Can you still eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) that have been frozen for five months?
Dec 09, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Huang Yuhong
Introduction
In general, whether frozen zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) stored for five months are safe to eat depends on their freezing condition. If they have been properly frozen and show no signs of spoilage, they can still be consumed; however, if any spoilage is evident, it is not recommended to eat them. For daily storage, it's advisable to vacuum-seal the zongzi before freezing to prevent odor transfer and contamination, and to consume them within three months whenever possible. Before eating, thoroughly reheat and cook the zongzi, and carefully check for any signs of spoilage to better ensure food safety.
Generally speaking, whether rice dumplings (zongzi) frozen for five months are still edible depends on their freezing condition. If they have been properly frozen and show no signs of spoilage, they can be consumed; however, if any spoilage is evident, it is not recommended to eat them. The detailed analysis is as follows:
If the zongzi were well sealed before freezing and the freezer temperature has remained consistently below -18°C, they typically will not spoil within five months. In such cases, consuming them will not cause discomfort, and they can still retain some flavor and nutritional value. Although the texture may slightly deteriorate after reheating, food safety remains unaffected.
However, if the zongzi were not sealed during freezing, they might become contaminated by other foods or develop bacteria due to repeated thawing, leading to unpleasant odors, a sticky surface, or spoiled fillings. Eating them under these conditions may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or other discomforts, so they should be discarded immediately.
For daily storage, it's advisable to vacuum-seal zongzi before freezing to prevent odor transfer and contamination, and to consume them within three months whenever possible. Before eating, thoroughly reheat and cook them, carefully checking for any signs of spoilage to better ensure food safety.
