Can You Reheat Noodle Soup?

Yes, you can reheat noodle soup, but how good it tastes depends on whether the noodles have been stored in the broth or separately. Noodles left sitting in liquid overnight absorb water continuously, becoming bloated, soft, and gummy. The broth itself reheats very well. If you can separate them when you store leftovers, the reheated result is much closer to fresh.

Can You Reheat Noodle Soup?

Yes. Noodle soup keeps in the fridge for three to four days. If it contains chicken, beef, or seafood, those components follow their own food safety timelines and the whole dish should be treated as the most perishable ingredient. Reheat to 75°C (165°F) throughout, stirring to ensure even heat distribution. Do not reheat more than once.

The Noodle Problem

Noodles are essentially cooked starch. When they sit in hot or warm liquid, they continue to absorb water and swell. When they sit in cold liquid in the fridge, the process slows but doesn’t stop. By the next morning, noodles that were al dente the night before may be twice their original diameter and almost mushy. There is no method of reheating that reverses this. If the noodles are already bloated, your best option is to accept a softer texture and focus on the broth being excellent.

Storing for Better Reheating

If you know you’ll have leftover noodle soup, separate the components before storing:

• Strain out the noodles and store them separately in a sealed container with a small amount of oil tossed through to prevent sticking
• Store the broth with its protein and vegetables separately
• Reheat the broth, then add the noodles in the last two minutes of heating

Reheating Noodle Soup on the Stovetop

The best method for a result close to fresh.

1. Pour the broth (and any protein and vegetables) into a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. If the noodles were stored separately: add them in the last two minutes and heat just until warmed through.
3. If the noodles were stored together in the broth: add everything at once and heat over medium-low, stirring gently. The softer noodles will break apart if stirred too vigorously.
4. Taste the broth and adjust seasoning. Salt fades during refrigeration and often needs topping up.

Reheating Noodle Soup in the Microwave

Fast and acceptable. Works better for ramen and lighter broths than for thick soups where uneven heating is more of an issue.

1. Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl. If the noodles were stored in the broth, stir gently to distribute them.
2. Cover loosely.
3. Microwave on full power for two minutes.
4. Stir carefully and check the temperature. Add one-minute bursts until hot throughout.

Which Method Should You Use?

Q: I made some noodle soup the other night, and it has been sitting in my fridge for a day or so because I have no idea how to reheat it. What is the best method?

A: There are a few methods to reheat soup, and so it comes down to a preference, you can do it quick, or slow.

The Stove Method

By far, this is the preferred method for most soups, as it allows for even heating.

To reheat your soup, place leftovers in a pot and place it on the stove over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. This method should take between 10-15 minutes, depending on the density of the soup.

If you have homemade noodles, do not let the soup come to a boil, as these noodles are very soft and may not be able to handle a rolling boil.

From Frozen

If your soup is frozen, you will want to add it to the pot all the same, be sure there is enough room for the soup once it become liquid! Add a splash of water to help steam it, and cover the pot. Put it on medium-low heat, and allow to thaw for about five minutes.

Once partially thawed, uncover and stir. You can resume heating as normal.

The Microwave Method

This is the most common method for reheating soups because let’s face it, we don’t always have a stove handy.

Place soup in a microwave safe bowl, cover to prevent splashing, and microwave for one minute. Stir and continue heating in 30-second increments, stirring each time. This will ensure your soup is heated all the way through, without becoming a molten hot bowl of soup!

From Frozen

Warming your soup from frozen is more time-consuming. However, it is possible!

Place soup in a microwave-safe container, place in microwave for 20 minutes on power level 5. Stir after ten minutes.

Heating times may vary depending on the density and amount of your soup.

Noodle soups are great year round, and being able to reheat them properly adds a greater variety to your diet, and save you space in your fridge!