This scary pot of soup has been cooking for 45 years (2024)

The food safety-minded among us should throw away leftovers after just three to four days.

But Wattana Panich in Bangkok cooks by a different set of rules.

“For 45 years, the broth of our soup has never been thrown away after a day’s cooking,” says Nattapong Kaweenuntawong, who tends his beef noodle soup, called neua tune, with his mother and wife, the siteGreat Big Story reports.

“The broth has been preserved and cooked for 45 years,” he says.

Kaweenuntawong adds that the 45-year-old brothhas “a unique flavor and aroma” thanks to his unconventional cooking method. “We have kept the broth overnight, and then used it to cook the next day’s soup,” he says.

Their specialty includes stewed beef, raw sliced beef, meatballs, tripe or other internal organs and rice noodles.

But it’s the beefy broth base that’s “most important,” says Kaweenuntawong.

The concept of a never-ending soup is certainly not novel. “Perpetual stew,” also called “hunter’s pot,” refers to the practice of keeping a pot of soup slowly simmering at all times, wherein ingredients, such as meats, vegetables and liquids are replenished — but never tossed — as the pot gets low.

But is it safe? Historically, sure. Generally the pots are almost fully depleted by the end of a cycle, so only some broth base will be left to start another batch. This leftover soup then helps flavor the next pot.

A New York Timesarticle from 1981 talks about a French beef stew which had then lasted 21 years: Writer Arthur Prager recommended refrigerating the soup overnight if unfinished, then skimming the fat off the top — where bacteria tends to build up — and simmering again for at least 20 minutes before serving again. While leftover veggies and meat are discarded after two rounds of reheating, the broth, they say, “will never spoil.”

In the article, Prager also refers to a “pot-au-feu” in Normandy which had reportedly been burning for 300 years, and another one in Perpignan that began in the 1400s but didn’t survive World War II.

Indeed, Wattana Panich may not even be the oldest soup on Earth, but Kaweenuntawong hopes they’ll come close.

“I am the third generation, and we have three children,” he says. “I hope there will be the fourth generation to run the business.”

This scary pot of soup has been cooking for 45 years (2024)

FAQs

Which pot of soup has been cooking for 45 years? ›

Notable examples include beef and goat noodle soup served by Wattana Panich in Bangkok, Thailand, which has been cooking for over 49 years as of 2024, and oden broth from Otaf*cku in Asakusa, Japan, which has served the same broth daily since 1945.

Which restaurant in Bangkok serves the same soup for 45 years? ›

The giant pot of neua tune, a beef stew popular in the Thai capital, has been simmering since owner Nattapong Kaweenuntawong was a child, more than 45 years ago. Growing up studying the exact flavor profile of the stew from his father, Kaweenuntawong now balances the flavor himself daily.

Is the 50 year old soup safe? ›

the soup, it's completely safe to eat. And over the 45 years, the broth has gotten better and better. I guess. I'll let you know how my stomach's doing in a few days.

What soup has been boiled for years in Thailand? ›

"Neua Tune": The soup that has been simmering in Bangkok for almost 50 years. The hearty beef broth has been kept simmering by three generations of one family for nearly half a century. The "Wattana Panich" has even received a visit from the Michelin Guide.

Is the 45 year old soup real? ›

Wattana Panich's broth has now been simmering for nearly half a century. People are flooding to social media over a restaurant which serves '50 year old soup'. A restaurant in the Ekkamai neighborhood of Bangkok, Thailand has become known for simmering the same broth in the same pot for over 45 years.

Is perpetual stew real? ›

The pot is never or rarely emptied all the way, and ingredients and liquid are replenished as necessary. Such foods can continue cooking for decades or longer, if properly maintained." Fans of medieval history will know that perpetual stews are a mainstay in descriptions of inns.

What is the 40 year old stew in Bangkok? ›

The 40 YEAR OLD beef soup that NEVER stops simmering!! 😱 They continue boiling the leftover soup and use it for the next days batch! The name of the restaurant is, “Wattana Panich”and is in Bangkok, Thailand 🇹🇭 Delicious food and the owners were SO kind!

Where is the oldest soup? ›

In Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), there is an award-winning restaurant called Wattana Panich, where you can order and then eat a beef and goat soup that is 49 years old.

What is the name of the famous Thai soup? ›

Tom Yum soup is the most popular Thai soup. In Thai, “tom” translates into “boiled” and “yum” refers to the traditional sour, salty and spicy flavor found in lots of Thai dishes.

Is 3 day old soup OK to eat? ›

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), soups and stews containing meat and vegetables will be safe to eat for three to four days if refrigerated. The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recommends setting your fridge temperature at 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) or below.

Is 7 day old soup safe to eat? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Can I drink 2 day old soup? ›

For best safety and quality, plan to eat refrigerated soup within 3 to 4 days or freeze it. And avoid letting soup set at room temperature for more than TWO hours. Don't put a large pot of hot soup directly into your refrigerator.

What soup has been cooked for 45 years? ›

And On! Thai Beef Noodle Brew Has Been Simmering For 45 Years. Nattapong Kaweeantawong, a third-generation owner of Wattana Panich, stirs the soup while his mother (left) helps serve and his wife (center) does other jobs at the restaurant. Nattapong or another family member must constantly stir the thick brew.

What is the old name for soup? ›

After a linguistic long jump across the English Channel in the 17th century (and a concurrent vogue for breadless broths), the word came to us, and we started making "soups" instead of "pottages" or "broths." "Sop," just the piece of bread, had been hanging out in English since the at least the 11th century, but it ...

What was the first soup? ›

Archaeologists speculate the first soup might have been made by Neanderthals, boiling animal bones to extract fat essential for their diet and drinking the broth.

What is the 50 year old bowl of soup? ›

Wattana Panich is best known for its beef and goat soup that was first cooked half a century ago. The owner of the restaurant said they store the soup every night and add water to it in the morning.

What soup takes the longest to cook? ›

Thai Beef Noodle Brew Has Been Simmering For 45 Years. Nattapong Kaweeantawong, a third-generation owner of Wattana Panich, stirs the soup while his mother (left) helps serve and his wife (center) does other jobs at the restaurant. Nattapong or another family member must constantly stir the thick brew.

What is the longest perpetual soup? ›

In Japan, the restaurant Otaf*cku in the Asakusa district of Tokyo serves a stew called oden, which has been replenished constantly since 1945. The only reason it doesn't date back until 1916, when the restaurant opened, is said to be because that soup was lost in a World War II air raid.

How does perpetual stew not go bad? ›

The bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses typically can't survive a constant simmer, so you'll want to make sure you're heating perpetual stew at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

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