Rice is great, but how do you take something great and make it even better? Fry it. You may know fried rice as your go-to Chinese take-out order or your end-of-the-week hack to use up random veggie scraps on their way out, but did you know there’s also a wealth of frozen fried rice for even easier feasting?
If you find yourself short on time but fiending for flavor, the grocery store lords are ready with a shocking number of frozen fried rice brands. But, like the plethora of fried rice recipes in the world, the frozen selection can be overwhelming. And so, I set out to taste test the options, heroically saving you the whopping 5 minutes it would take you to heat these through yourself. But since time is money (and money is money), I ate a bunch of frozen fried rice, preparing them all according to package instructions, and jotted down some favorites. That way, you won’t waste your cash or time on subpar frozen fried rice. Whether you’re looking for the best frozen Chinese fried rice that tastes just like takeout, the best frozen fried rice with shrimp, or the best frozen vegetable fried rice, you’ll find something on this list.
Here are the four best frozen fried rice brands and flavors to buy.
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- Innovasion Vegetable Fried Rice
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I came back to this one for bites two and three not because it tasted irresistibly great, but because I was confused. This fried rice is kinda sweet. Not rice pudding sweet, but certainly sweeter than I was expecting, especially after the pleasantly forward smell of sesame oil. It’s still absolutely a savory dish and would be a great side for a salty, savory protein. And, honestly, I decided after a few bites that I’m pretty into it. The rice itself is the most seasoned of any frozen fried riceI tasted. I do wish there were more vegetables and a little more attention to the vegetables that were included, but hey, for a few bucks and a couple minutes? It’s still some of the best frozen vegetable fried rice out there.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Innovasian Chinese-Style BBQ Pork Fried Rice
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The rice itself is nothing to write home about, but this frozen Chinese fried rice skyrocketed towards the top of the list because the pieces of pork were the best bites I had during this whole taste test. Actually, perhaps the rice is actually good, but it just pales in comparison to the delicious, sweet, smoky, salty pork. You might be a great singer, but do you wanna go up after Beyoncé? The rice never stood a chance. Getting a scoop of everything means you’ve got some perfectly passable rice, wonderful pork, and welcome pops of bright sweetness from green peas. All in all, it comes together as some of the best frozen Chinese fried rice, and I would very happily eat it again.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Scott and Jon’s Shrimp Fried Rice
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Though the prospect of microwaved seafood narrows this frozen fried rice’s audience, this bowl still slaps. The whole thing cooks up surprisingly evenly, and the fried rice manages to stay perfectly al dente without over or undercooking the shrimp. It comes with an almost aggressively flavorful sauce that you’d best mix in, because it’s overwhelming by itself and the rice is pretty bland without it. It’s got a nice mix of rice, vegetables, and protein, and I love that it’s single serve. The egg bits are unfortunate, but the benefits of the whole bowl far outweigh the rubbery tragedies. It’s still some of the best frozen fried rice—especially if you’re cool with microwaving crustaceans.
Credit: Merc / Target
- Grain Trust Hibachi Fried Rice
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A three-for-one, Grain Trust is not only the best frozen fried rice I tried overall, but it’s also the best frozen fried rice for vegans and gluten-free folks. I generally prefer short grain rice to medium or long, so this sticky-without-being-gluey option was a real treat. It smells absolutely divine, and though it doesn’t taste as strong as it smells, it’s still pretty darn delicious. I love that it comes in two smaller packs instead of one giant one, as if Grain Trust is catering to my commitment issues that result in me leaving large packs of food in my freezer for months because I don’t want to make or eat the whole thing. The flavor is more complex than the one-note-salt flavor in some of the other options I tried. My only knock is that I wish there was just a dash more vegetables or some acidity to brighten things up. Add a splash of rice wine vinegar or chili crisp and you’ll be golden.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Seasoned Rice
Best Pork Fried Rice
Best Shrimp Fried Rice
Best of the Best
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!