Why do we need to reheat food?
Among family, I have found radically different approaches to reheating food that has already been fully cooked. Some will not eat last night's leftovers unless they have been microwaved to the point where every single part of the food is piping hot. Said people consider food that is "cold in the middle" dangerous. Others are happy as long the the meal is sufficiently warmed for it to be safe to eat.
This gives me my question. Why do leftovers need to be reheated before they can be eaten? Is it just for pleasure or is there an actual safety benefit?
Best Answer
The primary reason for reheating is just that warm food is more pleasant to eat. How warm, that is a personal preference - and stirring or heating longer can ensure more throughout heating.
Reheating does weaken and kill pathogens. However, properly stored food should not have a dangerous amount of pathogens to start with. And some pathogens can either tolerate high temperatures or excrete toxins that are not destroyed by heat. Thus reheating food that already has a high amount of pathogens is only partially effective. Heating before cold storage is much more effective, as the pathogens do not get the chance to grow in the first place.
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Cooking and reheating are the most effective ways to eliminate bacterial hazards in food. Most foodborne bacteria and viruses can be killed when food is cooked or reheated long enough at sufficient high temperature. The core temperature of food should reach at least 75?.Do you need to reheat food?
You should always reheat food until it is steaming hot throughout. Always serve reheated food immediately. Delay serving your meal and the risk of food poisoning increases significantly, as there is time for harmful bacteria to grow.What happens if you dont reheat food properly?
However, if improperly reheated, leftovers can cause food poisoning \u2014 which can jeopardize your health. It's estimated that 1 in 6 Americans gets food poisoning yearly \u2014 and 128,000 of these are hospitalized. In severe cases, food poisoning can even cause death ( 1 ).Is reheating food good?
01/5The practice of reheating food Whatever be the case, experts feel that one should avoid reheating food because the chemical change in food due to reheating often leads to food poisoning and food-borne diseases.You Can't Reheat Some Foods Under Any Circumstances
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Answer 2
You don't. Reheating food does not improve food safety, it is purely a matter of taste. Even "piping hot" is not hot enough to kill off any pathogens. If it's safe to eat warm, it's safe to eat cold. As an anecdote, my sister considers last night's leftovers, cold directly from the fridge, the most delicious of breakfasts. Regardless of if it's pizza, a curry, or a beef stew.
Answer 3
It's a personal preference. I preferfood at, below, or slightly above room temperature while my relatives like their food scalding hot.
Answer 4
We don't need to reheat food. Cooked food can be eaten cold. We may want to reheat food if its something that would be easier to eat or tastes better hot; or to kill bacteria if its been sitting out at room temperature and may pose a food safety issue.
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