How to Reheat Biryani (and Not Lose the Flavors) – 5 Easy Ways

There’s always a place for biryani in most hearts and tummies, especially when you have leftovers the next day. You’d want to reheat these leftovers as if it was just cooked with minimal effort?

You can reheat your biryani in the oven, microwave, or on the stovetop. It depends on your hunger level!

Read on to explore various options to release biryani’s signature flavor for the second time.

How to Reheat Biryani in the Oven

The oven is often a go-to when reheating leftovers that contain rice. 

But what’s there to explain, I hear you asking. Turn it on, put biryani in, put it out, turn it off. 

Not so fast! It’s easy alright, but you have to remember some important points when reheating biryani.

These step-by-step pointers will help you reheat biryani while maintaining its taste:

1. Warm the oven to 300 degrees F for 15 minutes.
2.  Put your desired quantity of biryani in an oven-safe dish.
3. Spread your biryani evenly in the dish, gently breaking rice clumps.
4. Add an appropriate amount of water or stock to the biryani. (This is super important if you don’t want your meal to scream REHEATED.) 
5. You can cover the dish with foil or an oven-safe lid. This is to keep the steam in and avoid making the biryani dry.
6. Bake for 10 minutes, or longer depending on how much you’re reheating.

Do not forget step 4! You can check your biryani every 2 minutes to ensure it is not dry. If it is, you can add more water or stock. This is crucial in keeping your biryani moist and those flavors locked in.

Chef’s tip: Consider taking out bigger pieces of meat or chicken BEFORE putting the biryani in the oven and bake them separately. This is because they will take longer to reheat than the rice. If you’d like a side to biryani, you can have salad, pickles or even kimchi!

How to Reheat Biryani on the Stovetop

Heating biryani on the stovetop is quick and easy and is perfect when you want a fried rice effect. You can use a skillet for this method. It’s ideal for maintaining the biryani’s flavor while ensuring moist meat or chicken.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Heat your skillet or a heavy bottom pan with a tight lid on medium to low heat.
2. Put some water or stock to cover the bottom of the pan. (Yes, we do love stock!) This will lock in the moisture and avoid sticking.
3.  Add your desired quantity of biryani in the pan and cover with the lid.
4. Keep it on medium to low heat and steam for 5 to 6 minutes.
5. Stir from time to time to ensure even heat distribution.

Keep your eye on the biryani as the rice will clump together. Gently break up any balls that form to ensure that the rice doesn’t dry out and even heat distribution. You can also use a gas stove, but, keep an eye as it is way faster!

How to Reheat Biryani in the Microwave

If you are very hungry, you can simply pop your plate of biryani in the microwave. You can dish out a serving or put it in a small dish.

The steps are as follows:

1. Dish out your biryani on a plate or dish.
2. Remove any clumps of rice with a fork (gently!).
3. Cover your plate or dish with a damp paper towel.
4. Microwave on medium in 30-second increments.
5. When the biryani is heated, let it rest for 30 seconds before eating/serving.

Going more than 30-second increments is not suggested as you may overcook the rice. It is best to always check the rice and stop the microwave as soon as it is heated. Microwaving takes more caution, but it is perfect for a quick fix!

How to Reheat Biryani in Rice Cooker

A rice cooker might not be your go-to option, however, it is also an effective way of reheating your biryani. The following steps also apply if you use an instant pot.

The steps are:

1. Add your biryani to the cooker.
2. Put one teaspoon of water for each serving of biryani.
3.  Select the cook function and switch it on.
4. Wait until the rice cooker goes off before checking the biryani.
5.  Add more water if you feel the biryani is not hot.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the biryani is completely heated.

You have to be wary of how much water you add to the biryani at first, as it is easy to add too much water to the biryani. This may turn your biryani into a soup, which is something you don’t want!

Can You Reheat Frozen Biryani?

Yes, you can freeze biryani.

You can freeze this delight for 2 months. This is amazing news to all biryani lovers out there, and you can also reheat them to ensure the taste and aromas are the same as when you just cooked it.

When you want to reheat a plate, take your biryani out from the freezer and let it thaw out for 20 minutes. You can either use the oven or the microwave method for effective heating. If you vacuum seal your biryani, these methods also work perfectly!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I reheat my akra haiyian with biryani?

Akra haiyian is a great side dish to any biryani. These are best served warm, not hot. It is best to microwave them after you reheat your biryani. Thirty seconds on low heat would warm them up perfectly.

Can I use a pressure cooker to reheat biryani?

Although it is not a conventional method, you can use a pressure cooker to reheat biryani. Add a good amount of water into the cooker before adding your biryani. You can choose to quickly steam or longer steam the rice. Make sure to reheat the meat or chicken separately!

Just note one thing here.

To stay on the safe side of things and not make your biryani breeding ground for germs, you’ll need a temperature over 165°F.

So, if you opt for a pressure cooker for reheating meaty meals, make sure to choose the sauté option.   

How long does chicken biryani last?

Chicken biryani can last up to two days in the fridge and two months in the freezer. When freezing your biryani, put it in an airtight container with a lid.