How Long Does Chinese Food Last In The Fridge?

Eating Chinese food from our favorite restaurant is a guilty pleasure we all enjoy! Most often, we order more than what we can eat and end up with leftovers! Have a lot of food and wonder how long Chinese food lasts in the fridge? Well, I have the answer for you!

Chinese food will only last up to three to four days in the fridge. However, if you freeze it, it may last up to 6 months. That being said, it must be noted that if kept for a longer period, the food might lose all its flavor.

Chinese food is all about a flavor burst! None of us eats Chinese food for the sake of eating it; we eat to enjoy it! However, sometimes when we have a lot of Chinese food, we tend to keep it in the fridge!

So if you have some leftover Chinese food in your fridge and are wondering whether it’s safe to eat or not! This article is for you. 

How Long Does Chinese Food Last In The Fridge?

Chinese food doesn’t have a long shelf life. When kept in the fridge, it stays good until 2 to 3 days from the day it is cooked. However, if it is frozen, it might last up to 6 months. 

However, all of these will hugely depend on what kind of food you have! Some dishes containing meat will perish within a day or two. On the other hand, some dishes like vegetable stews are safe to consume even on the fourth day. 

So if you have some leftover Chinese food lying in the fridge, don’t take the risk and eat it within two to three days! They taste the best when heated in the oven the very next day! From the third day itself, there might be a slight change in its flavor.

So if you do not want to waste your food, be sure to have it the next day!

How To Store Chinese Food Correctly?

Now that we have seen how long Chinese food last in the fridge let’s see how to store them properly! Knowing how to store the food properly will help you keep your Chinese food good for longer.

1. Store It In An Airtight Container 

If you plan to store your leftover Chinese food, place them in the fridge in an airtight container. This will help your food to stay fresh longer. Mostly the container we get from the store isn’t that safe.

So if you have good airtight containers at home. Transfer your food into that before placing it in the fridge. However, if you don’t have an airtight container, wrap plastic around it before putting it in the fridge. 

2. Freeze It

If you have some home-cooked Chinese food with you, you can store it similarly. However, if you plan to use them after a couple of days, place them in the freezer.

While freezing the Chinese food, make sure to place them in a good airtight container. One hack while doing so is to write the date in the container. This way, you can track how long it has been there! Chinese food, when frozen, is good to eat for up to 6 months.

You can also freeze store-bought Chinese food. However, we don’t recommend doing so as we aren’t sure about the quality of food ingredients used for cooking that food.  

3. Store It In The Back Of The Fridge 

So if you have already packed your food in an airtight container, make sure to place them in the back of the fridge. The inner part of the fridge will have a more stable temperature and will help to keep your food fresh for a longer period.

How To Tell If The Chinese Food Has Gone Bad?

Regardless of all our efforts in storing our favorite Chinese food, there is a high chance it will worsen. Chinese dishes come with so many flavors that it might be a little hard for you to decide whether it has gone bad or not!

So if you can’t decide whether your food has gone bad or not, look for these signs.

1. Color 

Due to the presence of so many colors, Chinese food will have a bright color. If your food has become slightly discolored, it might have gone bad.

2. Texture 

When gone bad, Chinese food will have a slimy texture. The moment you touch the food, you’ll know whether it’s good to eat or not. 

3. Smell 

Like all other food has gone bad, Chinese food, when it gets bad, will develop a sour and unpleasant smell. Even if you cannot decide on the food based on its color or texture, you cannot resist noticing the bad smell of the food. 

4. Taste 

Finally, do a taste test. Chinese food gone bad will have an extremely bad taste. 

So if you notice any of these changes in your food, do not risk your health and have it! Food poisoning is a little too risky to take!

How To Reheat Leftover Chinese Food?

If you have stored your Chinese food properly, then your food must be safe to eat. However, if kept for a longer period, it may lose its flavor. So it’s always recommended to use them immediately. 

But if you are wondering how to reheat them properly without losing much of their flavor, I have some tips to share with you. 

• Choose A Wok: If you often cook Chinese, you must have a wok at home. You can use the same to reheat your food. However, if you do not have a wok, use a frying pan to reheat the food. 
• Pour Some Oil: While reheating the Chinese food, always add little oil to the pan before adding the food. This will prevent the food from sticking to the pan and will also add flavor to the food. 
• Cook On High Heat: Whether you are cooking some Chinese food or reheating it, always put the gas on high flame. 
• Add Little Water: While cooking Chinese food, make sure to add some water to the pan. Just a little bit is enough. This will prevent the food from drying.
• Use An Air Fryer: if you have some leftover spring rolls or orange chicken, or any dishes that are better fried, make use of the air fryer to reheat them. The air fryer and reheating the food will also bring back some crunchy texture. 

While reheating Chinese food, always make sure that the food is piping hot! Sometimes the food will be hot only outside, but inside will still be cold. So when reheating, make sure that the inside is well cooked, just like the outside. 

Also, avoid reheating Chinese food multiple times. If you are planning to eat it in small portions, store it accordingly! If you have leftover food from the reheated portion, it’s best to throw them out!

Final Thoughts 

Chinese food is generally exceptionally tasty and comes in great quantities! We will have some leftovers whether we cook them at home or buy them from outside. Wasting food isn’t something we encourage! So if you have any leftover Chinese food, save them for another day.

Chinese food lasts in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to store it even longer, you can keep it in the freezer, and it will be fit for eating for another 6 months. Whatever way you are keeping your food, keep them so you can enjoy the best of it!

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