You can reheat rice in an air fryer, and it crisps up nicely — but rice needs more care than most foods, because of the risk of food poisoning from rice that's been stored badly. Safety first, then the method.
Key takeaways
Q: Can you reheat rice in an air fryer?
A: Yes — reheat at 160°C (320°F) for 3–5 minutes with a splash of water, but only rice that was cooled quickly and stored in the fridge.
Q: What's the catch?
A: Rice can cause food poisoning if left out — cool it fast, fridge it, reheat once only.
Food safety first
Uncooked rice can contain spores that survive cooking and multiply if rice is left at room temperature, which can cause food poisoning. To stay safe: cool cooked rice quickly (ideally within an hour), keep it in the fridge and use within a day, reheat it only once, and make sure it's piping hot all the way through before eating. Never reheat rice that's been left out for hours.
The method
- Use properly stored rice — fridge-cold, within a day.
- Add a splash of water to keep it from drying out.
- Reheat at 160°C for 3–5 minutes in a dish, stirring once.
- Check it's piping hot throughout before serving.
For other leftovers, see reheating takeaway.
Frequently asked questions
Can you reheat rice in an air fryer?
Yes — reheat it at 160°C for 3–5 minutes with a splash of water, but only rice that was cooled quickly after cooking and stored in the fridge.
Is it safe to reheat rice?
It's safe if the rice was cooled quickly, refrigerated and used within a day, reheated only once, and heated until piping hot. Rice left at room temperature for hours should be thrown away, as it can cause food poisoning.
How do you stop reheated rice drying out?
Add a splash of water before reheating and cover it loosely, which steams the grains and stops them drying in the air fryer's heat.