Leftover foods may have been a respite in the course of sudden hunger pangs during odd hours of the day. All you need to do is to reheat and savour them without having to waste any extra minute in cooking. But wait, have you ever wondered if the foods that you are reheating are safe to eat anymore? Well, some every day foods that we consume may not be as safe after being reheated as they tend to lose their nutritional value. Yes, you heard us. According to Nutritionist Lokendra Tomar from Weight Loss Clinic, Delhi, “Here’s a golden rule of reheating food – never ever reheat high-protein foods.”
Read on as we list down foods suggested by Lokendra Tomar that you must stop reheating right now.
Vegetables with High Amounts of Nitrates
If you have spinach or any green leafy vegetables, carrot, turnip or even celery, avoid reheating them in the microwave. These nitrate rich vegetables when heated again can turn toxic, releasing carcinogenic properties, which are generally cancerous in nature. Spinach contains high amount of iron, hence heating and reheating spinach may oxidize the iron present in spinach. Oxidation of iron generates dangerous free radicals which are known to cause many diseases including infertility and cancer.
Rice
You may be surprised, but rice comes under this category too. According to Foods Standards Agency (FSA), you could suffer from food poisoning by eating reheated rice. This is due to the presence of highly resistant bacteria called Bacillus Cereus. Heat kills these bacteria, but it can produce spores that are toxic in nature. Once rice is reheated and is left out at room temperature, any spores it contains can multiply, further causing food poisoning on consumption.
Egg
We all know, eggs are a rich source of protein, however, cooked egg or boiled egg can cause serious harm when exposed to heat again and again. Once you have cooked eggs, eat them immediately but if it is kept for a longer period, don’t reheat, rather just eat cold because high protein food contains lot of nitrogen. This nitrogen may get oxidised due to reheating, further causing cancer.\
Chicken
You would know, piping hot chicken does taste so delectable, however, if you are saving the curry for the next day, do remember to not heat it again and again. The protein composition in this staple completely changes when it is taken out of the refrigerator to heat. This can cause problems in the digestive system. Make sure you are not heating it on high temperature.
Potatoe
Potatoes being a staple are the best and easiest to store, reheat and consume. Unfortunately, you would need to think again. Potatoes are a rich source of vitamin B6, potassium and vitamin C, however, if they are reheated again and again, chances are they might produce Clostridium Botulinum (bacteria causing Botulism). Even if you leave the cooked potatoes out in room temperature, the production of bacteria will only increase. So if you want to avoid the growth of bacteria, best is to keep them refrigerated or throw them away if not being consumed within 1-2 days.
Mushrooms
It is recommended to eat mushrooms as soon they are prepared. Ideally, they shouldn’t be stored to consume next day as it is a powerhouse of proteins and have generous amounts of minerals and by reheating them, you are breaking these proteins further, causing havoc in your digestive system. Hence heating them will generate toxins which contains oxidized nitrogen and free radicals. Even if you are keen on storing mushrooms for the next day, make sure you eat them cold.\
Cold Pressed Oil
One of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acid is cold pressed oil like flaxseed oil, olive oil and canola oil. Omega-3 fat is very sensitive to temperature as it breaks and becomes rancid above 40 degree centigrade. Therefore, never heat cold pressed oil before consumption
Breast milk and baby food
Though breast milk and baby food can be warmed up for your child, it shouldn’t be reheated in the microwave.
Registered dietitian nutritionist Susie Garcia told Bustle that microwaves can heat food unevenly, resulting in hot patches that can burn a baby’s sensitive mouth and throat. If you need to reheat breast milk or baby food, do so in a hot water bath on the stove.
Seafood
Seafood is always best enjoyed fresh, but is it safe to reheat? The answer depends on how the seafood was stored.
According to the FDA, fresh seafood that was caught and immediately frozen should be safe to reheat. However, fresh or cooked seafood that has spent any time at room temperature might be harboring bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. Reheating may not kill these bacteria, and it can be hard to know how seafood was previously stored if you are buying it fresh.
The FDA also recommended that seafood should be discarded if left out of the refrigerator for more than two hours in cool weather or one hour in warm weather. Bacteria can grow rapidly on seafood at any temperature between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Processed meats
Processed meats often contain chemicals and preservatives that extend their shelf lives. Unfortunately, microwaving them can make those substances worse for your health. In microwaving processed meats, we might unknowingly be exposed to chemical changes such as oxidized cholesterol in the process, according to research in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. A study in the journal Food Control suggests that reheating processed meats with a burst of microwave radiation contributes to the formation of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs), which have been linked to the development of coronary heart disease. Compared to other meal-prep methods, microwaving processed meats is far more likely to introduce COPs into your diet.
