The remaining food is a reality in every household, especially when cooking sounds like a luxury. We often make extra and stop it later, thinking that it will save us time. And honestly, it does. But here is the real question-are you storing it correctly? Experts say that if the remaining is not handled properly, they start losing nutrients and may also be unsafe to eat. In fact, they can play with your intestine, cause diarrhea, and bring other health issues. So, what happens to the remaining food, and how can you ensure that it remains safe? Let us break it.
Why do the remaining food lose their nutritional value?
Let us be honest – None of us run to store food in the fridge after cooking. We first eat one part, let the rest sit until it reaches room temperature, and only then remove it. This difference creates the right environment to grow bacteria and germs rapidly. At its top, for a very long required nutrients to keep food in storage. This is why people often experience digestion issues or swell after the remaining food.
Is it safe to eat remaining food?
Ayurveda suggests that the food retains maximum nutrients when eaten within three hours of cooking. But we face it, it is not always possible in busy week days. So, what is the best way to handle the remaining? Dietician Simarun Chopra has some answers. He shared on Instagram that some simple steps can help you store and consume safely remaining food while retaining your nutrients.
Also read: How safe is it reusing cooking oil? Experts weigh
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The remaining food here has 3 tips to enjoy nutrients:
1. Store it properly:
It is important to collect food properly to take maximum advantage of your nutrients. If not properly placed, it can give rise to cross-oppression, which forwards food before its time. According to the USDA, ideally, food should not be stored in the fridge for more than three to four days. Click here to learn more about how to store leftover foods to avoid contamination.
2. Do not leave it open:
There is an idea to avoid as much moisture as possible. If kept open at room temperature, cooked and without cooked food becomes a reproductive ground for germs, making it harmful to health. According to Simrun Chopra, one should take additional care of food storage during summer and monsoon season.
Also read: 5 Foods should stop reheating you in microwave oven now!
3. Avoid heating several times:
You will often find people to heat the remaining food repeatedly. However, this change in temperature washes all nutrients from food. So, you should only eat as much food as you need and it should be eaten at once. Click here for some healthy suggestions when filling food again for safe consumption.
Keep these tips on and follow the remaining food religiously to make them a boon, not a ban, for you. Eat healthy and be safe!
Disclaimer: This material including advice only provides general information. This is not an alternative to qualified medical opinion in any way. Always consult an expert or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
