leftover rice There are many recipes that use previously cooked rice to make entirely new dishes (see the Index). To store leftover rice, place it in a plastic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat, place it in a pot with 2 to 3 tablespoons water and as the water comes to a boil, stir gently to heat rice, then cover, lower heat to medium, and let steam for 5 minutes. You can instead add a little water to the rice, then place in a sealed container in the microwave at full power for 1 to 2 minutes to reheat.