How long can food last if reheated periodically? [duplicate]

Say I fixed some stew that's been in the refrigerator for around three days. Will putting that stew in a pot, heating it up to around 170F (77C), and letting it simmer for a while make it last longer in the refrigerator? And if so, then can this be done (nearly) indefinitely?

I think the answer is yes, because whatever microbes have had an opportunity to take root in the food will have been killed by the high temperatures, but I am not sure about whatever biproducts that might remain (e.g. toxic chemicals exuded by the microbes as part of their metabolism or something).

refrigerator spoilage

Best Answer

Yes, it will "make it last longer in the fridge" for a certain definition of "last longer": it will not mould nor infect other foodstuffs in the fridge if it doesn't come into direct contact with any of them.

Is it still safe to eat after a few of these re-heatings? Very probably not!

Elaboration: More then half of the number of cells in your body are actually bacteria; bacteria don't generally kill you but the toxins they release is what kills you. E.g. Botulinum Toxinum D (one of the toxins released during Botulism) has an LD50 of 0.4 ng/kg, which means that you need about 500g (a pound) to kill 99.9% of all human beings on the entire planet...

(And that is for just a few re-heatings; for "nearly indefinitely" we need to bring extremophiles in the equation...)

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Quick Answer about "How long can food last if reheated periodically? [duplicate]"

After each reheating, leftovers will be safe in the fridge for an additional three to four days. Because the quality decreases each time food is reheated, it is best to reheat only the amount needed. Cooked foods that cannot be used within four days should be frozen for longer, safe storage.

Why is it bad to reheat food twice?

While almost all foods can be reheated numerous times, it is best practice to avoid reheating the same meal where possible. Each time food is cooled, stored and reheated, the likelihood of harmful bacteria multiplying increases.

Does Recooking leftovers extend shelf life?

The short answer is: no, you can't. In food safety, the times safe at a specific temperature range are cumulative, and nothing can "reset the clock".

Can you reheat food and put it back in the fridge?

While you can technically reheat food as many times as you like, there's still a time frame to be aware of. If you're still eyeing off that leftover pad Thai a week on, it's time to toss it. \u201cYou can keep leftovers for two to three days in your fridge, as long as that fridge is at 5 degrees celsius,\u201d advises Buchtmann.

Can you reheat soup multiple times?

Don't reheat leftovers more than once. If you have a big pot of soup, for example, it's better to take out what you need and reheat it in a smaller pan. Equally, the NHS recommends that you don't refreeze leftovers. This is because the more times you cool and reheat food, the higher the risk of food poisoning.

How long can food be left out?

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