7 foods you must never reheat

Did you know that reheating oil can release toxic fumes and harmful free-radicals?

Owing to our busy schedules, most of us resort to reheating cooked food just so we can save some time.

Reheated food often becomes carcinogenic and ends up poisoning the body.

Shockingly, these foods are often items we prepare and consume every single day.

Here's a list of foods you must never reheat and ways in which you can use them once they are part of the 'leftover' list.

1. Chicken

Chicken is a rich source of protein, however, reheating causes a change in composition of protein.

You shouldn't reheat it because:

This protein-rich food when reheated can give you digestive troubles.

That's because the protein-rich foods get denatured or broken down when cooked.

However, if they are constantly heated this property of breaking down can instead make chicken difficult to digest.

What you can do instead?

You can use the leftover chicken in salads or sandwich, or re-cook the chicken on the stove on a very low flame.

2. Potatoes

How many times have you just reheated this food?

One of the most commonly used food item, potatoes are often used in most households during several meals in a day, sometimes, all the meals. But this is not the best practice.

You shouldn't reheat it because 

It is rich starchy food that has many health benefits.

When reheated it promotes the growth of botulism a rare bacteria. However, it can't be killed by reheating in microwave. It may instead lead to food-poisoning.

What can you do instead?

The best way is it to re-cook them in a shallow pan.

3. Spinach

Popeye's favourite food is very nutritious but you must avoid reheating them.

You shouldn't reheat it because:

It contains a lot of nitrates which convert to nitrites when reheated, and nitrites are carcinogenic in nature.

What can you do instead? 

You can either eat it after steaming it or just cool it quickly and keep it below 5 degrees celsius to prevent nitrite production.

4. Oil

Many times you reheat the leftover cooking oil and prepare pakodas not realising that it can greatly harm your body.

You shouldn't reheat it because

You should know that your cooking oil should be heated at a low flame, thereby, helping it release less smoke.

In case you reheat previously heated oil, it is likely to release toxic fumes and harmful free-radicals.

What can you do instead?

The best way would be to discard the oil and not re-use it.

5. Beetroot

You shouldn't reheat it because:

Beetroots just like spinach are nitrate-rich foods.

Reheating them converts nitrates to nitrites which is carcinogenic to the body and can also give you a stomach ache.

What can you do instead? 

If there's any leftover rather than reheating it's better to eat it cold.

6. Rice

Rice is the most common leftover item in our kitchen and also most commonly reheated food.

However, it's best to avoid reheating it in a microwave.

You shouldn't reheat it because

Uncooked rice contains spores of bacteria and reheating it does not kill this bacteria.

So, if the rice is left standing at room temperature, the spores automatically multiply.

This may prove to be toxic and cause vomiting and even diarrhea.

What can you do instead?

Boil water and add the leftover rice to it.

Don't over-boil the rice as it would become soggy.

You'll find that the rice would look and taste as good as new.

7. Eggs

This staple breakfast food also should not be reheated.

Best known as a protein powerhouse, reheating boiled or scrambled eggs should be avoided.

You shouldn't reheat it because

The protein in eggs is destroyed once it's exposed to heat over and over again.

Also they become toxic and unfit for consumption once they have been cooked.

What can you do instead?

You can chop the boiled eggs and use them in a green salad.

Lead image -- a still from Chef -- used for representational purposes only.