Leftovers can be a lifesaver when it comes to a quick office lunch or an effortless dinner. Unfortunately, reheating some dishes can pose a risk of poisoning or worse. In this article you will learn what you should not warm up so as not to expose your health to risks that you do not even suspect!
The microwave is undoubtedly our best friend when we don't have the time or energy to prepare a fresh meal. However, you will be amazed to know that when reheated, some foods not only lose their nutritional value but can even become toxic and dangerous. Here's what foods you shouldn't reheat!
What you shouldn't reheat and why
Food is full of bacteria that can cause food poisoning when reheated and can also lead to foodborne illness. Rice and pasta, for example, contains spores of a bacterium that survive even after the rice is cooked. At room temperature, these spores grow into bacteria and become toxic when reheated, which can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
The situation is similar with green leafy vegetables such as spinach and celery, which are rich in iron and nitrates. When heated, these nitrates can convert into nitrites and your food can develop carcinogenic elements. But is that correct or is this a myth? Read on and you will find out! What not to reheat -Here's the full list!
Reheating rice & pasta can lead to bacterial poisoning
If you haven't considered that last night's portions of rice and spaghetti could be giving you serious stomach problems, we're here to explain why.
Uncooked rice and pasta may contain spores of the bacterium Bacillus cereus, which is common and widespread. What's notable is that B. cereus survive even after the food has been cooked. And if it is not consumed immediately hot or cooled quickly and placed in the refrigerator within two hours, then the spores of B. cereus can multiply rapidly and produce a significant amount of toxin that is released upon reheating.
It is also important to know that B. cereus is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. Symptoms include abdominal pain, cramps, fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea that begin six to twelve hours after eating. However, most people who become infected with B. cereus recover within 24 hours. The biggest health threat is dehydration. Drinking plenty of fluids as the infection progresses is often the only treatment necessary, although some severe cases may require taking antibiotics.
How to bring rice and pasta to the table correctly
Both pasta and rice should be cooked according to package instructions and served immediately while they are still hot. If this is not possible or if they are cooked in advance, they should be cooled quickly after cooking and placed in the refrigerator within a maximum of two hours. Place food in shallow containers in thin layers to help it cool faster. The bottom shelf is usually the coldest area of the refrigerator. Make sure the containers are well covered and sealed.
- Notice: Remember that the number of bacteria in the danger zone of 4 to 60°C can double every 20 minutes, so time is definitely of the essence.
When reheating rice and noodles, you should heat them to 75°C and consume them immediately. Don't reheat entire meals more than once or store them for more than a few days, even if they're well chilled. If you notice that cooked rice has an unpleasant odor or has dry, crispy grains when reheated, you should not eat it. Throw it away.
To warm up spinach or not – which is right
Spinach is one of those green leafy vegetables that we hated as children, but somewhere in adulthood we realize that it is surprisingly delicious. A few years ago, an interesting myth began to spread about the safety of spinach—more specifically, overcooked spinach.
It read as follows: Like many other green leafy vegetables, spinach is rich in nitrates and iron. When heated, the nitrates begin to decompose and turn into nitrites, which in turn can become nitrosamines. Nitrites can interfere with oxygen absorption, and nitrosamines are a known carcinogen.
This naturally led to the question: Can you reheat spinach or not? Initially, the European Food Information Council took the position that it should not be reheated. But then a study came out that backed up with scientific arguments that reheating spinach is indeed safe for your health. However, it's best if you do it slowly and over low heat. That said, no matter what device you use to reheat spinach, make sure it is heated slowly and not at high power in the microwave or oven.
- Notice: Even though it's safe, keep in mind that the nutritional content of most foods deteriorates with cooking and decreases even further with additional reheating. However, wasting food – whether through throwing it away or through overconsumption – is not good for everyone either.
Be careful when storing potatoes
What not to reheat – this is what happens with potatoes (similar to rice and pasta). The problem with reheating potatoes isn't the reheating itself, but the way you store them after they've been cooked.
Storing potatoes at room temperature for more than two hours can develop Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism, especially if the potatoes are in an airtight container or wrapped in foil.
Botulism is a serious form of food poisoning. Although it occurs rarely, its mortality rate is high among those affected. Signs of botulism include blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, weakness, difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath,
To avoid food poisoning, we recommend that you bake the potatoes on a baking sheet and cool them as quickly as possible after cooking so that you can immediately put them in the refrigerator and eat them within a maximum of two days.
We also advise you to clean the potatoes before cooking. Improperly cleaned potatoes often lead to food poisoning. Pay particular attention to the places where soil and bacteria can reside and multiply after the cooking process.
Moldy foods: Which ones are you safe to eat and which ones should you definitely not eat?You can find out here!
What not to warm up – mushrooms are not suitable for this
Although the microwave or oven is extremely convenient for reheating food, there are some foods that they are not well suited for, and one of them is mushrooms. What is the reason for this?
Food experts point out that mushrooms' complex enzymes and proteins will degrade if they are not cooled quickly after cooking. This makes them particularly susceptible to dangerous bacteria, whose growth can be encouraged by reheating.
Therefore, the same rule applies to mushrooms as to rice, pasta and potatoes - cooked mushrooms should not stand at room temperature for more than two hours before putting them in the refrigerator. Store them in an airtight container and use them within the next 24 hours.
- A notice:Do not heat the mushrooms above 70 degrees Celsius.
Causes of flatulence and tips for self-treatment - How can you quickly get the condition under control? Theyou can find out here!
Reheating chicken properly is not an elementary task
Technically, reheating chicken is fine. However, you should make sure that every part of the chicken has reached a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius to ensure that any dangerous bacteria it may contain are killed. The only way to do this is to use a cooking thermometer. You should also make sure to keep the cooked chicken below 5 degrees Celsius if you plan to reheat it.
- A notice:You should throw away chicken that has been in the refrigerator for more than three days!
Do you have to wash the meat? – Tips on how to properly handle raw food before cooking and heat treatmentcan be found here!
You should not leave eggs standing for longer than two hours
What not to warm up –You should never leave eggs or dishes containing eggs out of the refrigerator for more than two hours, or more than an hour in hot weather. Bacteria like salmonella can multiply quickly in them when you reheat them, causing serious food poisoning.
- A notice:However, if your plate of scrambled eggs has cooled by the time you spread the toast, it's okay to pop it in the microwave for a minute or two.
Did you know that figs can help against high blood pressure? What health benefits do these delicious fruits have?you can find out here!
