A little reason to celebrate
National Fried Rice Day
Food ยท September 20
A day for fried rice, the quick skillet dish of cooked rice tossed with egg, vegetables and seasonings, and a classic use for leftovers.
National Fried Rice Day falls on Monday, September 20, 2027. That is 328 days away.
Fried rice starts with rice that is already cooked. It goes into a hot pan or wok with a little oil, then gets tossed with things like scrambled egg, onion, peas, carrots and soy sauce until every grain is coated and a few edges turn crisp.
Cooks often say day-old rice works best. Rice that has been chilled dries out a bit, so the grains stay separate instead of clumping into a sticky mass. Freshly cooked rice can work too if it is spread out and cooled first. Either way, the rice should be cooled promptly and kept in the refrigerator, not left sitting out on the counter, and the finished dish should be served hot.
The dish is famously flexible. Shrimp, chicken, pork, tofu, pineapple, kimchi or a handful of scallions can all find their way in, and many versions appear across Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Korean and other cuisines. At home it tends to become whatever the refrigerator suggests, which is part of its charm. If meat or shrimp goes in, cook it through before adding the rice.
High heat matters more than fancy equipment. A large skillet works fine, as long as it is hot and not crowded, so the rice fries instead of steaming. Scramble the egg until it is fully set, and add soy sauce near the end so the rice browns rather than turning soggy.
Ways to celebrate
- Try making fried rice with chilled leftover rice from the refrigerator.
- Use up odds and ends of vegetables in one pan.
- Order fried rice from a local restaurant you have not tried.
- Compare two styles, such as pineapple fried rice and kimchi fried rice.
- Share a favorite family add-in with friends.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, September 20 |
| 2027 | Monday, September 20 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, September 20 |
| 2029 | Thursday, September 20 |
| 2030 | Friday, September 20 |
All national days on September 20
Also on September 20
Categories: Food days