Summary: In a recent TikTok video, nutrition expert Harini Bala warned about the potential dangers of reheating certain foods and beverages, emphasizing how it could lead to harmful chemical changes and promote the growth of dangerous bacteria that are hard to eliminate. Bala highlighted three widely consumed foods that should not be reheated due to their associated health risks.
Rice: Rice is one of the most dangerous foods to reheat. When cooked rice is cooled, it can become a breeding ground for Bacillus cereus, a heat-resistant bacterium. Even after reheating, parts of this bacterium can survive and cause food poisoning, resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. To minimize the risk, it's recommended to store cooked rice in an airtight container in the fridge and consume it cold or discard it.
Tea: Tea, one of the most consumed beverages worldwide, can become harmful if reheated. Reheating increases the bitterness due to the accumulation of tannins, which also heighten the acidity and bitterness. Moreover, dormant bacteria in the tea could become active when reheated, posing a risk of infection.
Spinach: Spinach contains oxalic acid, which is harmless when eaten raw, but when cooked and reheated, this acid can become toxic. Spinach also contains nitrates that can turn into harmful nitrites upon reheating, increasing the risk of bowel cancer. Furthermore, spinach leaves may harbor Listeria, a bacterium that can cause serious foodborne illnesses like fever and flu-like symptoms.
Bala urged people to consume these foods either hot directly after cooking or cold, and to avoid reheating them to prevent potential health issues.
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