Can You Freeze Chow Mein?
Quick Answer
Yes, you can freeze chow mein. Store it in an airtight container or bag, and it will keep well for 2 to 3 months in the freezer with minimal texture and flavor changes when properly defrosted.
Does Chow Mein Freeze Well?
Being an easy-to-make one-pan dish, chow mein can also be made in a bigger batch and be frozen for another occasion.
Chow mein freezes well if you know how to do it properly. The texture of the noodles suffers very little changes and the flavor stays there.
So, next time you decide on this Chinese comfort food as your dinner option, make an extra portion to freeze. Whenever you are not in the mood for cooking or need a quick meal, reheat it, enjoy, and go on with your day.
Can You Freeze Takeaway Chow Mein?
You can freeze takeaway chow mein. However, it is always best to freeze food that you have cooked yourself.
This way you know what goes into the dish, how long you have had the products used in the dish, and how you have handled it after cooking.
If you do decide to freeze the leftovers of your takeaway chow mein, do it as soon as it cools off. Don’t let the noodles sit for too long at room temperature to avoid any risks.
Considering the ease of making this dish, we recommend you freeze homemade chow mein.
How to Freeze Chow Mein
Before you freeze chow mein, there are two things you should know.
First, avoid freezing chow mein that has been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours. The longer the food sits at room temperature the higher is the risk of bacterial contamination.
Second, never freeze chow mein that is still hot or warm. This will create condensation in the container with noodles which will result in excess water when thawed.
Not only that.
Hot food affects the temperature of the freezer which can be harmful to the food that is already stored there.
Now that you know the two big mistakes you should avoid, here is how to freeze chow mein:
- Transfer chow mein into an airtight container. Don’t use a container that is too big for the portion of noodles you are freezing.
- You can also use a zip-top bag to freeze chow mein: Push the excess air out of the bag, lay it flat to freeze, and store as preferred.
- Label the bag with the date and specify the type of protein and veggies used if freezing multiple variations.
How Long Does Chow Mein Last in the Freezer?
Chow mein lasts around 4 days in the fridge. Freezing these stir-fried noodles significantly extends their shelf life.
Chow mein will keep for 2 to 3 months in the freezer. If the temperature of the freezer is stable, the noodles will keep well for much longer.
However, the sooner you eat chow mein stored in the freezer the better it will taste. As you may know, the flavor and texture qualities of food deteriorate as it sits in the freezer.
You can keep defrosted chow mein in the fridge for around 4 days before you decide to reheat it.
Do not refreeze chow mein.
Related Questions
Can you reheat chow mein?
To reheat chow mein, let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Once the noodles are fully thawed, toss them into a preheated pan along with a small amount of oil. Keep stirring the noodles to reheat them quickly and evenly.
If you don’t have time to defrost the noodles in the fridge, leave them at room temperature for some time and use the microwave to reheat.
Spread the noodles evenly on a plate, add a small amount of water, and reheat for a minute on High setting. Heat the noodles until you are satisfied with the result.
Please note that chow mein reheated in the microwave becomes mushier than the noodles reheated in a pan. Additionally, letting the food defrost in the fridge is safer than thawing it at room temperature.
Up Next: Can You Freeze Chinese Food?
Read on for more detail
Chow mein is a well-loved Chinese dish that many people have learned how to make at home. But there is one thing everyone wants to know about these noodles.
Can you freeze chow mein? Yes, you can freeze chow mein. Stored in an airtight container or bag, chow mein will keep well for 2 to 3 months in the freezer. If you freeze and defrost chow mein properly, these stir-fried noodles will suffer minimal texture and flavor changes.
Continue reading for step by step instructions on how to freeze chow mein and what you should avoid doing for the best results.
Does Chow Main Freeze Well?
Being an easy-to-make one-pan dish, chow mein can also be made in a bigger batch and be frozen for another occasion.
Chow mein freezes well if you know how to do it properly. The texture of the noodles suffers very little changes and the flavor stays there.
So, next time you decide on this Chinese comfort food as your dinner option, make an extra portion to freeze. Whenever you are not in the mood for cooking or need a quick meal, reheat it, enjoy, and go on with your day.
Can You Freeze Takeaway Chow Mein?
You can freeze takeaway chow mein. However, it is always best to freeze food that you have cooked yourself.
This way you know what goes into the dish, how long you have had the products used in the dish, and how you have handled it after cooking.
If you do decide to freeze the leftovers of your takeaway chow mein, do it as soon as it cools off. Don’t let the noodles sit for too long at room temperature to avoid any risks.
Considering the ease of making this dish, we recommend you freeze homemade chow mein.
How to Freeze Chow Mein
Before you freeze chow mein, there are two things you should know.
First, avoid freezing chow mein that has been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours. The longer the food sits at room temperature the higher is the risk of bacterial contamination.
Second, never freeze chow mein that is still hot or warm. This will create condensation in the container with noodles which will result in excess water when thawed.
Not only that.
Hot food affects the temperature of the freezer which can be harmful to the food that is already stored there.
Now that you know the two big mistakes you should avoid, here is how to freeze chow mein:
Transfer chow mein into an airtight container. Don’t use a container that is too big for the portion of noodles you are freezing. Giving too much room to air is not a good idea.
You can also use a zip-top bag to freeze chow mein:
If you are using a plastic bag, push the excess air out of the bag. Lay the bag with chow mein flat and freeze it. Once the bag is all frozen, store it however you want to save space.
Label the bag with the date. If you are freezing multiple variations of chow mein, you can also specify the type of protein and veggies used in it.
How Long Does Chow Mein Last in the Freezer?
Chow mein lasts around 4 days in the fridge. Freezing these stir-fried noodles significantly extends their shelf life.
Chow mein will keep for 2 to 3 months in the freezer. If the temperature of the freezer is stable, the noodles will keep well for much longer.
However, the sooner you eat chow mein stored in the freezer the better it will taste. As you may know, the flavor and texture qualities of food deteriorate as it sits in the freezer.
You can keep defrosted chow mein in the fridge for around 4 days before you decide to reheat it.
Do not refreeze chow mein.
Related Questions
Can you reheat chow mein?
To reheat chow mein, let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Once the noodles are fully thawed, toss them into a preheated pan along with a small amount of oil. Keep stirring the noodles to reheat them quickly and evenly.
If you don’t have time to defrost the noodles in the fridge, leave them at room temperature for some time and use the microwave to reheat.
Spread the noodles evenly on a plate, add a small amount of water, and reheat for a minute on High setting. Heat the noodles until you are satisfied with the result.
Please note that chow mein reheated in the microwave becomes mushier than the noodles reheated in a pan. Additionally, letting the food defrost in the fridge is safer than thawing it at room temperature.
Up Next: Can You Freeze Chinese Food?