How to Make Cauliflower Rice

How to Make Cauliflower Rice at home using a food processor, grater or knife. Homemade cauliflower rice is easy, cheap and lasts well for months to come. You can cook it from frozen!

Cauliflower rice is a wonderful low carb alternative to regular rice in classic dishes like fried rice and risotto.

Cauliflower Rice

The main reason I make cauliflower rice at home is the cost. In Canada, a small bag of cauliflower rice costs often $5-6. I assume it is much cheaper in the US. Lucky you then. 🙂

I also find store-bought bagged cauliflower rice goes bad fast either already in the store or in my own fridge. I simply forget about it often. Guilty as charged. 🙂

So, I find it much easier to keep a head of cauliflower on hand that lasts way longer and make cauliflower rice as I need. Or freeze for later because riced cauliflower freezes beautifully. You don’t even have to thaw it before cooking.

How to Make Cauliflower Rice in a Food Processor

2 lbs of cauliflower makes about 6 cups of cauliflower rice.

Tip: Do not throw away the core. It makes the best firm cauliflower rice.

• Chop cauliflower into florets just small enough to move around in your food processor. Save time by buying already chopped cauliflower in a bag. It lasts as long as a head of cauliflower.
• Add cauliflower florets in small batches to any size food processor. The key is to not overcrowd the bowl and work in batches. Any size and power food processor works – from this little guy pictured to my 11 cup full size one.
• Process cauliflower not too long just until you see the rice texture form. I would say about 20 seconds. As soon as you overstuff food processor with cauliflower and overprocess, it becomes a mush with large chunks.

How to Rice Cauliflower with Grater and By Hand

If you do not have a food processor, not a big deal. You can still make cauliflower rice using below 2 methods. I would not recommend making cauliflower rice in any blender because the blade is not wide enough.

• Box grater – If using a head of cauliflower, cut into larger florets so they are more comfortable to hold and prevent skin damage. Grate on the largest holes of a box grater usually intended for cheese.
• Chop cauliflower florets using chef’s knife. The key to success is a sharp knife, stable cutting board and patience. 🙂 This technique is more time consuming than any other but works like a charm.

In either way, check out my post how to cut cauliflower into florets.

How to Store Cauliflower Rice

Refrigerate riced cauliflower in a glass bowl covered with linen towel or a beeswax wrap. Cauliflower contains 90% water. Keeping cauliflower rice not covered airtight allows excess moisture to escape and air to flow. It will last this way for up to 5-6 days staying dry and without becoming soggy and developing a foul sulphur smell.

Freeze cauliflower rice in desired portions for next recipe. It freezes beautifully in large gallon size resealable bags for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen, please do not thaw. Then wash a baggie and re-use, pretty please. 🙂 Frozen cauliflower rice cooks just as fast as fresh. If you let it thaw, it will release a ton of water into your dish.

How to Cook Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is usually mixed with other ingredients to make a low carb dinner. 4 key points you need to remember when cooking cauliflower rice:

1. Cauliflower is a vegetable, so its “rice”.
2. It releases water unlike its starchy “sister” that absorbs it.
3. Cook time is maximum 5 minutes. Mostly, you just warm it through.
4. Do not treat it like rice but rather a vegetable.

Below are a few ideas to get you started:

• Cauliflower fried rice
• Cauliflower risotto
• Mexican cauliflower rice
• Thai cauliflower rice
• Cheesy cauliflower rice
• Cilantro lime cauliflower rice
• Chicken cauliflower rice and beans
• Browse all 25 cauliflower rice recipes.

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

How to Make Cauliflower Rice at home using a food processor, grater or knife. Homemade cauliflower rice is easy, cheap and lasts well for months to come. You can cook it from frozen!

• Author: Olena of ifoodreal.com
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 cups 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Food Processor
• Cuisine: North American

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 lbs florets or 1 large head of cauliflower

Instructions

In a Food Processor

1. Chop cauliflower into florets just small enough to move around in your food processor.
2. Add cauliflower florets in small batches to any size food processor. The key is to not overcrowd the bowl  and work in batches. Any size and power food processor works – from this little guy pictured to my 11 cup full size one.
3. Process cauliflower not too long just until you see the rice texture form. I would say about 20 seconds. As soon as you overstuff food processor with cauliflower, it becomes a mush with large chunks.

Using a Box Grater

1. If using a head of cauliflower, cut into larger florets so they are more comfortable to hold and prevent skin damage.
2. Grate on the largest holes of a box grater usually intended for cheese.

By Hand

1. Chop cauliflower florets using chef’s knife.
2. The key to success is a sharp knife, stable cutting board and patience. 🙂 This technique is more time consuming than any other but works like a charm.

In either way, check out my post how to cut cauliflower into florets.

How to Store Cauliflower Rice

Refrigerate riced cauliflower in a glass bowl covered with linen towel or a beeswax wrap. Cauliflower contains 90% water. Keeping cauliflower rice not covered airtight allows excess moisture to escape and air to flow. It will last this way for up to 5-6 days staying dry and without becoming soggy and developing a foul sulphur smell.

Freeze cauliflower rice in desired portions for next recipe. It freezes beautifully in large gallon size resealable bags for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen, please do not thaw. Then wash a baggie and re-use, pretty please. 🙂 Frozen cauliflower rice cooks just as fast as fresh. If you let it thaw, it will release a ton of water into your dish.

Notes

• 2 lbs of cauliflower makes about 6 cups of cauliflower rice.
• Do not throw away the core. It makes the best firm cauliflower rice.

★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.

1 cup382.9 g45.4 mg0.4 g0.2 g0 g7.5 g3 g2.9 g0 mg

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