# Viability of leftover Thai food. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 23, 2011, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-leftover-thai-food/607166 "2011-12-23T05:35:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-leftover-thai-food/607166/1 "2011-12-23T05:35:30Z")
We had some most delicious Thai food this evening. With plenty of leftovers contained in the styrofoam containers. Can I safely bring these to Christmas supper Sunday? How so? Should I freeze them right now in different containers? All are veggies, rice and noodles with a touch of “crab” meat. Or can I just keep them in the fridge until then? Or should I just eat them or discard them between now and then? ---
**Author:** ![Villanova\_Junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/4da419/32.png) [@Villanova\_Junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Villanova_Junction)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-leftover-thai-food/607166/2 "2011-12-23T05:45:37Z")
From Thu to Sun night it’s too long of a time span. Consume any seafood within 6 hours of cooking or if you refrigerated it early, consume it within 18 hours of cooking. The rest can be refrigerated and consumed within 24 hours or even 48 hours if refrigerated early after cooking, but the taste will be severely altered. Eat them or discard them. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-leftover-thai-food/607166/3 "2011-12-23T06:04:40Z")
I’ve never saved Thai food that long, but it sounds a bit dodgy to me to do so. I’d not chance it. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-leftover-thai-food/607166/4 "2011-12-23T06:13:23Z")
What if I freeze it right now? There’s no way I can eat it all tomorrow and I hate to waste it. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-leftover-thai-food/607166/5 "2011-12-23T06:42:36Z")
If you’re sure the “crab” really is just the soy-based stuff, it’s fine. Especially if you just freeze it tonight. I order vegetarian/vegan thai food at work and regularly order enough for a couple days. Often, I’ll get some Tuesday and finish it Friday, while kept in the work fridge. Never had a problem, the food is well-cooked, and refrigerated. I often mix the rice in with the dish that’s supposed to be served with it, keeps the veggies crisper somehow. If the crab is real, or there is any meat in it, I think I’d not go farther than 48 hours, but, again, if you’re freezing it tonight, I don’t know what could go wrong about it. (Full disclosure: I’m also someone who leaves big pots of vegetarian stews/chilis/soups out on the stove to cool overnight) OMG! I’m gonna die someday!! ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-leftover-thai-food/607166/6 "2011-12-23T07:12:18Z")
Freezing it now. Bringing it to xmas supper. Health concerns be damned…unless you don’t think I should risk it. : ) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-leftover-thai-food/607166/7 "2011-12-24T04:14:27Z")
Good luck! I hope it works out. The “crab” really is often fake, so hopefully that will keep better. The Thai food I’ve warmed up the next day never seems to be as good as fresh. It’s definitely at the top of its form fresh.