CHINESE takeaway frequently vies for the top spot alongside Indian and pizza in the UK’s favourite takeout rankings.
If you’re wondering how to safely reheat your leftover Chinese food, here’s everything you need to know.
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Can you reheat Chinese takeaway?
Rest assured, it is safe to reheat a Chinese takeaway — but make sure you follow these steps.
Your takeaway can be just as fresh and delicious in the following days. You just need to know how to store and reheat your food properly.
First of all, be sure to put any leftovers in the fridge after you’ve eaten — ideally within two hours of it being cooked — to prevent bacteria growing on it.
People often worry about reheating leftover rice, but you should make sure you rapidly cool and refrigerate any rice you want to save for the next day.
This prevents harmful bacteria from being able to multiply.
It is recommend to divide larger rice portions into smaller containers to ensure even cooling throughout.
Food can be safely stored in the fridge for three to four days, but it’s advised you don’t wait too long to eat the leftovers as the quality of the meal can worsen over time.
Chinese takeaways are hugely popular in the UK, so it comes as no surprise that there are many people questioning whether their leftovers can be reheated.
According to a YouGov poll, Chinese takeaway is the most popular choice for people in the UK.
The takeaway option is so popular England’s first-ever driver-thru Chinese restaurant opened in June 2023.
What is the best way to reheat Chinese takeaway?
You can reheat your Chinese food in a few different ways.
Whichever method you choose, you need to heat the leftover takeaway back up to a temperature of at least 74°C (165°F) to ensure all bacteria is killed.
A food thermometer can be helpful to check the internal temperature.
Using a wok or pan to reheat your Chinese food is a particularly good method, especially for reheating leftover rice.
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You just need to put your pan over a medium heat and add a splash of oil or water.
You could even add a drop of soy sauce to further enhance the flavour.
There are a staggering one million cases of food poisoning each year in the UK, and improper storage and reheating of rice can cause vomiting or diarrhoea, so it must be done properly.
One way to make sure your Chinese food is as delicious as the night before is to use your oven — especially for anything crispy.
After preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C), 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 the leftovers in an oven-safe dish or container, and heat the food until it has reached a safe temperature of at least 74°C.
A microwave is an efficient and easy choice for dishes like soup, noodles, vegetable sides, and stews.
It’s also possible to re-steam anything like dumplings, buns, or other dishes that were steamed.
How many times can you reheat Chinese takeaway?
It is not advised that you reheat a meal more than once.
This is because every time food cools down, bacteria will start to multiply, which increases the risk of potential food poisoning.
So it’s best to reheat only the food you want to consume, leaving the rest safely stored in the fridge.
We’ve also got the answers on whether you can reheat KFC.
It is also possible to reheat McDonald’s.
There are several foods that you should never reheat — with some experts advising against reheating rice at all.