How to Reheat Panda Express (Simple and Effective)

Who doesn’t love Panda Express? American-Chinese cuisine doesn’t get much better, and the bonus is the portions are always generous!

If you have found yourself with some leftover Panda Express in the fridge, and the cravings hit the next day and you want to enjoy them for lunch, you need to know how to reheat the food properly.

How do you reheat Panda Express?

How you reheat Panda Express will depend on what it is that you are reheating. Some meals are best reheated in the oven, others can be reheated quickly in the microwave, and some meals are better reheated on the stovetop.

To know just about everything there is to know when it comes to reheating Panda Express, read on for the various ways you can reheat the leftovers, and which methods are best for certain Panda Express meals!

Reheating Panda Express in the Oven

You might think that reheating food in the oven is not worth the time and effort it takes, but with certain Panda Express meals, you will definitely notice the difference!

Some Chinese meals simply do not do well when reheated in the microwave and tend to turn soggy and chewy. Reheating these meals in the oven may take a little longer, but they are made crispy on the outside, and still soft and tender on the inside.

The gentle heat of the oven doesn’t overcook the food, and it doesn’t dry them out too much. It reheats the food evenly and allows the outside to be crispy.

Some of the best Panda Express foods to reheat in the oven include fried foods such as spring rolls and breaded chicken. Other good options to reheat in the oven include shrimp fried rice, orange chicken, and Mongolian beef.

Just remember that it does take the oven longer to reheat food – so you will have to plan ahead of time!

Here is how to reheat Panda Express meals in the oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Prepare the leftovers for reheating. You will have to remove them from their container and place them into an oven-safe dish. What dish you use will depend on what exactly you are reheating. Rice, noodle, and saucy dishes should be placed in a shallow baking dish. Fried foods such as spring rolls, wontons, and breaded items can be placed in a flat baking tray.
3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil loosely.
4. Leave the food to reheat for 10 minutes in the oven. For fried foods, remove the aluminum foil after 7 minutes.
5. Check to see if the food is reheated properly throughout. If not, leave it in for another 5 minutes until done.

Keep in mind that these are just estimates – smaller portions of Panda Express meals will take a shorter amount of time to reheat, so use your judgment, just make sure that the food is piping hot when reheated.

Reheating Panda Express in the Microwave

The microwave is one of the best appliances to use to reheat leftovers, as it is quick and simple. However, not all leftovers are meant to be reheated in the microwave, and so you do need to pick your leftovers carefully when using a microwave.

Avoid reheating any fried food in the microwave, or food that is supposed to be crispy on the outside, such as spring rolls or breaded chicken. When these items are reheated in the microwave, they tend to turn soggy on the outside.

Panda Express meals that do well when reheated in the microwave include soups, stir-fries, stews, steamed vegetables, and saucy noodle dishes.

While these are good to reheat in the microwave, there are some things you need to do to ensure they turn out as delicious as possible. Here is how to reheat Panda Express meals in the microwave:

1. Place the Panda Express leftovers into a microwave-safe container. If you are reheating quite a large portion or more than one portion, then you might have to work in batches.
2. Make sure the food is spread out evenly on the plate or in the bowl, and cover it with a damp paper towel. The damp paper towel will help to prevent the food from drying out, creating some steam to retain moisture.
3. Place the food into the microwave, and set the microwave to medium-high.
4. Heat the food for a minute, remove it from the microwave, stir it, and place it back into the microwave for another minute.
5. Reheat the leftovers in one-minute intervals until heated throughout. Reheating it in one-minute intervals stops it from overheating, and stops food from exploding inside of your microwave.
6. Once done, stir the dish and leave it to sit for 30 seconds before eating.

Some meals take longer than others depending on what they are. You should also check if all ingredients are heated properly. For example with soups, the broth might be piping hot, but the vegetables or meat might still be cold. Make sure all of the meal is properly heated.

Reheating Panda Express on the Stovetop

Reheating Panda Express meals on the stovetop is a great way to retain their original taste and texture, and you can prevent the food from drying out too much. Some good meals to reheat on the stovetop include soups and stews, as well as saucy noodles.

You can add in different liquids and sauces to the meal as it reheats, to stop it from drying out, and to add in more flavor.

There are different methods for reheating different Panda Express meals on the stovetop, so we have broken them down for you, between frying meat and vegetables, and reheating soups and stews.

Here is how to fry Panda Express leftovers of meat and vegetables, or fried rice:

1. Place a pan over medium heat, and add in a drizzle of cooking oil.
2. Once the pan has heated up, add the leftovers to the dish. Add in any meat, vegetables, or fried rice. 
3. As the food heats up, check to see if it needs any moisture. You can add in some soy sauce or broth to bring a little more liquid to the dish if it needs any.
4. Leave the food to heat on medium for a few minutes, stirring it around so that it heats evenly.
5. Once it has reheated fully, remove it from the heat and serve.

Here is how to reheat Panda Express soups and stews on the stovetop:

1. Place a large enough saucepan on medium heat. Do not use a saucepan that is too large or too small, as this could affect how the leftovers reheat.
2. Allow the food to warm, and leave it to bubble slightly. Make sure to stir the meal as it heats, so that it does not burn at the bottom, and it does not reheat unevenly.
3. Once the food starts to bubble, switch it to low heat and leave for another two minutes. You can add extra broth or soy sauce if needed.
4. Once it has heated throughout, remove it from the heat and serve.

If you are going to reheat noodles on the stovetop, make sure to reheat them on low heat, as they can turn soft very easily, and burn easily too.

How to Store Panda Express Leftovers

Once you have finished eating your Panda Express meal, you should place any leftovers in the fridge as soon as they reach room temperature.

The best option is to place the food into a plastic fridge container, which seals airtight. This not only protects the food while it is in the fridge, but it prevents the odor from spreading too much.

It is best to eat the food within a day, as you do not know how long it was left out at the restaurant. When reheating the leftovers, make sure that all of the food is reheated thoroughly, and that it is piping hot throughout.

How to Reheat Panda Express

There are three ways you can reheat Panda Express leftovers – you can use the oven, the microwave, or the stovetop. Which method you use will depend on what it is that you are reheating, as well as how much time you have to spare.

Crispy fried food such as breaded chicken, spring rolls, and wontons, do best when reheated in the oven. Soups, noodles, and vegetables can be quickly reheated in the microwave. Fried rice, meat, vegetables, soups, and stews can all be reheated on the stove.

Read the above guide on the best ways to reheat Panda Express!

Related Questions

How Hot Should I Reheat Chinese Takeaway Leftovers?

Reheat Chinese food to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a safe temperature to ensure that the food is piping hot throughout and the risk of bacteria growth is limited.

Is It Okay to Eat Chinese Food the Next Day?

Chinese food is fine to eat the next day, as long as you have kept it in an airtight container in the fridge. It should not be left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.