How Long Food Lasts

Deli & Prepared Foods

How long does cooked rice last?

Quick answer

Cooked rice keeps 1 day in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer.

Fridge

After cooking

1day

Freezer

Can be frozen: yes

3months

Pantry

No known time

-

Mine has been in the fridge for

Refreeze after thawing in the fridge?

United States
Yes
United Kingdom
Only after cooking

How long does cooked rice last in the fridge?

  • Cooked rice1 dayAfter cooking

Your fridge should be set between 0 and 5°C.

Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 °F or below.

How long does cooked rice last in the freezer?

  • Cooked rice3 months

Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Your freezer should be around -18°C

A freezer acts as a pause button - food in a freezer won’t go bad and most bacteria cannot grow in it.

Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.

Can you freeze cooked rice?

Yes.

How to defrost cooked rice safely

  1. In the fridge
  2. In cold water, cook it straight after defrosting
  3. In the microwave, cook it straight after defrosting
  4. Cook it from frozen

You should defrost your food in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm

It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.

It is safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry.

Can you refreeze cooked rice?

  • In the United KingdomOnly after cooking
  • In the United StatesYes

You can freeze food again once cooked, but you’ll only be able to reheat it once after that

Food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, although there may be some loss of quality.

Foods thawed by the cold water method should be cooked before refreezing.

After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.

Can cooked rice be kept out of the fridge?

Official sources give no room-temperature (cupboard) storage time for cooked rice.

What the official sources say

“Keep rice in the fridge for no more than one day until reheating.”

“do not store it for longer than 24 hours before eating”

“If you are not going to eat cooked rice immediately, refrigerate it within 1 hour and eat it within 24 hours.”

“Rice placed in the fridge should be eaten within 24 hours and never reheated more than once.”

Frequently asked questions

How long does cooked rice last in the fridge?

Cooked rice: 1 day.

How long does cooked rice last in the freezer?

Cooked rice: 3 months. Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Can you freeze cooked rice?

Yes.

Can you refreeze cooked rice?

In the United Kingdom: Only after cooking; In the United States: Yes.

Can cooked rice be kept out of the fridge?

Official sources give no room-temperature (cupboard) storage time for cooked rice.

Sources

We always show the most cautious time among official sources. Last checked: 1 October 2026.

Values we do not display (1)

Values below were set aside: unconfirmed by a second independent source, or contradicted by a shorter time.

  • Cooked rice, fridge: 4-6 days (fsis.usda.gov, not confirmed by a second source)