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These 8 Foods Turn Toxic When Reheated

Never Reheat These 8 Foods that Turn Toxic when Heated Again

The idea of reheating leftovers seems like a simple way of eating your food without wasting too much. Yet, not all dishes can be reheated. So, reheating some foods improperly can make them lose their nutritional value and even become a harmful food.

Here are eight common foods that become toxic when reheated and you should be cautious about it:

  1. Rice

Rice is a staple in many households, but reheating cooked rice is a problematic choice. Bacillus cereus is a bacterium that is present in uncooked rice, and people will get sick from it. Spores of staphylococcus, the cause of food poisoning, can multiply if cooked rice is left at room temperature for too long and should never be reheated.

  1. Potatoes

Potatoes are also another common culprit. Cooked potatoes, meanwhile, can harbor dangerous bacteria, such as Clostridium botulinum, if left at room temperature for too long. These toxins don’t always cause permanent injury when re-heated and can cause serious illness.

  1. Eggs

The protein powerhouse that eggs are, though they can turn dangerous when re-heated. Repeated exposure to high heat will break down the proteins in eggs and release toxins that can upset your stomach.

  1. Chicken

When chicken is degraded when overheated. This change can also cause digestive problems and food-borne illness. If you must reheat chicken, make sure it’s heated through completely to kill any harmful bacteria.

  1. Mushrooms

You should eat mushrooms fresh or in good storage condition. The problem is that their protein structure changes quickly when reheated, and so they are prone to bacterial growth. It can make you sick right away or even cause poisoning.

  1. Spinach

Nitrates in spinach are healthy when they are in their natural form. But reheating spinach turns these nitrates into nitrites and nitrosamines, which are cancer risks. Instead, it’s safer to eat spinach fresh or cold.

  1. Celery

Celery is rich in nitrates, just like spinach. The nitrates that build up in celery can form when reheating soups or stews containing celery will. But removing celery before reheating your dishes is a way to prevent this.

  1. Beets

Beets are packed with nutrients, but they also contain nitrates. Reheating them can result in the same harmful chemical changes as with spinach and celery. Therefore, it is better to eat beets fresh or add them to cold dishes to preserve their benefits.

Tips to Safely Reheat Food

  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking.
  • Reheat food to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to kill harmful bacteria.
  • Avoid reheating food multiple times.

Knowing which foods to keep you from and which ones to eat back can help keep you safe while enjoying your meals. Rather than dine on these foods, it’s safest to eat them cold or consume them fresh.

 

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