave clean from sputtering food.
    great tip!

  • I usually get decent results just by adding a sprinkle of water and stirring halfway through the time to reheat. I might try this method if I was reheating a dish for guests for, say, a potluck, but usually leftover pasta or rice is only good for a quick meal and not worth the fuss and waste of a paper towel.

  • I wonder if I can use this method to bring my eggs up to room temperature. (Note: The rolling pin trick does not work for this.)

  • Well, yeah. But I've always added water, and even a little bit can make the result mushy. I think this is a great tip and can't wait to try it. Thanks, CHOW.

  • Haha! Very nice Sweth :)

  • Wow. So you're saying that adding moisture to something and covering it can rehydrate it? Who'd've thunk it...