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You have probably seen young people online cooking once for the whole week: a few hours at the weekend, and on Monday the fridge is already full of meals. People from Hanoi are used to cooking each meal fresh, with a soup that has to be hot, so I was a little hesitant at first. But households today are small and people get home late, and cooking in batches makes sense when I think about it. What is worth discussing is how to keep the food tasty and safe to eat.
Can you cook once for all seven days?
The fridge keeps cooked food for only about 3 to 4 days. So cooking once and eating from the fridge until day seven goes past that limit. The split I find easiest to remember: portions for the first three days go in the fridge, and the rest is divided into containers and frozen the same day you cook, to be taken out midweek.
Which dishes suit cooking ahead
Braises, stews, bone soups and broths stand up to time, and some even taste deeper after a night. Stir-fried greens and anything fried that needs to stay crisp are better cooked when you eat, because ahead of time the greens darken and the coating goes soft.
Noodle soups such as phở and bún are best kept in separate parts. The tossed chicken phở at the restaurant comes with the broth in its own bowl, and the meat and herbs are separate too. It is the same idea: when each part stays in its own place, everything keeps its flavor until you eat.
Cooling and portioning
Do not let the food sit out to cool for more than 2 hours. Divide it into shallow covered containers, one or two portions each, so it cools quickly, then put it in the fridge. A big pot of soup can stand in a basin of ice water for a few minutes before you portion it.
Reheating
Heat until it is hot all the way through. If you have a food thermometer, check the middle of the dish: 74 degrees Celsius is the safe mark. Bring soups and broths to a full boil.
Cooking for one
A one-person household has even more reason to cook in batches, because making a small pot for a single meal costs time and gas. One small tip: portion into containers right away, one meal per container, and do not cook the same dish for all your meals. Cook two different dishes and split each in half, and you will not get tired of eating them.
For the days you would rather not cook, the restaurant has Phở Gà and Bún Thang on the menu.
Read the article on Hanoi tossed phở
Quick answers
- How many days can cooked food stay in the fridge?
- About 3 to 4 days. Portions you will not get to by then should be frozen the same day you cook.
- How long does frozen food keep?
- About 3 to 4 months while the food is still at its best. Beyond that, the quality drops gradually.
- How long can food cool on the table after cooking?
- No more than 2 hours. After that, put it in the fridge or freezer.
