Pad Thai is a popular Thai dish made with rice noodles, vegetables, and protein, typically chicken, shrimp, or tofu. It is a delicious and flavorful meal that can be enjoyed at home or a local Thai restaurant.
But what if you have leftovers or want to save some for a later date? A few questions will arise. How long does Pad Thai last at room temperature, and how long is Pad Thai good for in the fridge?
Ultimately, you’ll want to know, can you freeze Pad Thai? The answer is yes, you can freeze Pad Thai, but there are a few things to consider to ensure that it maintains its quality and flavor when it is thawed and reheated.
In our guide, you learn what goes into the freezing process of all the noodles and to keep the sauce in an ice cube tray for convenience. By the end, you’ll know how to keep your Pad Thai in the best condition to eat at any stage when you want to eat Asian. (Read Can You Freeze KFC Chicken)
Is It Possible To Freeze And Reheat My Pad Thai?
Eating pad Thai while piping hot and fresh is recommended, although this isn’t always possible. Luckily, Pad Thai keeps for three months if you toss your cooked noodles in your freezer.
If you do this, it is best to eat your servings within two to three days and keep leftovers in the refrigerator.
How To Defrost Frozen Pad Thai?
If you have frozen your Pad Thai noodles in a suitable freezer container, you need to thaw them before enjoying them again. The best way to defrost your Pad Thai is to place it in the refrigerator overnight. This method may take a bit of time, but it is the safest option as it prevents the risk of spoilage.
If you are in a hurry, try using the defrost function on your microwave to thaw the noodles. However, be cautious when using this method as it can lead to uneven thawing and may compromise the quality of your Pad Thai, and eating food not cooked properly can lead to food poisoning.
Once your noodles are thawed, you can reheat them as desired.
Can I Refreeze Pad Thai?
We don’t recommend freezing pad Thai more than once as the freezing process, and formation of ice crystals can damage the quality of the noodles. When Pad Thai is frozen and thawed, the noodles may become soft, and Pad Thai loses its crunch, resulting in a less enjoyable dish.
To avoid this, it is best to divide the Pad Thai into smaller portions before freezing so that you can thaw and reheat only the amount you plan to eat. This will also help to speed up the defrosting process and allow you to enjoy the dish at its best
Can You Freeze Pad Thai from a Takeaway?
If you follow the instructions, you may freeze Pad Thai that you’ve ordered from a takeout place. Please take care not to leave the cooked Pad Thai noodles at room temperature for an extended period, as this could cause the food to spoil. (Read Can I Freeze Chicken Salad)
Can I Reheat My Thawed Pad Thai?
Defrosted Pad Thai tastes best when it is served hot. Therefore, after defrosting, it must be adequately heated. You may reheat Pad Thai in the microwave or a pan over low heat on the stove.
Can You Freeze Pad Thai Sauce?
When stored in the refrigerator, Pad Thai sauce retains its freshness for two to three weeks. If you wish to store it longer, you can freeze it in an ice cube tray for three months.
Can I Freeze Shrimp Pad Thai?
Use a freezer-safe plastic container, and your frozen shrimp Pad Thai will stay fresh for up to 3 months.
Can I Freeze Chicken Pad Thai?
Chicken Pad Thai is made from chicken breasts sliced so you can freeze these chicken pieces the same way as your shrimp Pad Thai.
Can You Freeze Pad Thai Vegetables?
Freezing some vegetables makes them go soggy when you defrost them. It isn’t recommended to freeze these as you’ll have vegetable mush when you defrost.
Can I Freeze Cooked Pad Thai noodles?
A spicy stir fry from Thailand is a delicacy. So, wasting food is not a good idea if you prepare more than you can eat.
Does Frozen Pad Thai Keep Well?
While it is possible to freeze pad Thai leftovers, it is essential to note that the texture and quality deteriorate when you freeze pad Thai noodles. The noodles may become soggy, and the vegetables may lose their crunch.
However, if you still wish to freeze your pad Thai, it is best for freezing Pad Thai in a heavy-duty freezer bag and remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
The pad Thai will maintain its best quality for about a month in the freezer. When you are ready to eat the pad Thai, it is best to defrost frozen Pad Thai overnight in the refrigerator or for 30 minutes in a bowl of cold water.
Alternatively, you can freeze the individual ingredients, such as the pad Thai sauce, where you find Pad Thai freezes well.
How do I freeze Pad Thai sauce?
Make a lot of the sauce and start freezing Pad Thai sauce in ice cube trays. You can shift the cubes to a larger airtight container when they have set and freeze them there. When you want to make Pad Thai, it’s simple to remove a few cubes. The sauce should then be stored for approximately six months in the freezer.
How do I freeze rice noodles?
Before the noodles are thoroughly cooked, it is advised to freeze them. Before putting the noodles in a freezer bag with the least amount of air possible, they should be soaked.
How to freeze pad Thai vegetables and meat
It is best to blanch them first to freeze vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts. To blanch vegetables, place them in boiling water for about a minute and then place them in a bowl of ice-cold water.
This helps to preserve their texture and flavor when they are frozen. After blanching the vegetables, you can place them in a freezer bag, making sure to squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Properly frozen vegetables should remain fresh for up to 3 months.
Heating Pad Thai here can be quick and simple.
Heat oil, add the pad Thai and some liquid, like sauce or water.
Cook for 1-2 minutes, until sizzling hot, and serve. It is best not to use Olive Oil as it has flavor. Peanut oil is a better oil to use.
Reheat Pad Thai In Microwave
- In a microwave-safe bowl, place one serving of pad Thai.
- The pad Thai has to have a tablespoon of water added.
- Leave room for steam to escape from the bowl at the top. Alternatively, use plastic wrap that has a few holes in it.
- Heat the pad, Thai, for 30 seconds at 50% before removing it and stirring.
- When the freshly fried pad Thai is sizzling, heat it for 30 seconds.
- The water keeps the noodles from getting too dry.
Because the microwave is a strong heating device, pad Thai can quickly spoil. If you overheat it, you can end up with mushy noodles, and the sauce will split.
Reheat Pad Thai In Oven
- The oven should be set to 350°F/180°C.
- On a baking sheet, spread the pad Thai, then add a tablespoon of water to each serving.
- Cover in foil.
- Heat in the oven for 5-7 minutes, depending on how much pad Thai you have. Check the pad Thai after the first five minutes to see whether it requires more time.
- The pad Thai cannot completely dry because of the water. It might also be substituted for extra sauce or oil.
How To Store Pad Thai
To store leftover Pad Thai, let it cool to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container and storing it in the fridge. In the fridge, the Pad Thai will keep for 3–4 days. (Read Can You Freeze Liver)
You can store any leftover sauce in the fridge or freezer.
Before freezing Pad Thai, the Pad Thai must be at room temperature.
If it isn’t, condensation will form when you freeze chicken pad, Thai, making the noodles mushy when reheating pad Thai.
In the fridge, the noodles will cling together. This cannot be avoided.
Fortunately, organizing your sticky noodles is not too difficult. To loosen the noodles before reheating pad Thai using your preferred method, microwave the dish for 4-5 seconds.
You can find vegetables mushy, red bell pepper a good example, and you’ll end up with a sloppy mess.
Pad Thai Noodle Recipe
- 4 – boneless chicken breasts
- 1 – Tbsp canola oil
- 1/4 – cup brown sugar
- 1/4 – cup soy sauce
- 2 – Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 – Tbsp lime juice
- 1 – Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 – red pepper
- 1 – cup carrots (matchsticks)
- 10 – oz. rice noodle pack
- 2 – eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
As recommended, cook the rice noodles in boiling water.
Chicken breasts should be cut into bite-sized pieces.
The red bell pepper is seeded and sliced.
Cook the chicken pieces in a large skillet with the canola oil for 5 to 7 minutes or until fully cooked.
Take out of the skillet, then place on a platter.
Matchstick carrots and thinly sliced red bell peppers should be combined in the same skillet and sauteed for 3 to 4 minutes. Put the eggs in first, add the vegetables and scramble them together.
Mix in the chicken, sauce, cooked rice noodles, vegetables, and eggs. Well, toss.
Serve immediately with a salad and the piping hot chicken Pad Thai.
Freezing & Thawing
- Place the bag in the deep freezer.
- Thaw in a warm bowl of water or in the fridge overnight.
- Chicken bag contents are heated in a large skillet with canola oil.
- Sauté the vegetables and eggs.
- Add to cooked noodles and enjoy.
