Why is egg fried rice sticky? How to make egg fried rice not sticky?

We all know that egg fried rice is a popular rice cooking method. It has various cooking methods, rich ingredients, and good taste. It is well-liked by people. Many people often eat egg fried rice. The cooking method of egg fried rice is very particular. Some people make the fried rice sticky. So why is egg fried rice sticky? Let's take a closer look!

Why is the egg fried rice sticky?

The reason why egg fried rice is sticky, has no egg flavor, and even has a fishy smell is basically due to two operations:

One is that if you use freshly steamed rice to stir-fry, it will easily become sticky;

The second is to pour the egg liquid directly into the rice, which will also easily become sticky and may even have a fishy smell.

In short, it is because there is too much water that will cause the temperature to fail to reach the expected effect. If there is too much water, it will continue to evaporate, and as the water evaporates, the temperature will not rise, the natural caramel flavor will not come out, and the fishy smell of the egg itself may not be removed.

So this is why "it's best to use overnight rice for egg fried rice" has become a generally accepted view. This is because overnight rice has relatively less moisture and is drier, and the rice has a better elastic texture after cooling, rather than the soft and fragrant feeling of freshly steamed rice. This makes it more suitable for fried rice, especially when paired with ingredients such as egg liquid.

How to make egg fried rice without making it sticky

The key to making egg fried rice not sticky is:

① The moisture content of the rice used should be lower. If there is no overnight rice, you can spread the rice to cool or freeze it to reduce some excess moisture.

② It is best not to pour the egg liquid directly on the rice. Although the color looks good and the egg flowers and rice stick together more tightly, the heat is difficult to control. If you fry it for too long, it will become dry, and if you don’t fry it enough, the rice will be sticky and may have a fishy smell from the egg liquid.

Important tips for egg fried rice

1. To solve the problem of stickiness, the most important thing is not to use too wet and sticky rice to make scrambled eggs. If it is really sticky, put it in the refrigerator overnight. The moisture in the rice will be absorbed in the refrigerator overnight, so the fried rice will be distinct in grains.

2. If you don’t want to leave it overnight and want to fry it right away, you can sprinkle some starch or salt into the rice to absorb the moisture in it. This way it will be drier and won’t stick together.

3. Adding mushrooms can enhance the flavor, bacon can increase the salty and fresh taste, and corn kernels can increase the sweet taste. Of course, you can also choose according to your own taste.

4. The so-called wok heat refers to the time two or three seconds before the rice gets stuck in the pot. This will maximize the even heating of the rice and various ingredients under high temperature.

5. Adding a little cooking wine to the eggs can remove the fishy smell and make the eggs more fluffy and tender when frying.