It's Tết again and I'm about to buy this traditional Vietnamese delicacy. However, since I'm currently trying out a Joylent-only diet, I'll only be able to eat it after a couple of days.
So my questions are:
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How long can I safely store Bánh chưng in the fridge?
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Can I preserve it somehow? I've heard that some people boil or freeze it.
Edit: I was able to find some information on Wikipedia, which says the following:
After unwrapping, bánh chưng can stay good for several days while a wrapped one can be kept for two weeks.
Unfortunately, the source is not available online, so I cannot verify its reliability and context. This also contradicts some posts on online forums, where people said it can last even several months! Given the composition and moistness of Bánh chưng, I seriously doubt it.
Edit 2: My second piece of bánh chưng is now safely waiting in the freezer. I'll edit the question again when I eat it with details about its composition and taste after unfreezing it.
Best Answer
It depends on how good the bánh chưng was wrapped (before cooking) and if the bánh chưng is put into the fridge right after cooking and if the bánh chưng is already cut open. i assume that you have a halfway eaten bánh chưng. I would treat this case like regular cooked rice. A post on cooking.SE says that cooked dishes last 3-4 days in the fridge. StillTasty says 4-6 days. I just asked my mother. She said it will be fine for one week in the fridge if cut. You may have a look at the comments on the question "How long can I store cooked rice in the refrigerator?"
Boiling would kill some pathogens. But since the toxins produced by the previously existing pathogens won't be destroyed, the bánh chưng would be still unsafe.
Freezing: I'm a student and hoard such stuff in my freezer :D Regarding food safety freezing is not problem. If you store the bánh for too long and/or don't wrap the pieces tightly enough the bánh will have freezer burn. I ate frozen bánh chưng which has been for more than a half year in the freezer. It tasted fine after steaming.
After defrosting you should either recook the bánh or steam it. I think you already knew this ;)
I think this statement sound quite plausible if the bánh chưng was wrapped very tightly and was wrapped in many layers statement and is stored in a fridge right after cooking. Bonus: The bánh was cooked in a pressure cooker. I guess, it's even sterile for some time o.o
I doubt it, too. Did they really said "fridge", not "freezer"? o.o
(Oh, or their bánh chưng drowned in lard. Lard lasts for a very long time x))