What Is the Right Fried Rice Order and How to Make It?

After reading multiple recipes, are you feeling confused about the order of fried rice ingredients? Do you wonder what the right fried rice order is? 

Fried rice contains many ingredients, both wet and dry. I came across several variations in the order of making fried rice while reading the recipes. Some added vegetables first, whereas some added rice! 

In my experience, the most straightforward order for making fried rice is to add oil and stir-fry the vegetables first. Then, you can add any protein, like eggs, followed by rice and sauces. Another option is to stir-fry the protein and rice first and then add the vegetables and sauces. 

What is the Right Fried Rice Order?

There are two main methods that people follow while making fried rice. Each method has its own benefits, so let’s take a look at them. 

Method 1: Stir-Frying Vegetables First

This method is the most common and my favorite way of adding ingredients to fried rice. For this method:

1. First, heat the wok and add vegetable or canola oil. 
2. Then, add garlic and let it turn golden brown.
3. Next, add scallions, carrots, or any other vegetables. Stir-fry them first for five minutes. 
4. Add the pieces of scrambled egg (or any protein) and boiled rice. 
5. Stir-fry and combine the ingredients on medium-high heat till they’re well-distributed.
6. Towards the end, add the sauces like soy sauce, oyster sauce, or fish sauce. 
7. Sauté everything for two to three minutes. 
8. Once the rice finishes cooking, garnish it with chopped green onions.

You can check out the detailed recipe for fried rice using this cooking order in the next section.

I prefer this order of adding ingredients as it ensures that the vegetables turn slightly tender and become more flavorful. That way, you won’t feel like they are raw after adding the rice.

Another benefit of following this order is that it prevents the egg from overcooking and turning rubbery.

Method 2: Stir-Frying Egg and Rice First 

Some people prefer to add egg and rice first instead of vegetables. 

I follow this method when in a hurry as it takes less time. As per my observation, the rice also turns a little crispier when you stir-fry it first instead of the vegetables. 

Here’s how you can prepare fried rice in this order:

1. First, heat the wok and add vegetable or canola oil. 
2. Next, add one beaten egg and scramble it at medium-high heat.
3. Then, throw the boiled rice in the wok. 
4. Mix the rice and the pieces of scrambled egg quickly. 
5. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté them with the rice and eggs for two to three minutes.
6. Finally, add soy sauce, sesame oil, or other sauces to the rice.
7. Combine and stir-fry the ingredients for five minutes.
8. Decorate the rice with chopped spring onions and transfer it to a bowl.

Note that you should be extremely quick while stir-frying in this method. If you’re slow, the scrambled egg and the rice may stick to the wok and burn. 

You can check out this YouTube video to understand this order better.

How to Make Fried Rice the Best Way?

Since my university days, I have followed the same order and recipe for fried rice that I have written below. 

Trust me, it tastes like a comforting hug after a tiring day! 

Ingredients Required

Prepare these ingredients before starting the stir-frying process.

• One cup of boiled jasmine or basmati rice (refrigerated, day-old)
• Three tablespoons of vegetable or canola oil (any neutral-flavored oil)
• One beaten egg
• One diced carrot 
• Three to four garlic cloves
• Three to four chopped French beans
• Two chopped chilis 
• One tablespoon of soy sauce
• Half a teaspoon of sesame oil 
• Chopped green onions (for garnishing)

Step 1: Heat the Wok and Add Oil

Take a carbon steel wok or a non-stick pan and let it heat on medium-high heat for two to three minutes. 

Then, add two tablespoons of vegetable or canola oil. 

Step 2: Add Sliced Garlic and Let It Turn Golden-Brown

Once the oil starts to smoke, add three to four sliced garlic cloves. Continue to sauté them until they turn golden brown. This step may take five to seven minutes!  

Step 3: Add the Vegetables and Sauté Them

Next, add the chopped vegetables (carrots, French beans, and chilis) to the wok. Stir-fry them for five minutes on a medium-high flame with the sliced garlic cloves. 

Step 4: Scramble the Beaten Egg 

Slide the sautéed vegetables on one side, and add one tablespoon of vegetable oil in the center.

Then, pour the beaten egg in the center and scramble it quickly until it’s cooked fully. 

Cut the scrambled egg into pieces using a spatula and sauté them with the vegetables. 

Tip: If you want more flavor in your egg, add one teaspoon of black pepper to the beaten egg before adding it to the wok.

Protein Alternatives: tofu scramble, boneless chicken pieces 

Step 5: Add Rice and Sauté Everything Together

Add one cup of boiled rice once the vegetables and scrambled egg are well combined. Sauté all the ingredients for a minute or two.

Step 6: Mix the Sauces 

The last step is to add one tablespoon of soy sauce, ½ teaspoon of sesame oil, and other sauces. 

For instance, add oyster sauce (1 ½ tablespoons) or fish sauce (2 tablespoons) for a more defined umami flavor. 

Continue to sauté the rice until the sauces distribute evenly and combine properly. 

Step 8: Garnish the Fried Rice

After stir-frying the rice for two to three minutes, top it off with some fresh spring onions!

Things to Avoid While Making Fried Rice

Along with following a proper order of ingredients while preparing fried rice, you should avoid a few extra things listed below.

1. Adding Wet Ingredients First

One of the main rules of fried rice is never to add wet ingredients first. The reason is straightforward!

When you add wet ingredients like soy sauce first, they release moisture and turn the rice mushy. They also hamper the stir-frying process and dilute the overall flavor of your fried rice!

Therefore, always add wet ingredients at the end and mix them with the rice immediately. 

2. Overcrowding the Wok 

Once, when I had organized a dinner party, I dumped three cups of rice in a small wok. 

Later, I found that the dish didn’t taste like authentic fried rice! It’s because overcrowding the wok leads to an uneven distribution of heat. It also causes the ingredients to steam instead of fry, which ruins the crispy texture. 

If you have a more significant quantity of rice, I suggest stir-frying in smaller batches for a better result.

3. Not Stirring Enough

You need to stir-fry fried rice on a medium-high flame at each step. 

The rice may stick to the wok’s bottom at such a high heat if you don’t sauté it enough! There’s also a risk that it may not cook evenly due to poor heat distribution.

4. Using Too Many Sauces

There are several sauces to use with fried rice, like oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, and mustard sauce. I love how they add unique flavors to the dish and make it even tastier! 

Note that you always need to find the right balance with sauces. If you add too many, they may make your fried rice soggy. 

Final Thoughts

It took me about 45 minutes to figure everything out when I cooked fried rice for the first time. However, once you understand the steps of cooking fried rice, it won’t take you more than 10 to 15 minutes.

I hope this article helps you reduce the time required for making restaurant-style Chinese fried rice at home!