Like most people, you were probably raised believing that leftovers are bad for you. After all, they are old and have been sitting around, so they must be dangerous, right? Wrong. It turns out that there are some amazing health benefits to eating leftovers. From reducing food waste to getting more nutrients, read on to learn why you should start eating your leftovers.
The Benefits of Eating Leftovers
When it comes to leftovers, there are a lot of benefits that many people are unaware of. For one, leftovers can help you to save money. If you cook a big meal, there is a good chance that you will have some food left over. Rather than throwing this food away, you can save it for another meal. This can help you to stretch your grocery budget and avoid wasting food.
In addition to saving money, eating leftovers can be healthier than eating fresh foods. When foods are cooked, they often lose nutrients. However, these nutrients can be retained in leftovers. As such, eating leftovers can give you a nutritional boost.
Finally, eating leftovers can be more convenient than cooking fresh meals. Finding the time to cook healthy meals from scratch can be difficult if you have a busy lifestyle. However, if you have leftovers, you can reheat them and enjoy a healthy meal with minimal effort.
The Risks of Eating Leftovers
When it comes to leftovers, we've all heard the adage, “If you can’t heat it, eat it.” But is this really good advice?
It turns out that eating leftovers can have some surprising health risks. Here are a few things to keep in mind next time you’re considering whether or not to reheat that leftover pasta dish:
1. Bacteria can grow on leftovers.
According to the USDA, bacteria can grow on food within two hours of being cooked. So if you leave your leftovers out on the countertop for too long, they could become a breeding ground for bacteria like salmonella and E. coli.
2. Reheating doesn’t always kill bacteria.
Just because you reheat your food doesn’t mean all the bacteria will be killed off. Certain types of bacteria, like Bacillus cereus, produce toxins that are not destroyed by cooking. These toxins can cause vomiting and diarrhoea within a few hours of eating contaminated food.
3. Leftovers can make you sick even if you don’t eat them immediately.
If you store your leftovers in the fridge but don’t eat them within a few days, they could still make you sick. Bacteria can continue to grow on refrigerated food, so it’s important to
How to Safely Store and Reheat Leftovers
When it comes to leftovers, you should keep a few things in mind to ensure they stay safe to eat. First, store leftovers in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking. If the food has been sitting out at room temperature for longer than that, bacteria can start to grow and make the food unsafe to eat.
To reheat leftovers, heat them until they're steaming hot through. This will kill any bacteria that may have grown since the food was first cooked. And when reheating meat or poultry, be sure to cook it until there's no pink remaining.
Following these simple tips, you can enjoy your leftovers without worry!
Conclusion
Now you know some of the surprising health effects of eating leftovers. While there are some potential downsides to consider, on the whole, eating leftovers can be a healthy and convenient way to get the nutrients your body needs. Eat them within a few days and reheat them properly before consuming them. And if you're ever in doubt, throw them out!
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