• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Frozen Biscuit
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » How To » How to Make Rice Flour

    How to Make Rice Flour

    Published: Aug 23, 2020 · Modified: Jan 3, 2022 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A glass jar of ground rice grains.
    Wire mesh strainer filled with rice flour over a ceramic bowl.

    Knowing how to make rice flour is a handy trick and only takes about 90 seconds! Rice flour can be used in gluten free baking, but when it comes to making fried breaded foods crispy, rice flour is key!

    Glass jar filled with ground rice grains.

    What is rice flour used for?

    My favorite use for rice flour is in making crispy, fried and breaded items Like General Tso's Chicken (that doesn't get soggy!) or homemade Onion Rings extra crispy. Using rice flour truly makes these foods stay crispy to the last bite.

    Rice flour is also used widely in gluten free baking, or as a substitute for gluten free flour in a pinch. Rice flour is perfect for making light, air and crisp textures such as delectable homemade Graham Crackers.

    Gluten free flours can be less than ideal to purchase on a budget. Luckily, they can be made very easily using just one ingredient-- you guessed it: rice! Combine homemade rice flour with other gluten free flours, like oat flour, for homemade gluten free flour.

    How to make it

    You'll also need:

    • A high powered blender, food processor or bullet style blender (like a Nutri Bullet for example, among others)
    • A sifter or mesh strainer to sift out any lumps

    Make the rice flour in batches of 1 cup of rice.

    Pour rice grains in to the blender or processor. Pulse a few times to get the grains broken up. Then run the blender on full power for 30-60 seconds until you've achieved a fine powder.

    If the powder gets hot (from friction) allow it to cool for a few minutes before running again.

    Feel the rice flour between your fingers, and if it the powder feels gritty, blend longer.

    Labeled photo of a bullet blender and white rice.

    Sift it

    Once the consistency of the rice flour feels uniformly fine between the fingers, pass it through a mesh strainer or sifter. This is for good measure, to remove any hard pieces of rice that would otherwise be detectable in your recipes.

    Rice flour being passed through a metal mesh strainer into a shallow bowl.

    The finished rice flour can be stored in the pantry for at least one year! Not bad for a few minutes of your time, is it? (Note: brown rice flour is usually safe to store for 6 months.)

    Choosing rice variety for rice flour:

    Short grain: Short grain rice, like Arborio, tend to be "stickier" when cooked, making them perfect for sushi and risotto. When made into flour, this rice flour is best for recipes like Asian dumplings.

    Medium grain: Medium grain rice varieties, are a popular variety of all purpose rice that works for just about anything, including homemade rice flour. You see this typical, medium starch rice served with traditional American dishes like Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole.

    Extra long grain: Long grain rice, like basmati, has a thin, long grain and the lowest starch content. These grains are loose when cooked, and the individual grains don't stick together much. It is absolutely divine with dishes like Indian Butter Chicken.

    Brown rice: Brown rice flour can be substituted for white rice flour for added health benefits, in just about every recipe that calls for rice flour. Keep in mind that the taste will be slightly nutty, and the texture can be coarse if not fully blended into a powder.

    FAQ's

    What can I use rice flour for?

    Rice flour can be used in gluten free baking, crispy breading or coatings for deep fried foods, Asian dumplings and noodles, and as a gluten free thickener for soups and stews.

    Are rice flour and rice powder the same?

    No. Rice powder is much coarser, and doesn't dissolve easily in water like rice flour.

    How do I substitute rice flour for all purpose flour?

    Substitute rice flour for all purpose flour directly using the same measurements but add ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum per 1 cup of rice flour in baked goods.

    When does rice flour expire?

    In general, white rice flour lasts for a minimum of 1 year in the pantry, while brown rice flour will last for up to 6 months.

    rice flour coming out of a container on its side on a white marble background

    Recipes using rice flour...

    • Chips and Fish
    • Homemade Crinkle-Cut Fries
    • Gluten Free Graham Crackers
    • Crispy Chicken Sandwich
    Glass mason jar filled with ground rice grains.

    Rice Flour

    How to make rice flour in just a few minutes for gluten free baking, crispy fried breaded foods, gluten free thickeners, plus much more.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: ingredient
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: gluten free flour, gluten free flour substitute, how to make rice flour, rice flour
    Prep Time: 4 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 2 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 56kcal
    Author: Erin
    Cost: $0.20

    Equipment

    • high powered blender (like a Nutri Bullet, Vitamix or Ninja), food processor, or grain mill
    • Sifter or fine mesh strainer

    Ingredients

    • 1-2 cups long grain white rice can use other varieties, see recipe notes

    Instructions

    • Measure dry rice (1 cup) into high powered blender, food processor, or food mill.
      blender filled with rice grains
    • Pulse a few times to break up the grains of rice, and then run on high speed until powder forms (about 1 minute) that is fine and not gritty when felt between the fingers. If you have to do this a second time, for an additional minute, let the rice flour cool down for a minute if it feels hot to the touch.
      Rice flour in a blender.
    • Repeat with additional rice, if desired, in one cup increments.
    • Tap the rice flour through a mesh strainer to remove any hard pieces of rice that did not become powdered.
    • Store in a cool pantry in a closed container for 1 year to several years (for white rice flour) or 3-6 months (for brown rice flour).
      Glass mason jar filled with ground rice grains.

    Notes

    Short grain: Short grain rice, like Arborio, makes rice flour that is best for recipes like Asian dumplings.
    Medium or long grain: Medium to long grain rice varieties, are a popular variety of all purpose rice that works for just about anything, including homemade rice flour.
    Brown rice is a great option for healthy and gluten free pancakes, muffins and quick breads due to it's nutty and complex flavor. Brown rice flour is higher in fiber. 
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheFrozenBiscuit or tag #thefrozenbiscuit!
    « Homemade Crinkle-Cut Fries
    Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. C

      May 26, 2021 at 6:15 pm

      Great! Clearly written & straightforward directions - thank you. I will definitely be attempting this in the next few days. 👍

      I will gripe, however, at this recipes cuisine labelling as "American", while it has more likely been a staple of widespread Asian culinary arts *long* before the inception of modern America. Prior to relatively recent European influences on the continent, and the associated trade networks from that uninvited occupancy, it would stand to reason that corn or other natively growing grains, not rice, were predominantly produced for flour? I'm not a horticultural historian, but it does slightly rankle that anything that could be replicated in America is labelled "American"...

      Reply
      • Erin

        May 27, 2021 at 8:27 am

        Hi! Thanks for your comment! It's actually just a "catch-all" cuisine label and has more to do either surfacing the diy recipe for voice search. I totally understand what you're saying, however this recipe is also typically served up due to searches geared towards gluten free flour making, but I did want to expand the content to remind people of other ways you could use this flour such as the deep fried recipes I've linked at the bottom, in addition to Asian dumplings.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Erin, I enjoy creating rustic, from-scratch recipes using seasonal, accessible ingredients and basic pantry staples. More about

    Seasonal Recipes

    White bowl with mango, avocado, red onion and cilantro salsa

    Mango Pico de Gallo

    stack of cheesecake squared with berry swirls

    Mixed Berry Cheesecake Bars

    Cake with white frosting and fresh strawberries on top.

    Strawberry Layered Cake

    Bowl of tomato soup topped with fresh basil leaves and swirl of cream on plate and wooden board.

    Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

    small bowl of cabbage salsa surrounded by corn tortilla chips on a plate next to white fringe towel

    Cabbage Salsa

    refrigerator pickled radishes in two mason jars with dill and black peppercorns

    Pickled Radishes

    thin crust garlic chicken ranch pizza with zucchini, onion, and dill

    Garlic Ranch & Zucchini Pizza

    wheat hoagie buns piled with garden vegetable chicken salad recipe

    Chicken Salad Sandwich

    This Month's Top Recipes

    Spiral macaroni noodles in a smooth cheese sauce

    How to Melt Cheese for Mac and Cheese

    Oven baked butternut squash halves on a baking sheet.

    How to Bake Butternut Squash in the Oven

    Round casserole dish filled with cheesy, browned casserole.

    Sausage Gravy Breakfast Casserole

    Copycat Arby's beef and cheddar sandwich with homemade Arby's cheese sauce and red ranch sauce on an onion poppy seed bun.

    Copycat Arby's Beef and Cheddar

    Ramekin of homemade butter on a distressed wooden board.

    How to Make Butter with Heavy Whipping Cream

    A basket of biscuits with butter and honey.

    Crisco Biscuits

    Footer

    Copyright © 2020 The Frozen Biscuit on the Brunch Pro Theme

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Accessibility Statement

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Email