Is fried rice actually fried?

Question

Do they actually cook it in oil? How many more calories does it have them steamed rice?

Answer 1

fried rice is already cooked rice....fried in oil and seasoned

Answer 2

They basically have the rice and all the ingredients that they add into a wok that has been slightly oiled. It isn't actually "fried" in the sense that it is floating in oil.

Answer 3

Yes, fried rice is really fried in oil; but it is stir-fried rather than deep fried, and before any frying occurs it has been also been steamed. (In culinary terms, frying basically just means cooking something in fat over high heat, as opposed to dry-heat cooking methods like baking, or other wet-heat methods that theoretically use no fat, like steaming or boiling.)

Two cups of steamed or boiled white rice have about 360 calories and no fat. The calculation of extra calories and fat in fried rice is a tricky one. For one thing, some restaurants actually add a little oil during or boiling. For another, the amount of oil added during frying is imprecise. A reused fried rice wok in a Chinese restaurant already has some broken down oil molecules in it, with some tablespoons more added for frying. A tablespoon of the Kame sesame oil in my cupboard has 130 calories and 14 grams of fat; but a serving of fried rice might contain as much as three tablespoons of sesame oil between both the original cooking and the frying.

Finally, you need to consider the egg which is added to almost all fried rice - that's another 77 calories and 5 grams of fat.

Your final estimate for 2 cups of fried rice:

-567 calories and 19 grams of fat if only one tbsp of oil is used;

-697 calories and 33 grams of fat if two tbsp of oil are used; and

-827 calories and 47 grams of fat if three tbsp of oil are used.

Even that 567/19 minimum is a big jump from steamed or boiled rice, in terms calories and fat. It sounds from your question like you are watching your weight, and wanted to know if you could get away with fried rice instead of steamed. Unfortunately, you can't - if you want to keep your weight down.  

You didn't ask about this specifically, but what helps me is drinking a lot of ice cold water when I eat. Water (not sugary drinks, not diet soda) actually expands steamed or boiled rice in your stomach - makes the rice physically larger, so it takes up more space and you feel full. Oddly, this doesn't work with fried rice, because frying basically "clogs" the rice's "pores" so that moisture can't get in.

Here's my advice: go to a camping store and spend eight bucks on a Nalgene (type of plastic) water bottle. Drink from it whenever you eat Chinese - whenever you eat, really. Fill the bottle as full as you can with ice cubes. Then put as much water in as you can. Really cold water actually tastes really really good, and it will expand the rice in your stomach so you feel full more quickly.

Hope that helped. Good luck!

Answer 4

Yes, it's a stir-fry...very hot, very quick, cooked in a small amount of light oil. Don't used cold pressed olive oil. Too heavy. Canola, peanut, sunflower.

Um...what this answer about?

"NO! It is fried with a very small amount of oil and a lot of water. Fried it isn't."

No, it's not fried...it's fried! Dammit!

Answer 5

yes fried rice is just that..when i make it and when i have eaten it at restuarants..some of the rice is browned...most rice has a teaspoon to a tablespoon of oil in the pan..when you factor in all the added things..eggs and meat ..it  has a lot more calories than just steamed rice

Answer 6

I cook it in bacon fat and it really isn't fried , just heated.

Answer 7

def. fried. calories depends on what else you put in it

Answer 8

It is fried. They use leftover rice and fry it in oil.

Answer 9

Fried rice is usually overnight cold steamed rice that is stir-fried with seasonings & ingredients like Chinese BBQ pork, peas or frozen mixed veggies, egg, salted fish, shrimps, spring onions, luncheon meat/ham etc. Stir-frying usually uses only a small amount of oil, but it depends on the individual restaurant. There are many different variations, hence the calorie count may differ widely but plain steamed rice is definitely way healthier.

Just for a rough idea, below are some nutritional analysis for the same serving size:

- Fried rice (with BBQ pork, peas, carrots & egg)

Calories = 530

Total fat (g) = 19

Saturated fat (g) = 8

Carbohydrate (g) = 73

Cholesterol (mg) = 103

Sodium (mg) = 728

- Plain steamed white rice

Calories = 280

Total fat (g) = 1

Saturated fat (g) = 0.2

Carbohydrate (g) = 62

Cholesterol (mg) = 0

Sodium (mg) = 10

Answer 10

normally the rice wich we eat is boiled

but wen u say fried rice the rice is actually fried

Answer 11

Absolutely. You can use healthier oils, though, like olive oil or canola oil. It really does add to the flavor of the rice. I always like to fry mine with garlic, onion, some ginger, some soy sauce and a touch of vinegar. It's great! You then can stir-fry in any veggies or meat you want. You can use any sauce instead of the soy sauce and vinegar, if you like.

Answer 12

fried rice is leftover rice which is cooked in a small amount of oil, there is an optional addition of vegetables, chinese sausages, sea foods or meat to add taste and flavor.

some fried rice are a complete meal by itself

however, the basic fried rice is crumbled leftover, preferably refrigerated for 1 day so that it really crumbles when mashed by hands, brown some garlic in a little oil and then add the rice, add salt accordingly to taste and continue stirring it until the rice is hot enough but not burnt.

Answer 13

Fried rice is usually made in stages.

Meat and veggies first.  Then the rice is stirred in.

The rice isn't floating in oil.

Here's a link to an excellent basic recipe.

http://www.recipezaar.com/8224

You can read all the reviews to see how others make it to suit their own favorite flavors.  I don't use bacon but I always put by a little ham for fried rice.  I also don't use the 1/2 pound of sprouts.   If I use any at all I just throw in a big handful.  With fried rice anything goes.

This is one of those rather addicting quick meals.

Answer 14

NO! It is fried with a very small amount of oil and a lot of water. Fried it isn't.