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Homemade cauliflower rice made with fresh cauliflower tastes SO much better than buying it premade and frozen. It’s also SO much cheaper! Learn how to make cauliflower rice two ways!
Whenever I feel like I’ve overdone it with eating not so healthy foods, I know it’s time to change up my diet. The low-carb or keto way of eating is usually the way I go.
I always feel so much better eating protein, healthy fats and lots of non starchy veggies.
For many low-carb and keto eaters, cauliflower is truly a magic ingredient. It can be transformed into substitutions for potatoes, rice and even pizza crust. All big no-no’s on a low-carb or keto diet.
Cauliflower rice is the base for many of the transformations that can be done with cauliflower. Frozen cauliflower rice is readily available today in most all grocery stores, but making it fresh is really and truly SO much better. The flavor difference is worth the minimal effort required.
How To Make Cauliflower Rice Without A Food Processor
When I don’t feel like getting out my big, clunky food processor, I use my oh so quick box grater. This is the one I’ve had for at least ten years
and I still love it to this day. The one that’s sold now is prettier, but it’s the same one. It comes with a collection container at the bottom too, which comes in handy.
To make cauliflower rice with a box grater, you first need to wash the cauliflower, then break it down in to smaller manageable pieces.
Once the cauliflower has been broken down, all you need to do is grate it like you would cheese. If you have a large cutting board, I would use that over a smaller one, since it tends to be a little messy.
Making cauliflower rice with a box grater does give a larger “rice” texture than making it with a food processor. I think this texture holds up better for dishes like cauliflower fried rice, or any recipe you need a rice substitute.
How to Make Cauliflower Rice With A Food Processor
Making cauliflower rice with a food processor is definitely quicker, and the texture that you get from this technique is more fine. It’s better suited for mashed cauliflower dishes or pizza crust.
If you need to purchase a good food processor without breaking the bank, this one is a really good option.
Making cauliflower rice this way starts out pretty much the same way, with chopping the cauliflower into pieces. I do chop the cauliflower into smaller pieces to make sure they all will fit in the food processor.
I do want to point out that I started out chopping the cauliflower with this knife that I love, love love
and use for everything, but then I remembered a new knife that we bought. We bought the WÜSTHOF 8 Inch Offset Knife
and I whipped that baby out and guess what? This knife cut the cauliflower like butter. My new love!
So basically the next step is to just turn on the food processor until there are no big pieces left. So simple!
How To Store Cauliflower Rice
I put all my cauliflower rice in ziploc bags and store it right in the freezer, no matter what my plans for it are. (Unless I’m going to use it right then, I won’t do this.) I normally make more than I would eat at once, so I don’t have to do it so often, and I have it ready to go.
How To Cook Frozen Cauliflower Rice
When I’m ready to use the frozen cauliflower rice, I just get it out, put it in a glass bowl and microwave it for about 4 minutes, then use it for whatever recipe I’m making. It’s seriously that simple!
I also want to give a great tip that, for no matter what you’re using it in, after cooking it, squeeze all the water out of it with a thin towel. It will totally look like its dry and it will trick you into thinking you don’t need to do this. Don’t fall for it! It holds a serious amount of water that you can’t see, and will be sure to make your dish a watery mess.
I like to use flour sack towels like these
to get out the excess water. You just dump the cooked cauliflower in the center of the towel (make sure it’s cool enough to handle though!) and gather up the ends of the towel together, and just start wringing it. Get as much water as you absolutely can out.
When you have all the water out, it’ll look like you have nothing left, but don’t worry. It will fluff up just fine! A head of cauliflower makes approximately 2 cups of cauliflower rice.
How To Make Cauliflower Rice Two Ways
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
Instructions
Using a Box Grater
- Wash and dry cauliflower.
- Remove large stem and leaves.
- Cut cauliflower into manageable pieces.
- Shred on box grater as you would a block of cheese.
Using a Food Processor
- Wash and dry cauliflower.
- Remove large stem and leaves.
- Cut cauliflower into manageable pieces, smaller pieces so they all will fit in the food processor.
- Pulse food processor until all pieces have been turned into cauliflower rice. You may need to open the lid and scrape down the sides one or two times.
Nutrition
If you’re looking for other low-carb or keto dishes, check out my Quick Shrimp Pesto Zoodles and my Easy Meal Prep Egg Muffins.
Monna Ellithorpe
Hi Teri,
I still haven’t tried anything made with cauliflower/rice. I do love cauliflower and figure I would like anything made with it.
You supply such good tips with your cooking. Keep up the good work.
Teri
Thanks! You should try it sometime!