Name: How To Make Cauliflower Rice Two Ways
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 head cauliflower

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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!

Overhead view of cauliflower rice two ways in bowls

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.

Breaking down cauliflower into smaller 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.

Cauliflower rice made without a food processor

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.

Cauliflower ready for 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!

Cauliflower rice made with a food processor

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.