Reheating leftovers is a way of life, especially for busy people, who don't have enough time to prepare breakfast. Microwaves become their handy companion -- turning meals from last night into a whole new delicious creation.
However, according to experts, last night's dinner might not be the only thing you're reheating as you may be preparing food poisoning as well, particularly if your meal contains some food that you should never reheat. So, to avoid an upset stomach and any other illnesses, here are the foods that you should avoid reheating as accredited by the Food Standards Agency and the European Food Information Council.
Potatoes
Be careful with potatoes because if they are left to cool down at room temperature and left unrefrigerated, they might be colonized with a rare bacteria called botulism. This organism can't be killed easily. Hence, better think twice before reheating food with potatoes.
Chicken
This meat can potentially cause digestive troubles if it is not reheated properly. However, cooking leftover chicken is tricky because its composition actually changes to cold when it is reheated.
Rice
According to Food Standards Agency, it's not the reheating of rice is the problem but the way it was actually stored. The agency said if the rice is left at room temperature, spores will rapidly multiply that may produce poisons that can cause vomiting or diarrhea. Apparently, reheating can't kill the bacteria, so there's a higher chance of food poisoning.
Mushrooms
If not stored properly, mushrooms can deteriorate quickly -- causing discomfort or pain to your stomach. Nevertheless, European Food Information Council said people can still reheat mushrooms that are stored in a fridge not more than 24 hours. And the reheating should be under the temperatures of 70 C.
Spinach and other leafy vegetables
These vegetables contain nitrate, which can turn to toxic once reheated. Hence, European Food Information Council advised not to reheat vegetables that contain high nitrate.
So, if you're the type of a person who reaches for the leftovers without even thinking about your health, you might want to think twice.
