Cauliflower rice has become popular in the last decade because it’s a healthier alternative to white rice but just as tasty.
You can purchase cauliflower rice pre-made in bags at grocery stores like Trader Joe’s, or you can make your own cauliflower rice with a box grater or food processor.
Since there isn’t always an expiration date on produce, it can be tough to know how long cauliflower rice will last in the fridge.
Cooked cauliflower rice lasts up to four days in the fridge in a sealed container. Raw cauliflower rice can be stored in Ziploc bags in the fridge for up to four days. Cauliflower fried rice will keep for up to five days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container.
Keep reading to learn more about how long cauliflower rice lasts in the fridge!
How Long Does Raw Cauliflower Rice Last In The Fridge
If you make your own and don’t cook it right away, raw cauliflower rice will last two to four days in the fridge. To help it last the full four days, there are a few things you can do.
Run your spatula through your bowl of cauliflower rice to make sure there are no big chunks. Remove any big chunks so that the rice is properly refrigerated.
Keep the cauliflower rice in an air-tight container. If your cauliflower rice is in contact with the ambient air in the fridge, this can make it go bad faster.
While your raw cauliflower rice can last in the fridge for up to four days, it can develop an unpleasant sulfur smell.
If this will bother you, it’s better to cook the cauliflower rice first before storing it in your fridge.
How Long Does Cooked Cauliflower Rice Last In The Fridge
If you cook your cauliflower rice right away but have some leftovers, cooked cauliflower rice lasts in the fridge for up to four days.
To ensure your cauliflower rice lasts as long as possible, put it in an air-tight container.
Plus, if you store it after it’s cooked, you won’t get that sulfur smell that can stink up your fridge.
For example, if you’re cooking in an aluminum pot, it might turn your cauliflower rice yellow.
If you are cooking in an iron pot, your cauliflower rice might turn blue-green or brown.
If your cauliflower rice turns a different color while cooking, it’s still okay to eat. Don’t eat your cauliflower rice if it has dark spots all over it or a mushy texture.
How Long Does Fried Cauliflower Rice Last In The Fridge
Fried cauliflower rice is a great healthy alternative to regular fried rice, and lasts up to five days in the refrigerator.
Store it in an air-tight container and you can eat it for lunch sometime later in the week.
Fried cauliflower rice makes for great meal prep for your work week. If you eat a heavy lunch at work, like regular fried rice, it makes you sleepy and then you have a hard time focusing on your work for the afternoon.
With fried cauliflower rice, there are fewer carbs than regular fried rice, so you don’t feel as bloated after eating it.
I know that I get tired of eating salads every day, so cauliflower fried rice is a fun, healthy alternative.
You can pack your cauliflower fried rice with veggies like peas, broccoli, and carrots, and even add a lean protein like chicken or pork.
Plus, since cauliflower fried rice lasts for a full five days in your fridge, you can meal prep on Sunday and have lunch for every day of the work week.
How Long Does Garlic Herb Cauliflower Rice Last In The Fridge
There are tons of different varieties of cauliflower rice that you can make, and one popular one, garlic herb cauliflower rice, can last up to two days in the fridge.
Garlic Herb Cauliflower Rice is full of garlic and then your choice of herb, including dill, parsley, cilantro, or basil.
You can mix and match your favorite herbs depending on the type of dish that you are serving with cauliflower rice.
For example, if you are making a Mediterranean chicken, you could pair it with cauliflower rice made with basil and tarragon.
Because this dish is full of fresh herbs, it has a shorter shelf-life in the fridge. The herbs go bad a little quicker than the cauliflower, so even sealed in an air-tight container, this only lasts for two days.
| Type of Cauliflower Rice | How Long it Lasts in the Fridge |
| Raw Cauliflower Rice | 2-4 Days |
| Cooked Cauliflower Rice | 4 Days |
| Fried Cauliflower Rice | 5 Days |
| Garlic Herb Cauliflower Rice | 2 Days |
Does Cauliflower Rice Go Bad In The Fridge
Like with any fresh food, cauliflower rice can go bad in the fridge after two to five days. How quickly your cauliflower rice goes bad depends on the type of cauliflower rice it is.
If it’s cooked or raw, it will usually go bad after four days in the fridge. If it’s fried rice, it will usually go bad after five days in the fridge.
Signs that your food has gone bad include a change in color or texture, an unpleasant odor, or an undesirable taste. If any of these signs show up in your cauliflower rice in the fridge, you should throw it out.
How To Store Cauliflower Rice In The Fridge
Cauliflower rice is best stored in the fridge in an airtight container. The air-tight container can be a Tupperware container or a Ziploc bag.
Depending on the size of your fridge (and how full it is), it will be easier to store a large amount of cauliflower rice in a Ziploc bag.
A Ziploc bag will allow the rice to lay flat, so you can store it on top of items already on the shelf.
If you are using a Ziploc bag, make sure that you have pressed all the air out of the bag before closing it and sticking it in the fridge.
Reducing the air in the bag limits the amount of moisture that can collect in the bag. This helps make your food last longer.
Can You Freeze Cauliflower Rice
If you aren’t going to use all your cauliflower rice within 4-5 days, you can and should freeze your cauliflower rice.
Cauliflower rice can last up to six months in the freezer, but it’s recommended to eat it within four months for the freshest taste.
If you are freezing your cauliflower rice, only freeze raw, uncooked rice. Cooked rice doesn’t freeze well and won’t taste good defrosted.
To freeze your cauliflower rice, spread it out on baking trays and put it in your freezer for a few hours. Then, remove the baking trays and scrape off the cauliflower rice with a spatula.
Put this frozen rice in either air-tight containers or Ziploc bags. When using a Ziploc bag to freeze your rice, make sure as much air is out of the bag as possible to prevent freezer burn.
Can Cooked Cauliflower Rice Be Reheated?
Just like other cooked vegetables, cauliflower rice can be reheated. If you are taking your cauliflower rice out of the fridge, you can put it in a microwavable glass bowl and heat it on high for up to a minute.
Hopefully, if your microwave is fast, start at thirty seconds, check the cauliflower rice, and if it needs more time do another thirty seconds.
If you want it to be a little crunchier, you can fry it up on the stovetop with some olive oil for a few minutes.
If your cauliflower rice is frozen, you can pop it in the microwave on high for three to four minutes. You can also steam it or reheat it on your stovetop.
How Long Does Cauliflower Rice Last on the Counter
If you are getting ready to serve your cauliflower rice for something like a dinner party, keep in mind that cauliflower rice only lasts on the counter for two hours.
When you are working with food that has to be refrigerated under 40°F or cooked to an internal temperature of at least 140°F, it should not be out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Once the food is cooked, it should be kept warm on the stove or in something like chafing dishes or slow cookers.
And if it is above 90°F outside, food only lasts outside the fridge for one hour. It’s very important to be stringent with these rules.
Leaving food that needs to be refrigerated or cooked at room temperature can cause bacteria like Salmonella to grow, so it could make anyone who eats it sick.
What Happens If You Eat Old Cauliflower Rice
If you eat old cauliflower rice, you risk getting sick. Do not eat cauliflower rice that is mushy or entirely covered in brown spots or mold.
Although in most circumstances you might be okay, some mold on food causes shortness of breath, nausea, loose stool, or an elevated temperature.
If you’ve eaten moldy food and get any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Final Thoughts
Cauliflower is an easy, healthy alternative to regular white rice. It can substitute regular rice for any meal, or you can create a whole meal out of it by adding protein and vegetables.
Uncooked or cooked, it can be stored in your fridge for up to four days. If you fry it, it can last in the fridge for up to five days. If you make a garlic herb cauliflower rice, it can last in the fridge for up to two days.
Fried cauliflower rice in particular makes for great meal prep for your work week because it lasts a full five days in the fridge.
And if you make a lot of cauliflower rice but don’t need all of it right away, you can freeze it and it will last for up to six months!
If you’re looking to make healthier choices for your family meals, cauliflower rice is a great place to start.
My name is Keren Tayler. I am a stay-at-home mama to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. Prior to becoming a mom, I had a successful career in the accounting field, steps away from becoming a CPA. I decided to give up on my career in order to raise my own kids (as opposed to letting a nanny do it, no judgment here :)) I learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms. Along the way, I also became a Certified Food Handler.