What is the problem with fried rice being sticky? What should I do if the fried rice is too sticky?

We all know that fried rice is a common delicacy. It has many ways to make it, rich flavors, and tastes fragrant and delicious. It is loved by people, and many people often eat fried rice. Some people make fried rice that is sticky and does not taste particularly good. So why is fried rice sticky? Let's take a closer look!

Why is 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 fried rice without getting sticky

1. The key to making egg fried rice non-sticky is the rice

You can see many posts online saying that it is best to use leftover rice to make fried rice with egg. But in fact, I have tried it myself, and fried rice made with leftover rice will also be sticky. So it is not a question of whether the rice is left overnight, but a question of the cooking method and the choice of rice.

① Choose the right rice - I personally choose a combination of 50% rice + brown rice. Brown rice has less water content, so the fried rice made in this way will be distinct grains. However, brown rice is harder than rice. If you use only brown rice, the taste and aroma will be much worse, so you need to add 50% of rice to cook together.

② Cook rice correctly - Now everyone uses an electric rice cooker. If you want to make fried rice, you need to use less water than usual, just enough to cover the rice. After cooking, open the lid and let it cool. (Warm tip: Each electric rice cooker may produce different results. We use a Supor spherical kettle, which has just the right amount of water. You can test it based on the situation of your own electric rice cooker. The rice you cook will be slightly harder.)

2. The order of frying is also important to prevent egg fried rice from sticking

① First, beat the egg liquid and put it in a bowl, add a little cooking wine to remove the fishy smell, and a little salt to enhance the flavor.

②Blanch the carrot cubes and peas and set aside (Reminder: You can add vegetables according to your preference)

③ Heat the pan, add the oil, stir-fry the egg quickly, then add the vegetables and continue to stir-fry. When the water in them is slightly dried, turn off the heat, add the rice, and then use a spoon to break the rice up. Turn on the heat again, stir-fry over high heat, then add appropriate amounts of salt, sugar and pork floss, stir-fry evenly, then turn off the heat and serve. (Warm Tips: When adding the rice, you need to turn off the heat first, break the rice up, and then stir-fry over high heat. This will prevent a lot of heat from coming up when you poke the rice, causing the rice to stick together. This is what I saw a professional chef share. I tried it several times and it is indeed the case.)

How to avoid sticky fried rice

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.

How to make egg fried rice with distinct grains

1. The key is "choosing rice": it is not about whether to use "overnight rice", but not to use rice that is too wet and sticky.

I believe everyone has heard that to make fried rice delicious, you have to use "overnight rice", which is the crystallization of the "wisdom" of our ancestors. Why is there such a thing as "overnight rice"? Because freshly steamed rice is not suitable for fried rice, it contains more water and will easily stick together, while "overnight rice" has evaporated overnight, the surface of the rice grains is dry, and there is very little water. This kind of rice is most suitable for fried rice. Therefore, "selecting rice" is an important step in making fried rice. If you choose the right rice, you are halfway to success.

2. Rice needs to be deeply processed for better results

(1) If the rice is really sticky, you can put it in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow the water to evaporate;

(2) If you do not want to use leftover rice and want to stir-fry immediately, you should use a spatula to spread out the steamed rice to allow the water vapor in the rice to fully evaporate. You can also add some salt to the rice to allow it to absorb more water.