Onigiri really are better if made the morning of the day youre going to eat them. I remember my mom waking up very early in the morning to make onigiri when we had a school outing (which usually meant an obento lunch with onigiri).
That being said, you can make them the night before, but you need to take some measures. There are a few things you can do to have moist (but not wet) rice balls.
Should you choose to make your onigiri the night before serving, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Even stored this way, your onigiri will taste best within 24 hours, as the rice will begin to dry out.
Tips for making moist-until-you-eat-them onigiri
- Use Japanese medium-grain rice (uruchi-mai, or sushi rice) – other types of rice dont really stay moist enough. (Short grain mochi rice is a possibility, but they make for very glutinous and gooey rice balls.) See the Looking at rice post if youre not sure what rice is what.
- Make sure you are making them with freshly cooked rice, thats still hot, not cooled. Dont make onigiri with room-temperature rice..it will not stick together well and will dry out fast. The cooked rice should be nicely moist and plump to start with.
- Wrap them completely in plastic wrap before storing in the refrigerator. This keeps the moisture in and prevents the surface from drying out. (Wrapping them in nori would have a similar effect, but then the nori will turn out rather soggy. I prefer to wrap in plastic and bring the crispy nori along separately.) A typical refrigerator is as dry as a desert inside, so you have to protect the rice from that dry air.
Onigiri were developed as a portable meal. Salting the surface is not only done for flavor; the salt helps to preserve the freshness of the rice. So be sure not to skip the salt if you plan to eat the onigiri some time after you make them.
Traditional onigiri fillings tended to be salty had long keeping qualities. Umeboshi (pickled plum) in particular is purported to have antibacterial qualities, so were an ideal filling for rice balls that were to be carried for a long time by hot, sweaty travelers.
If its only going to be a few hours until you eat the onigiri, AND you can keep them reasonably cool (in a dark place out of direct sunlight), AND you use enough salt on the surface, they can be kept at room temperature. If you think youll be carrying them around for a very long time though, its probably best to use umeboshi or another long keeping, salty filling, rather than something like tuna-mayo or Spam.
If you are bringing them somewhere where you have access to a microwave, you can also freeze them. Defrosting time depends on how many onigiri you have, how big they are, how powerful the microwave is, etc. but once you get the timing right you can get hot onigiri that taste like they were just made. Be sure to wrap them in microwave-ready plastic wrap in that case! I often make extra onigiri and tuck a few in the freezer as treats.
How to Keep Onigiri (Rice Balls) MOIST in the Fridge Overnight | OCHIKERON | Create Eat Happy 🙂
FAQ
Can you make onigiri a day in advance?
How do you keep onigiri from getting soggy?
Is it safe to reheat onigiri?
How long can you keep onigiri in the fridge?
If your onigiris are made with umeboshi, you can keep them in your fridge for up to three days. If the onigiris contain tuna and mayonnaise, they can last for up to one day. In general, any filling with mayo is usually not good for more than a day. If you want to save your onigiri for later, it’s best to freeze them.
How do you keep onigiri Fresh overnight?
But to ensure safe storage overnight, onigiri needs to be wrapped up tightly in cling wrap. This will keep bacteria from growing, and will also help to maintain the onigiri’s freshness, moistness, and texture. For an extra layer of insulation, you can then place the onigiri in a zippable plastic bag and pop them in the refrigerator.
How long does onigiri last?
Summarizing: Depending on the filling type, the onigiri can last from 2 to 12 hours at room temperature. If you use an airtight container, you can extend its shelf life in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Finally, and depending the filling, you can store onigiri in the freezer for 3 to 6 months. To know how to conserve onigiri properly, just read on.
Can you eat onigiri overnight?
Many fans of Japanese food wonder if it’s okay to store fresh onigiri ( Japanese rice balls) overnight, to be enjoyed for lunch or at a picnic the following day. The short answer is yes, but it’s important to keep certain facts about onigiri in mind. Bitemybun’s family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide. 1 What is onigiri?