How long is Chinese food good for and how can you keep it fresh longer? Chinese food lasts up to 3 days in the refrigerator in its original packaging however, it is best to consume it within 24 hours. Make sure it’s kept fresh by using an airtight container and freezing any Chinese food you have leftover.
Chinese dishes are best enjoyed hot – obviously! What would you think if we told you there was a method to keep and enjoy your takeaway food later, just as fresh?
Chinese cuisine is made with complex ingredients that require oil, meat, vegetables, and much more. This makes it more difficult to store and makes it important to use the correct technique to store, reheat or freeze.
Chinese food is known for its taste loss once it’s been reheated. In this article, we’ll explain why this happens and the best way to tackle this problem.
If you’ve been out with your friends and you have leftover food, you’ll be thinking that keeping food in containers similar to those it was served in is the best option, but you’d be wrong.
There are plenty of factors to consider before storing Chinese food, as certain foods may perform better than other dishes.
Chinese food requires a bit of attention since you cannot keep everything within the refrigerator, particularly in the event that you intend to keep it in long-term storage. While keeping Chinese foods for as long as 24 hours could work, reheating it could create different problems.
We will go over the various ways to keep Chinese food and then reheat it whenever needed. We will also discuss various strategies, techniques and methods to heat food after it has been frozen and also.
Learn more about how to store and cook Chinese food items.
How Long Does Chinese Food Last In The Fridge?
One of the most efficient methods to store Chinese food items in the fridge is to store it in the container it came in.
If you purchased food at home in the evening before, and would like to eat it the following day, you are able to take it and put it in the refrigerator at 32 degrees F in the same package. In fact, Chinese foods can be great to consume in three days or more.
However, we don’t suggest that you store the food for this time. It is best that you consume the food within 24 to 36 hours.
This is due to the fact that Chinese food is loaded with vegetables as well as broth, sauces as well as thickeners and thickeners.
How To Store Chinese Food
Here are some food items which are suitable to keep in the fridge (set at 32 degF) that can be kept for as long as 36 hours:
Let’s have a closer look at each Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Noodles
If you intend to eat the leftover noodles next day, you can put them in the take-out container.
If you are planning to keep the noodles longer than that, we highly suggest to store them in an airtight container before you put them in the refrigerator.
The best method to store noodles is to store them in the refrigerator within the Tupperware. The food should stay fresh for around 3- 4 days however we would recommend you don’t keep it for longer than that.
If you intend to keep the food in storage in the long-term, and reallylong-term it is recommended to put the noodles into an airtight container and ensuring there’s no moisture inside the container, and then placing them within the freezer.
The noodles should be edible for 4 to 6 weeks in the event that the freezer is running at zero degrees F.
Noodles are easy to freeze however the trick is freezing them in the proper timing. This means you’d be required to put them in storage immediately once you have returned back from your meal.
If food items are left at the room temperature for more than 12 hours, there is a possibility of the growth of bacterial.
FYI we have special instructions that will help you to freeze egg noodles as well as rice noodles!
Stir Fry
The idea of keeping food items like stir-fries in the refrigerator works well provided you’re planning on eating it within two to three days.
That means you’d need to store the contents in a sealed container put it in the refrigerator. Be sure to choose an appropriate spot inside the fridge, preferably one which is away from the door.
It is vital as if you store food in the vicinity of at hand or even on the shelf, the food will be exposed to lots of temperature fluctuations, which could allow for bacteria to multiply slowly, but gradually.
A great spot is near the bottom of the refrigerator and also at the top, in the area where there is a fan.
It is also possible to freeze stir-fryin exactly the same way as regular noodles. Transfer them into an airtight container, and store their frozen state with the temperature set at 0°F.
Soups
Soups can be processed and stored in the same way as other broths, however there are some things to remember.
Chicken corn soup that is not the addition of ketchup or other thickeners, can be stored in the fridge and freezer, but you might prefer to store your soup inside an airtight glass or plastic containerjust to make sure.
Soups are simple to store and last for a long time within the freezer.
Soup can be kept in the fridge for around 3 to 4 days. Soup stored in the freezer typically lasts for up to 3 monthsif maintained properly and the temperature remains at the same temperature throughout the period.
Fried Items
Fried food items are among the worst when it comes to storage alternatives. The issue is, after the food has been cooked, it’s soaked in oil. If your food has been breaded it could turn soggy if it’s been out in a prolonged period.
For food items that are fried It is recommended to keep them in the refrigerator, and consume them as soon as you can. If you keep them out too long, they’ll lose their crunch and become stale due to the effects of the degrading exterior.
However, this doesn’t mean that your food is going to go to be rotten. In fact, it’s not dangerous in any way. However, you might not like eating it as much.
It’s the way that fried foods are exposed to oil, and then mixed with air. The best method of storing the food that has been fried is to store the food in the refrigerator in an airtight container for the night, and then consume it the following day.
Yes, you can keep it in the fridge , but it’s not a great idea to freeze or heat them up and you might not achieve the desired outcomes. It is best that you consume it as quickly as you can.
Rice
Rice is stored in the same instructions for noodles.
Rice or noodles (chow mein) are among the most sought-after takeaways and the most frequently used leftovers in Chinese food. This is not surprising given the amount of food they serve and the fact that they are nutritious.
Rice can be kept in the fridge for approximately three to four days in the event that they are fried vegetable rice.
However, rice that contains protein (a.k.a. meat) is able to be stored in the refrigerator for around 2 to 3 days however we suggest to consume them as quickly as is possible.
Rice can be stored within the refrigerator for around three months and is reheated without difficulty too.
We will look at the ways in which the various Chinese food leftovers may be heated and how the same method can be used to prepare other Chinese dishes as well.
How to Reheat Chinese Food
Reheating food is a process that requires you to be aware of some basic concepts about freezing food.
When you first store food in the freezer then the moisture from the refrigerator will form small crystals of ice within the food which create strong bonds.
Furthermore that once you’ve frozen food items, it releases lots of water from the food items and mixes with cold air, and then forms crystals of ice.
On a macro scale on the macro scale, you can see the process of forming the exterior before forming the interior. When you heat food items, you’ll have to break up the ice crystals before melting them. They release water, which then mixes with the food.
Reheating Soup
In the case of most food items it’s not a problem. For instance, you can freeze soup until it’s hard and then heat in a pot that has some water.
Reheating Rice And Noodles
Similar to that, you can cook noodles, rice as well as other food items in the same manner.
For noodles and rice We recommend that you give them an gentle spray of water prior to you put them in the microwave. This allows your food items to be hydrated, and will also prevent it from drying out after you have put it into the microwave.
It is best to first freeze the food before heating it. However, be sure to keep it out of the air at temperatures that are below room temperature. You can transfer the food from the freezer to the refrigerator over the course of a night. It is also possible to warm it up by heating it in the microwave.
Reheating Fried Foods
Reheating food cooked in oil becomes very difficult. As mentioned previously when food is cooked, the outside begins to become oxidized in the open air.
While it is possible to keep the frozen items that have been fried in the fridge for a couple of days before cooking them again, you might not achieve the results you desire by freezing them in a deep freezer.
Reheating Other Foods
The rehydrating and reheating method can be applied to any Chinese food item (except for food that is fried).
To make gravies and sauces thick for gravies and sauces that are thick, we suggest using water. Then, heat the food on the stove until the starch present in the food is released and is mixed with the other ingredients.
It is also possible to complete this process using the microwave. We suggest mixing the food once every couple of minutes, until it is thin again. Continue mixing until it’s homogeneous and then add water gradually with one tablespoon.
Things To Keep In Mind When Storing Chinese Food
As previously mentioned, the right time to store food at the right moment could mean the difference between failure and the success.
This is the reason we suggest that you keep your food in a safe place when you return at homefrom the restaurant, or after you have finished eating takeaway.
For instance, don’t store the leftovers in the car, and drive away until you get home hours. The best method to reduce the growth of bacteria is to get to the home within an hour, and then freeze it right away.
Similar to shutting and opening the refrigerator door may expose food to different temperatures. Although it may not seem to be a big deal, little variations can have a significant impact on the growth of bacterial.
This is why we suggest that you ensure that your food is kept at the same temperature particularly in the event that you intend to store it for a long period of time.
How To Tell If Chinese Food Has Gone Bad
One of the easiest indicators that your food is rotten is a fungal growth, or a stink that is a bit sour.
Golden ticket with takeaway food – if in doubt, chuck it out!
Prior to eating stored Chinese food items, it is important to inspect the food first. You should inspect the food for growth, slime, or an unpleasant odor.
It’s easy to find fridge-stored food because it’s flexible and easy to spot.
For instance, to determine whether your leftover rice has turned bad, simply press a grain of rice using your index and thumb fingers. If you observe the appearance of slime or film, then it could mean that the food is bad.
It’s easy to find fridge-stored food since it’s soft and easily identifiable.
For food items that are frozen. We recommend to first heat your food the way you would normally. Be sure to watch in case of signs that it is spoiling while it warms and thaws.
If you are able to smell something that is off-putting or observe anything that’s not intended to be there such as fur, foam or changes in color, then you should throw everything away.
Rememberthat it’s impossible to save food that turns rotten, regardless of how little has been spoiled. If you notice a bacteria growing in one area then you can be sure that the food is in danger and it is highly advised to throw everything out.
The risk isn’t worth it for your health.
The idea of putting food on the counter isn’t an ideal idea. When food cools and reaches temperatures that are at room temperature, it’s predisposed to the growth of bacteria.
It’s true that this process usually requires a bit of time However, the best method to reduce the growth of bacteria is to simply freeze or refrigerate your food items. This isn’t worthwhile to take the chance.
A roundup of Safely Reheating Chinese Food
The storage of Chinese foods is a typical habit that is practiced by many However, very few actually know how to properly store it.
Unsafe storage can lead to an increase in bacterial growth, which could lead to health issues. It’s also pretty disgusting.
We strongly suggest that you cool Chinese food at least three hours after it was served, and in the ideal case, within less than one hour after having eaten so that you can ensure the least amount of bacterial growth feasible.
Refrigerating your meals at 32 F or freezing it at the temperature of 0 F is the most effective way to ensure your safety according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Make sure you consume food items that are stored in airtight containers that are kept in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. It is possible to keep food for up to 3 months of food storage when you freeze it when it is done properly.
Nothing is more valuable than your well-being. When in doubt to throw something out!
Other Questions Asked
Can I Keep Leftover Food Overnight On The Counter?
The idea of leaving fresh food on the counter for a night is not advised. It’s likely to turn to a halt the next day particularly when you live in a humid and hot climate.
Even if your home is cool and dry. Do not make the mistake of eating food items that have been kept in a store for longer than 12 hours.
Can I Reheat Soup And Rice The Same Way?
It is possible to more or less cook rice and soup in the same manner, however they may need slightly different methods.
If you want to cook rice it is possible to splash some water over it and heat it up on the stove until it is fresh and delicious.
To make soups make sure to pour a small amount of water in the bottom in the dish. After that, put in the soup block that has been frozen. Set the stove to low heat, and let it melt. It is possible to increase the heat to get it to a point of boiling as well.
Last updated and verified on February 7th, 2023 by our editorial team.
