How Do You Parboil Rice?

Parboiled rice makes it super easy to add to any dinner as a side, or base for things like stir fry and curries. You can make perfectly measured portions, making it easy to control your intake, too. Follow these easy steps to parboil rice.

Rice is by far the most consumed starch in my house (and for that matter, the world). It’s the bed for our chicken tikka masala and strawberry rhubarb stir fry. I add it to my favorite chicken soup instead of noodles, because my son is anti-pasta.  

But getting out the rice cooker or a separate pot every single meal can make it that much harder for me to get dinner on the table.

Having pre-portioned rice that I just need to microwave for a few minutes is a total win.

My grandmother used to make an amazing bacon fried rice, and the secret (besides the bacon) is that she always used “day old” rice.

If you have already parboiled rice, you don’t even have to cook ahead of time. You can just pull it from the freezer.

Nora’s Harvest Wild Rice Salad is a pretty popular recipe here, and we have plenty of other recipes featuring this ubiquitous grain.

Just a quick look at the archives here on Food Fanatic will prove to you just many ways you can enjoy rice in everything from a Sausage and Rice Skillet to Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole.

What is Parboiling?

So, what is parboiling? It’s quite simple, really. Parboiling is the act of partially boiling, or precooking, some type of food. And it's very easy.

You can parboil almost any vegetable or grain, be it brown rice, broccoli, sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, or even mixed vegetables.

We also love to parboil Brussels sprouts, green beans, peppers, or meats like chicken, chicken wings, ribs, sausage, and brats. As you can tell, the options are almost limitless, and you're going to wonder why you haven't been doing this all along.

Why Do I Need to Parboil My Rice?

We parboil for a few simple reasons:

• We want to freeze smaller portions, but make it easy to cook from frozen.
• We’re planning ahead, for meal prep purposes.
• Portion control for those looking to lose weight.

How is parboiling different from blanching?

When you parboil, you boil the rice in salted water for a few minutes. Blanching is different in that you’d then submerge the rice in ice water to immediately stop the cooking process.

How to Parboil Rice

Follow these easy steps to parboil your rice. It's a great way to save time and plan ahead!

1. Rinse uncooked rice in a colander.
2. Fill a saucepan 3/4 of the way full of clean, cold water and bring to a boil.
3. Add a pinch of salt to the water.
4. Add rice to the water and boil for 5 minutes.
5. Drain and cool.

That's all, folks!

How Do I Use My Parboiled Rice?

Parboiled rice means you have a side dish ready for your family in minutes. When you freeze it in ziptop bags, you’ll be able to pull it out for use in anything from soups and salads to a starchy base for curry or stew.

How to Freeze Parboiled Rice:

1. Place cooled rice in a ziptop bag.
2. Press flat to remove air and for more efficient storing.
3. Make sure to label and use within 2-3 months.

How to Cook with Parboiled Rice:

1. Remove ziptop bag from the freezer.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the bag.
3. Microwave for 90 seconds, or until heated through.

Now you have all the information you need to effectively parboil rice, preserve it, and enjoy it later! Your future self will thank you for the effort you put in now.