Can you eat hibachi the next day? Yes, but there are some conditions! 

We may earn a commission on qualified purchases made through one of our links. Learn more

When it comes to storing food, there are shit-ton (pardon the language) variables that go into it. For example, what sort of food are you storing? 

How was it handled before cooking? How is it handled after cooking? How you’ll store it… there’s so much! The same stands true for hibachi as well. 

To answer the question in focus, yes! You can definitely eat hibachi the next day, but it will not taste as good as when it was freshly cooked. Not to forget, it must be refrigerated. 

Favorite Asian Recipes
Favorite Asian Recipes

Apart from storing, It also comes down to how to reheat it. Now a badly cooked hibachi will taste bad anyway. However, good food? You don’t want to mess that up. 

In this article, I’ll answer all your questions, and share with you the best ways to store different hibachi foods, along with some reheating methods that will make your food as good as fresh, or at least something close! 

Can you eat leftover hibachi the next day

Check out our new cookbook

Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.

Try it out for free with Kindle Unlimited:

Read for free

Best ways to store hibachi foods and how to reheat them! 

As you may know, hibachi is not a single food but a conglomerate of foods that follow the same cooking method. Now the problem is all these foods are different in their chemistry, taste, and overall composition. 

Thus, you will need to handle them individually when storing and reheating them to preserve their taste and texture. Plus, you don’t want to get food poisoning, obviously! 

That said, I’ll break this section into individual sections dedicated to the best storage and reheating methods for different hibachi foods. 

Let’s begin…

Storing hibachi fried rice

Regarding rice, things are a little tricky when it comes to storage. The first thing that comes up when you google about storing rice is that you are not supposed to keep it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. 

Like other foods, rice is also filled with bacteria. While most of it gets killed during cooking, one tiny monster called Bacillus Cereus survives. It basically thrives as the rice gets to room temperature. After two hours, its spores start multiplying at an enormous phase. 

Hence, as per scientific guidelines, the chances of fried rice causing food poisoning or at least an upset stomach increase substantially after that stage. 

But guess what? Like many foods, the 2-hour thing is a basic guideline to keep everyone safe as everyone has different tolerance and resistance to such bacteria. 

It doesn’t necessarily mean that the rice goes bad after that duration or that it’s extremely dangerous to eat it. Many people eat rice for as long as it smells good and tastes normal and their body won’t react badly. 

But hey, your body might have a different reaction to the rice. And it’s not worth experimenting anyway. Hence, it’s essential to follow proper guidelines to preserve the taste and texture of the rice, as well as keep yourself safe. 

If you have some extra hibachi rice lying around you plan to eat the next day or in the next couple of days, you would like to refrigerate/freeze and store it properly. 

Following are some guidelines that will help: 

How to store hibachi rice:

  • First of all, allow the rice to cool properly. Putting hot, steaming rice in the fridge can increase the fridge’s internal temps, putting the other foods at risk of bacterial growth. 
  • After the rice is cooled down properly, almost to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container. 
  • Put the container in the fridge. The rice will remain good to eat easily for the next 3-4 days. If you don’t plan to use it in the aforementioned period, you can alternatively freeze it. 
  • Freezing the rice follows the same overall steps, but instead of a utensil, you would like to use a freezer-safe plastic bag for storage. 
  • Don’t forget to write the date on the bag. If stored properly, it can last you up to a month. 

How to reheat hibachi rice: 

Reheating hibachi rice isn’t actually rocket science. It’s pretty much similar to any fried rice you have cooked before. Following are my top-3 ways to reheat fried rice: 

Microwaving: Yup, I know the microwave gets a bad rep for unevenly reheating food and tampering with its texture. But hey! There’s a remedy for everything. 

When reheating your fried rice, place a cup of water alongside the plate. The steam from the water will keep your rice fluffy and nice, with its original taste and texture intact. 

Oven heating: Have a group to feed? Well, microwaving isn’t an option. For that, you will need an oven. 

A great way to reheat your rice in an oven is to spread it evenly on an oven-safe dish, cover it with aluminum foil, and put it in the oven preheated to 300 degrees. 

Within 15-20 minutes, your rice should be as good as fresh…almost. 

Skillet heating: If you are a skilled home chef, this one would be my most recommended method among the three. 

Add a few spoonfuls of water to the rice, depending on the number of cups, and cover it. Let it sit for a few minutes at low heat. You will be amazed by the results. 

Storing hibachi-style steak, shrimp, and chicken

There’s a general conception that cooked steak and chicken can last up to 4-5 days in the refrigerator when stored properly. The duration narrows down to 2-3 days maximum when it comes to seafood. 

Well, let me tell you something when it comes to meat, smell, and sight are not the only things that matter. The protein could be home to every sort of bacterial growth without you even noticing it. 

While keeping the meat or seafood in an airtight container for a day, two ,or even three is completely okay, eating refrigerated steak stored for longer than that is more of a gamble. 

If you plan to eat the meat or seafood later than the duration mentioned above, it’s better to freeze it. Trust me, It doesn’t even take that much effort. 

Following is everything you need to know about refrigerating, freezing, and reheating your favorite hibachi steak: 

How to store hibachi steak, shrimp, and chicken

Refrigerating or freezing cooked steak is actually not that much of a tricky process. Just follow the below-given steps, and your steak should remain good: 

  • Let the steak, shrimp, and chicken cool down properly. 
  • Seal them separately in a ziploc bag. Make sure to squeeze out all the air before locking the bag. 
  • Put the meat/seafood in the fridge and use it within the next two days. 
  • Alternatively, you can use any other airtight container, but Ziploc bags generally work well when it comes to retaining the juices. 
  • If you don’t plan to use the meat/seafood within the next, you better freeze it. Just make sure to label the bag with a proper date so you can keep track of time if you intend to store it for longer. 
  • A frozen hibachi steak or seafood will remain good for up to two months. 

How to reheat hibachi steak, shrimp, and chicken

Compared to other hibachi foods, reheating protein is a little tricky. Most people just recook it instead of reheating it, which shouldn’t be the case. 

While there are many ways you can reheat a steak, chicken, or seafood, the following are some of my favorites and probably the best ways to reheat them: 

Oven reheating: Remove the steak/chicken/shrimp from the fridge and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat your oven to about 200F. 

Place a baking sheet in the oven with a wire rack on top. Place the meat or seafood on a wire rack, and let it bake for 10-15 minutes. 

To see whether it is heated, simply check the internal temps with a meat thermometer. If it registers at 110F, the food is ready to eat! 

Skillet reheating: If I had an oven, I wouldn’t follow this method. But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do when you don’t have many options. 

In this method, we will let the steak at room temperature for a few minutes, heat up a skillet, and put it in it. 

Afterward, we will reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and let the steak heat for a few minutes until its internal temp registers at 110F. 

Since hibachi slices are thin, checking them every 2 minutes is better. In the case of shrimps, I would just let them thaw, and heat them in the heated pan without any cover. 

Just remember to stir the shrimps continuously though. Shrimps are notorious for getting rubbery, if overcooked even a little. 

Air Fryer Method: If you’re in a hurry and have an air fryer in your kitchen, there’s simply no better option. 

The best thing is you don’t even have to rest the steak to attain room temperature. Just dump the meat in the air fryer basket, heat it for 2-3 minutes, and voila! 

Topping it with garlic butter might do the trick to tackle that little dryness. 

Storing hibachi vegetables

Hibachi vegetables are simply the easiest to store and will remain good for at least 4-5 days in the refrigerator. However, if you don’t want them to lose their true hibachi flavors, you should probably eat them the same or the next day. 

How to store hibachi vegetables: 

To store hibachi vegetables, dump them in an airtight container and put them in the fridge. If you plan to store them for the long term… don’t! 

Unlike meat and rice, vegetables taste great when eaten fresh. Plus, when frozen for a long time, they can get quite mushy and lose their taste- both very undesirable. 

So when you have any leftovers, separate the vegetables from the rest of the ingredients, put them into an airtight container, and store them in the refrigerator to eat later. 

How to reheat hibachi vegetables:

Reheating hibachi vegetables is as simple as storing them. Just take the veggies out of the fridge, and throw them in a wok brushed with some cooking oil or butter at high temperature. 

Stir the vegetables for 2-3 minutes or until you feel they are completely hot and ready to eat. Although there are no hard and fast rules about how long you want to heat the veggies, just make sure not to burn them. 

And, well, that’s it! 

Storing hibachi- refrigerating vs. freezing, which one’s better? 

When it comes to storing hibachi, there’s a big difference between refrigerated and frozen. Refrigerated hibachi is best for short-term storage, as it can stay fresh for up to a week. 

On the other hand, freezing hibachi is the way to go for long-term storage. It can last for months without losing its flavor or texture. 

For the average Joe, the choice is clear. If you’re looking for a quick bite, grab some refrigerated hibachi. But if you want to make sure you’re never without your favorite snack, freeze it! 

That way, you can enjoy your hibachi anytime without having to worry about it going bad. Either way, you cannot go wrong with hibachi; it’s more delicious than anything. 

FAQs

How long can hibachi last In the fridge?

If you’ve got leftovers from your hibachi feast, you’re in luck! You can keep them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. After that, it’s time to say goodbye to your delicious meal. 

The FDA Food Code recommends throwing out all opened or prepared perishable foods after 7 days maximum. However, for foods like hibachi, protein, and rice, for the most part, refrigeration for a long duration is simply not a very desirable option. 

If you’re not sure you’ll be able to eat them within the week, pop them in the freezer, and they’ll be good to go for a few months. Just remember, if you’re ever in doubt about a food’s safety, it’s best to chuck it out.

How long is chicken hibachi good for?

Chicken hibachi is a great meal prep option that can last up to 3-5 days in the fridge. If you want to store it for longer, you can pop it in a ziplock bag and freeze it for up to three months. 

To thaw, just leave it in the fridge overnight and then heat it up in a well-oiled pan over low-medium heat. Hibachi chicken is a nice option if you’re looking for a delicious meal that’ll last a few days. 

How long do hibachi leftovers last?

Hibachi leftovers don’t last forever! If you’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a delicious hibachi dinner, you’ll want to make sure you don’t let any of it go to waste. 

The FDA Food Code recommends that all perishable foods opened or prepared should be thrown out after 7 days, max. However, I would personally recommend eating it within 5 days. 

Otherwise, you can freeze them, and they’ll stay safe for a while. Hibachi is meant to be enjoyed when it’s fresh. I wouldn’t let it hang around for that long. ;)

Can you freeze hibachi leftovers?

Sure thing! You can freeze hibachi leftovers, which will stay fresh for up to 3 months. It’s best to freeze them quickly after they’ve cooled down to room temperature, to reduce the risk of bacteria growth. 

However, make sure to eat them as soon as you can. The more they are left to stay in the freezer, the more they lose their taste and aroma. 

Just eat it quickly, that’s all! 

Can you leave hibachi out overnight?

Like, without the fridge? No way! Leaving hibachi out overnight is a big no-no. If you don’t refrigerate it within two hours, bacteria like staphylococcus aureus can start to grow. 

And trust me, you don’t want that. It’s like playing a game of bacteria roulette. So don’t take the risk – refrigerate that hibachi ASAP!

How to heat up a hibachi In an airfryer?

If you’re a hibachi fan, you know it’s not always easy to get it hot again without it drying out. But don’t worry; air fryers are here to save the day! You can use your air fryer to heat up your hibachi quickly without sacrificing flavor or texture. 

To get started, you’ll need to use a heat-safe dish to put your hibachi in. Then, set your air fryer to the desired temperature and let it do its thing. If you still see some dryness there, top it with some garlic butter. 

How to heat up hibachi In the oven?

Although I’ve already laid out the process of heating individual hibachi ingredients in the oven to keep the flavors alive, you can also reheat a whole hibachi meal. 

However, go with this method only if you really cannot control your cravings and need to do things quickly! To get started, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

This low temperature will help to preserve the flavors and textures of your hibachi ingredients, especially the proteins. Next, cover the pan with foil to concentrate the heat and place it on the center rack. 

Set a timer for 10 minutes and then insert a food thermometer into the thickest and densest ingredient, like chicken or meat. Once the thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit, your hibachi is ready to eat! 

You can remove the foil for the last few minutes of cooking for an extra crispy texture. Enjoy your delicious hibachi!

How long is hibachi shrimp good for?

Hibachi shrimp is a delicious dish that can be enjoyed at home or at a restaurant. But how long can you keep it? Well, if you store it in the fridge, you can enjoy it for a maximum of 2 days with its real flavor preserved. 

To keep your shrimp fresh, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Just make sure to thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating.

When it comes to reheating, you can either microwave it or heat it up in a skillet. If using a skillet, heat it up on medium-high heat and stir it often. 

This will help to keep the shrimp from becoming rubbery. And there you have it! With the right storage and reheating techniques, you can enjoy your hibachi shrimp for days.

Can you eat hibachi noodles the next day?

Hibachi noodles are a delicious and creamy Asian-inspired noodle dish that can be enjoyed at home (here’s what you need to buy to make it) at half the cost of eating out. 

The secret to their deliciousness is the copious amounts of butter used to sauté the noodles, along with garlic soy sauce and sesame oil. 

But can you eat hibachi noodles the next day? The answer is yes, but it depends. The noodles will keep in the fridge for up to three days, but they may not taste as good as when they are freshly made. 

The noodles will also become drier and harder as they sit in the fridge, so if you plan on eating them the next day, you should add some extra butter to keep them moist. 

You can also add some vegetables like mushrooms or peppers when reheating them to give them a fresh flavor. If you want to give them a kick, add some red pepper flakes. 

I like to reheat hibachi noodles in a wok over medium heat. To help restore its original texture, I also add in some more butter and soy sauce. 

Conclusion

Eating hibachi the next day can be a delicious and convenient way to enjoy leftovers. Just make sure to store and reheat it properly, and it will taste good enough to make for an enjoyable meal. 

Oh, and don’t forget to use those chopsticks – it’s a MUST for any hibachi fan! If you’re feeling adventurous, don’t forget to try it with hibachi yellow sauce.

You can always recreate the restaurant staple condiment with my special yellow sauce recipe!  

So, don’t be afraid to give it a go – you won’t regret it!

Check out our new cookbook

Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.

Try it out for free with Kindle Unlimited:

Read for free

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.