What on Earth Can I Do With These Chinese Leftovers?

Let’s turn that fridge clutter into something delicious.

If you only remember one thing, let it be this: Day-old rice is a gift. Ratchanee Sawasdijira/Shutterstock

We’ve all faced that moment of truth: You open the refrigerator door and there sit the Chinese leftovers from last night’s dinner, looking a little wilted and more than a little judgmental. You didn’t throw them away—good for you. But what do you do with them now?

Before you resign yourself to eating cold lo mein over the sink, let’s rethink this. Those containers aren’t leftovers. They’re ingredients. And with a few simple tricks, you can turn them into fresh meals that taste like you planned them. Not like they’re Plan B.