8 Grocery Store Fried Rice Brands, Ranked
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Fried rice isn't only a staple in Chinese food, but, for many of us, it's a quick meal to serve up on busy days. It's relatively easy to make as is since it's recommended that you use leftover rice that's been sitting in your refrigerator for a day or two, but you can also opt for frozen or instant rice, too.
From there, it's all up to you. Soy sauce, fish sauce, and sesame oil are all great seasonings to start with. Additionally, you can also toss in vegetables, like peas, carrots, and onions for depth. Proteins, like shrimp, chicken, or pork also work phenomenally in the finished product.
However, there's an even easier way to make fried rice, and it comes in the form of frozen or boxed brands from the grocery store. There are tons of different options out there, some of which are certainly better than others. (Spoiler alert: Trader Joe's is obviously high on the list.) Keep reading to find our top picks for grocery store fried rice brands, ranked from worst to best.
8. Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice
If you've ever gotten home after a long, busy day, and can't even fathom the thought of cooking up something in your fridge, Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice is a great staple. Affordably priced (at Walmart, it's around $3.30 for an 11-ounce container at the time of this writing), this recipe has white meat chicken, vegetables, and oyster sauce-flavored rice for an added flavor kick.
The packaging states that this option is best cooked in the microwave, so you don't have to think about cleaning up any pans. Once you pop open the tub, you just microwave it with the lid on for four and a half minutes, then let it cool for two. After that, you're good to go — like we said, it's just that easy.
Although some shoppers rave about its yummy flavor, others note that the chicken didn't heat up too well, finding that it was a bit tough, which is primarily why it received our number eight spot. "Chicken is cut too large and I almost choked on it," wrote one dissatisfied Walmart buyer.
7. Thai Kitchen Fried Rice
While fried rice is thought to have originated in China, the Thai Kitchen brand features a Thai twist on this classic meal. It features light and fluffy rice with real vegetables, like carrot, green onion, peas, and sweet corn. Meanwhile, it's seasoned with timeless Asian-inspired flavors, such as soy sauce, ginger, and sesame.
Perhaps the best feature of this fried rice pick is how breezy it is to cook. All you have to do is tear the pouch open and pop it in the microwave for 90 seconds. As a result, clean-up is ultra easy, too. (No pots or pans needed here!)
Additionally, it's certified non-GMO, gluten-free, and doesn't have any artificial flavors or colors, either.
It's a solid option if you're in a pinch, but in comparison to other picks on our list, reviewers found that its flavor falls a bit flat. "Doesn't taste liked fried rice as much as I'd like it to," one Amazon buyer noted. One top comment agreed saying, "It isn't the Thai cuisine that has the 'bite' that puts a smile on my face."
As a potential workaround, you can add a protein, like shrimp, pork, or beef, even more vegetables (snap peas and broccoli are great options), and a fun topping, like peanuts, mint, or cashews to help boost the flavor and texture.
6. P.F. Chang's Frozen Chicken Fried Rice
Everyone's favorite Asian-inspired restaurant, P.F. Chang's, can be eaten from the comfort of your own home, thanks to its array of Home Menu products. The brand's Chicken Fried Rice is a yummy option that features all-natural white meat chicken, carrots, edamame, onion, and egg.
This recipe is free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and artificial colors. Target shoppers provided high rankings for its value, since you receive multiple servings in this 22-ounce bag.
However, you'll need to spend a few more minutes preparing this fried rice, since it's recommended to heat it up over the stovetop as opposed to simply throwing it in the microwave. At most, it'll take you around 20 minutes, since the instructions note that you should cook it covered for four minutes, followed by an additional four to six without the cover on. Customers also found that there wasn't enough chicken throughout the rice, but still provided good scores for its taste and quality.
"No, it's not exactly the same [as what] you'd receive in the restaurant, but it's not bad, especially considering it's frozen," a buyer wrote. "When I'm squeezed for time, this is good to have on hand."
5. Grain Trust Hibachi Fried Rice
If you're super strapped for time, the Grain Trust Hibachi Fried Rice is an awesome option. For less than $6, you can snag two 10-ounce packages — and, as an added bonus, this fried rice is vegan, gluten-free, and certified by the Non-GMO Project.
The ingredient list is impressively minimal, featuring white rice, carrots, onions, green peas, green onion, red pepper, and seasonings. Additionally, according to the Grain Trust brand, the rice is ethically sourced from farmers who receive a livable wage.
To cook, you can choose between the microwave or the stovetop. Of note, the microwave takes around three to four minutes, while the stovetop will have it heated up in eight to 12. While the latter takes a bit longer, it's still quick and easy to cook — the directions state that all you have to do is pan fry it over medium heat and stir frequently before it's ready to serve.
Amazon shoppers were pleasantly surprised with the taste of this option. However, Grain Trust isn't as much of a well-known brand in comparison to others on our list, like Rice-A-Roni and 365 by Whole Foods Market, making it a bit tougher to find in stores. It's currently available at spots like Whole Foods and Safeway, but your local grocery store may not carry it. Its lack of accessibility resulted in a slightly lower rank, but if you're able to snag it somewhere, you'll likely be impressed with how yummy it is.
4. Rice-A-Roni Stir Fried Rice
If frozen rice isn't your favorite, you can try out the Rice-A-Roni Stir Fried Rice, which boasts a 4.3-star rating from more than 100 Walmart shoppers. Described by customers as "delicious" and a "great fried rice at home," this mix contains rice, vermicelli, and Asian seasonings, like soy sauce and garlic.
It requires a bit more work than frozen fried rice, but it's not without great results. Similar to making boxed stuffing, the instructions state to combine the mix with two tablespoons of butter or margarine. From there, you sauté the rice product on medium heat until the vermicelli is a golden brown hue, then you add in two cups of water, bring it to a boil, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
We dubbed this as a more middle-of-the-road option because it's not entirely specific about what flavors it has, plus, it takes way longer to cook than frozen or stovetop options. It requires a tad more effort and there aren't any vegetables, either.
To amplify this boxed mix, the brand recommends adding in your favorite veggies and cooked protein once your rice is cooked. Peas, carrots, red bell pepper, and an additional dash of soy sauce are all great picks to help liven up this box.
3. 365 by Whole Foods Market Chicken Fried Rice
Like Trader Joe's, the 365 by Whole Foods Market is regarded as a top-notch supermarket brand. From proteins to produce, its Chicken Fried Rice makes itself known as a huge winner, thanks to its easy instructions and simple filling. It has sake and soy-marinated chicken (!), scrambled eggs, and veggies, like peas, carrots, and peppers.
You can heat it up either in the microwave or on the stovetop, each of which only take around six minutes maximum. Just note that it's suggested to add in a neutral oil when cooking on the stovetop, like vegetable or olive oil.
Since this option already contains chicken, you won't have to do much if you to amplify the flavor. The packaging suggests topping it off with a fried egg (though you can also opt for sunny side up if you love a runny yolk), along with a splash of sesame oil and your favorite chili paste.
From its breezy cooking process to its delicious taste, this is a really solid option to have in your freezer, which is why it landed so high on our list — not to mention, its marinated chicken is super unique and impressively authentic. Amazon shoppers provided glowing reviews, too, describing it as a "hidden gem," "flavorful," and "delicious."
2. InnovAsian Frozen Vegetable Fried Rice
Next up is InnovAsian's Frozen Vegetable Fried Rice, which is made up of long grain rice, carrot, edamame, red bell pepper, and egg. Like the Trader Joe's option, it doesn't have any protein, but you can easily add in some firm tofu or Asian-style chicken. Pro-tip: You can make this copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken – an easy recipe that uses fresh produce and staple Chinese ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch.
It's a breeze to heat up, too. According to the directions, you can either pop it in the microwave for five minutes, or pan fry it with a neutral oil for around seven. It doesn't contain any artificial flavors, either, so you can feel confident about your purchase.
As it stands, Target buyers absolutely adore this InnovAsian pick, describing it as "fast and delicious", since it takes a maximum of 10 minutes to cook up this yummy fried rice. Additionally, it has a 4.4-star rating from more than 140 raters on Influenster. Some shoppers weren't expecting too much from this grocery store buy, but ended up being super impressed thanks to its robust vegetarian ingredient list.
"I love this rice, [it's] tasty and easy to make," one buyer wrote.
It landed this high on our list for just that — it's a freezer staple for families, folks with busy lifestyles, and college students alike, and the easy cooking process doesn't compromise on flavor.
1. Trader Joe's Vegetable Fried Rice
As expected, Trader Joe's Vegetable Fried Rice ranks high on our list. This frozen option doesn't contain any protein, but you can easily add in chicken, egg, or shrimp to amplify this easy-to-heat-up pick. It has carrots, edamame, corn, green peas, leeks, and red bell pepper, and has been pre-seasoned with soy sauce, rice wine, and more.
Best of all, it's super affordable. This 16-ounce bag, which can make about three separate servings, is only $2.99, making it one of the better lower cost options out there. Additionally, you can pair this fried rice with the store's Mandarin Orange Chicken or Mildly Sweet & Spicy Beef and Broccoli for a full meal.
It received our top spot for a number of reasons: Its low price point and its delicious pre-seasoned taste are the shining stars, meanwhile, reviewers described it as simple and delicious.
"Preparation time is only five minutes," said one buyer. "I plan to always have it in my freezer because it really satisfies that fast/fried food craving, except it's healthier."
Other shoppers noted that they always add in extra veggies to really enhance the taste since its frozen base is super easy to play around with. At its core, it's a breezy meal that can be easily dressed up or down, guaranteed to satisfy your Chinese food craving without the takeout box.