Can You Freeze Pho?

Last updated on July 22nd, 2022 at 03:24 am

Pho is a type of Vietnamese soup made from beef stock and spices. Noodles and thinly sliced beef is added to the soup to complete the dish. Though a food from Vietnam, it is said that the dish may have French origins as well. 

France colonized Vitamin in the late 19th century and had a huge impact on their cuisine. A french dish named pot-au-feu (feu is the french word for “fire” and similar to the word “pho”) is a rustic beef stew which is very similar to pho. 

Now, pho may have come from Cantonese since there was already a soup in Vietnam made with hints of water buffalo meat that was served with rice noodles. So, while we aren’t sure where the name for pho came from, both Chinese and French culture may have influenced the dish’s origins. 

You can make this beef soup at home or order it at many Vietnamese restaurants. If you have leftovers and want to save them, you may wonder what the best way to store them long-term is. 

Can you freeze pho?

You can freeze pho to enjoy for a meal later on. But, you must freeze the Vietnamese beef soup properly. You cannot freeze all of these ingredients together. Freeze the beef, noodles, and garnishes all separately and then combine them after they are thawed.

Before the French colonized Vietnam, beef wasn’t usually eaten in the country of Vietnam. The French arrived with a love to eat beef and often used the leftover bones to flavor dishes. Rice noodles, onions, ginger, star anise, and cardamom were added to the bone broth for a yummy and filling meal. 

There is a difference between Northern and Southern Vietnam pho as well. Once the south split from the North, southern pho was seen with a lot more garnishes such as Thai basil, cilantro, lime, bean sprouts, chili peppers, fish sauce, and hoisin. They also introduced chicken to be added to the dish along with duck, grilled liver, and red wine. 

Pho is popular all around the world. The Mcdonalds in Vietnam even added a pho burger in 2020.

There are several interesting facts centered around pho during the Vietnam War. We know it was a popular dish for soldiers to eat and that at one restaurant in particular, the beef and noodles dish was eaten by U.S. soldiers while the floor above the restaurant was a secret meeting place for Viet Cong. 

During the war, beef was hard to find and so pho was often served vegetarian style with MSG-seasoned broth. When refugees fled Vietnam after the war, they needed to make a living and what better way to do that than to make and sell pho. 

Eventually, pho became popular and today pho is well- known throughout America and the world. 

Pho is made in many households and served in many restaurants in the U.S. If you like pho, and have leftovers, you probably want to save them to enjoy later. 

Since pho only lasts for a couple days when refrigerated, you can freeze pho. But, you must be sure to freeze it properly. If you freeze everything together, the noodles will not taste good and will be soggy whenever you thaw them. It is okay to freeze pho but freezing its components separately will help it to taste good later on when you want to eat it. 

Pho is a type of Vietnamese soup made from beef stock and spices. Noodles and thinly sliced beef is added to the soup to complete the dish.

How Do You Store Leftover Pho?

Are you wanting to save your leftover pho to eat for a meal later on in the week? Maybe you want to save it for longer than just a  couple days. 

Well, there is a certain way you should store this Vietnamese beef soup. So, how do you store leftover pho?

When storing leftover poho, put the noodles, meat, and garnishes in separate airtight containers or freezer bags. In the fridge the pho will only last for about 2 days and should be eaten as soon as possible. In the freezer, it will last for up to 6 months.

The common Vietnamese soup is popular in America with many making their own at home and pho restaurants around every corner. If you have leftover pho from cooking the dish at home or ordering it from a restaurant, chances are you want to save it to enjoy later. 

Pho contains perishable ingredients and should be stored either in the fridge or in the freezer. In the fridge, it will only last for a couple of days. So, if you want to save pho for longer, try freezing it. 

Now, pho cannot be frozen all together since the noodles will become thawed but you can freeze everything separately. This will keep pho good for up to 6 months. 

Then later when you want a bowl of the delicious soup, you can thaw and combine all the ingredients and enjoy. 

Pho should be stored in the fridge or the freezer and all of its components (noodles, meat, and garnishes) should be stored in separate airtight containers or freezer bags. 

Pho only lasts for about 2 days in the fridge. If you want it to last longer than this, pho can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. Freezing helps to preserve foods. If you want to save food for weeks all the way up to months or sometimes even years, freeze it! 

Freezing slows down oxidation which causes food to go bad. So, when you store food in the freezer, you can help it to last longer and eat it later. Over time, it will lose quality so the sooner you eat it, the better it is going to taste. 

Whichever way you choose to store pho, be sure to freeze it properly for best results.

Final Thoughts

Pho is a delicious Vietnamese food that is now popular all over the world. If you have some leftovers from either making the dish at home or ordering it at a restaurant, you will want to save it for later. Since it contains perishable ingredients, pho should be stored in the fridge or the freezer. 

Pho can be stored in the fridge but only for a couple of days so to store pho long-term you can freeze pho. 

For best results, freeze all of the components of the beef soup separately so that when it is thawed, it will still taste good. You can freeze the dish and when stored correctly, it will last for up to 6 months. 

So, you can enjoy your leftover pho weeks or months later for a delicious meal.