Can you reheat Chinese takeout?

CHINESE food regularly tops polls for the UK’s favorite takeaway meals, competing for top spot with Indian food and pizza.

Here’s everything we know about whether it’s safe to reheat your leftovers.

Can you reheat Chinese takeout?

Rest assured, it’s safe to reheat Chinese takeout – but be sure to follow these steps.

Your takeout food can be just as fresh and delicious the following days. You just need to know how to properly store and reheat food.

First, be sure to place leftovers in the refrigerator after eating—preferably within two hours of cooking—to prevent bacteria growth.

People often worry about reheating leftover rice, but you should quickly chill and refrigerate any rice you want to save for the next day.

This prevents harmful bacteria from multiplying.

It is recommended to divide larger portions of rice into smaller containers to ensure even cooling.

Food can be safely stored in the refrigerator for three to four days, but it is advisable not to wait too long to eat leftovers as the quality of the meal may deteriorate over time.

Chinese takeaways are very popular in the UK, so it’s no surprise that many people wonder whether their leftovers can be reheated.

According to research from YouGov, Chinese takeaway is the most popular choice among people in the UK.

The takeaway option is so popular that England’s first chauffeur-driven Chinese restaurant opened in June 2023.

What’s the best way to reheat Chinese takeout?

You can reheat your Chinese food a few different ways.

Whichever method you choose, you need to heat the leftover food back to a temperature of at least 74°C (165°F) to ensure all bacteria is killed.

A food thermometer can be useful for checking the internal temperature.

Using a wok or frying pan to reheat Chinese food is a particularly good method, especially for reheating leftover rice.

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Just place the pan over medium heat and add a little oil or water.

You can even add a drop of soy sauce to enhance the flavor even more.

There are a staggering one million cases of food poisoning every year in the UK, and improper storage and reheating of rice can cause vomiting or diarrhea, so it must be done properly.

One way to ensure your Chinese food is as delicious as the night before is to use the oven – especially good for anything crispy.

After preheating the oven to 175°C (350°F), place the food in an oven-safe dish and reheat until it reaches the desired temperature.

If using the oven, preheat it to 175°C (350°F) and place leftovers on an oven-safe plate or container, and heat the food until it reaches a safe temperature of at least 74°C.

The microwave is an easy and efficient choice for dishes like soup, pasta, vegetable sides, and stews.

You can also re-steam anything, such as dumplings, bread or other steamed dishes.

How many times can you reheat Chinese takeout?

It is not advisable to reheat a meal more than once.

This is because every time food cools, bacteria begin to multiply, which increases the risk of potential food poisoning.

Therefore, it is best to only reheat the food you want to consume, leaving the rest stored safely in the refrigerator.

We also have answers to whether you can reheat KFC.

It is also possible to reheat McDonald’s.

There are several foods you should never reheat – with some experts advising against reheating rice.