How to reheat overnight food to avoid the risk of toxic buildup.
Sometimes, leftover food seems like a waste and you want to save it to eat the next day. But if you don’t know which menus should be refrigerated and which menus shouldn’t be reheated, you may accidentally accumulate germs or toxins. Let’s see which menus you need to be careful of.
cooked rice
- Should be refrigerated immediately after cooling.
- Do not reheat it multiple times.
Reason: If left outside the refrigerator for more than 4 hours, rice may accumulate heat-resistant Bacillus cereus bacteria. Even when reheated, there will still be toxic residues, risking diarrhea or vomiting.
Advice: Refrigerate immediately when rice is cold, and reheat only once with high heat throughout.
Boiled eggs and omelets
- Should be refrigerated immediately.
- Can be reheated only once.
Reason: Reheating the protein in eggs can deteriorate, become indigestible, and if not stored properly, bacteria can grow.
Recommendation: Should be consumed immediately or reheated once within 24 hours after refrigeration.
Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, morning glory, etc.)
- It should be eaten all at once. It should not be overnight food. It is not recommended to refrigerate or reheat.
- Reason: Green leafy vegetables contain nitrates, which when reheated turn into nitrites, which can damage red blood cells and may cause cancer in the long run.
Tip: It’s best to cook them fresh every time, especially if you have children or elderly people in the house.
All kinds of mushrooms
- Should be refrigerated within 1 hour after cooking.
- Can be reheated only once.
Reason: Mushrooms contain protein that changes its structure easily. Reheating will cause residue and make it difficult to digest.
Recommendation: Reheat as soup or stir-fry until thoroughly hot. Avoid storing for more than 1 day.
Potatoes (boiled/baked/mashed)
- It is recommended to eat it all and not keep it overnight.
- Never leave potatoes outside the refrigerator.
Reason: If potatoes are not stored properly, they may harbor Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can cause neurotoxicity.
Tip: If they must be stored, refrigerate them immediately and reheat them thoroughly. Avoid reheating them multiple times.
Seafood (shrimp, squid, crab, shellfish, etc.)
- Should be refrigerated immediately.
- Reheat only once.
Reason: The proteins in seafood are easily denatured. Reheating can release histamine, which can cause allergic reactions or gastrointestinal irritation.
Tip: This overnight food should be kept in a covered container and reheated until very hot, especially in the middle of the สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน food.
Coconut milk curry (e.g. green curry, red curry, etc.)
- Should be refrigerated immediately when cold.
- Can be reheated once and should not be stored for more than 1 day.
Reason: Coconut milk deteriorates quickly and is a source of bacteria, especially at room temperature.
Recommendations: Reheat until the entire pot is boiling before eating and should not be soaked multiple times.
Fried/Stir-fried meat with sauce (fried pork, stir-fried chicken, teriyaki chicken, etc.)
- Should be refrigerated immediately.
- Reheat only once.
Reason: Oil used for frying or sauces that are sweet and salty can easily harbor germs. Frequent reheating causes toxins from the deteriorating fat.
Tip: Cut meat into small pieces and reheat thoroughly. Avoid storing for more than 24 hours.
There is nothing wrong with eating overnight food , but you need to know how to refrigerate it properly and avoid reheating risky menus such as green vegetables, mushrooms, potatoes or coconut milk curries to prevent the unknowing accumulation of toxins in the body. Now that you know this, check your refrigerator to see what should be discarded and what can still be stored safely.