How to Fix Mushy Rice: 3 Ways to Repurpose Mushy Rice

Mushy or soggy rice is simply overcooked rice that has absorbed too much water. Water over-absorption causes the rice grains to split open, ruining the texture and creating a starchy, gummy result.

There are a few possible strategies you can turn to if your cooked rice does not meet your expectations:

• Dry in the oven. In cases where the rice has only overcooked slightly, and the texture is still more or less intact, try draining any extra water using a colander or fine-mesh strainer and spreading the rice as best you can into a single layer on a baking sheet. Next, reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees for about five minutes. Reheating may dry out the rice enough to yield the texture you want.
• Drain and try the stovetop again. If your rice is just a little overcooked and isn’t too starchy, try draining and rinsing the rice, then heat it on the stovetop to cook off some of the moisture.
• Get creative with a piece of bread. Rather than draining the excess water from your rice, if it’s a manageable amount, put a piece of stale bread on top of the rice, cover the pot, and allow it to continue cooking on low heat. After a few minutes, the bread should absorb the moisture in the pot.

If the texture of your rice is ultimately unsalvageable, don’t throw it out just yet. There are many preparations that make good use of mushy rice:

1. 1. Rice pudding: The excess moisture in your pot of rice makes it perfect for turning it into dessert. Transform your rice into a sweet treat by adding milk, vanilla, and sugar to taste to create rice pudding or Mexican arroz con leche. Then make a new pot for your side or rice dish with a lower water-to-rice ratio.
2. 2. Porridge: A more versatile treatment of your mushy rice is to add more water and turn it into a Chinese congee or Japanese okayu that you can enjoy at any time.
3. 3. Fried rice: If your rice isn’t too far gone, make fried rice. First, drain the rice to remove excess water (if necessary) and run it under some cold water as you separate the grains to remove excess starch. After rinsing, toast your rice with oil over high heat in a seasoned wok or pan on the stovetop. Remove the rice once it’s become a little crispy, then stir-fry your veggies and proteins of choice separately before mixing all the ingredients.

Uncooked rice or undercooked rice is easy to fix since it hasn’t absorbed the right amount of water yet. Whether you’re cooking brown rice or white rice, here’s a step-by-step guide to fixing undercooked, crunchy rice:

1. 1. Rehydrate: Cooking rice can be challenging without a rice cooker. Luckily, there are many ways to salvage any type of rice that does not meet your expectations. To save partially raw rice, start by adding about a quarter cup of water to the pot or rice cooker.
2. 2. Cover and cook: Put a lid on your pot (or close your rice cooker) and continue cooking the rice over low heat.
3. 3. Taste: Check back after a few minutes, give it a fluff or two, and try some of the rice to see if it’s achieved your desired texture. Repeat the process if it’s still not cooked through.

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