Top News

Is it okay to reheat cooked vegetables? Which vegetables can become poisonous if reheated? If you know the answer, you'll never reheat these vegetables again.

Which vegetables should not be reheated: It's quite common in most households to reheat leftover vegetables. Most people reuse leftover vegetables. Consuming vegetables is beneficial for health, which is why it's always recommended to eat more vegetables. But did you know that reheating some vegetables can have a toxic effect on the stomach? Many of their nutrients deteriorate during reheating, and some compounds can increase to toxic levels. If you do this, you need to change this habit, or else it could cause serious harm to your health. In this article, let's explore which vegetables should not be reheated, what can become poisonous if stored in the refrigerator, and why reheating spinach is considered dangerous.

Which vegetables turn toxic when reheated?

Some vegetables contain compounds that break down upon repeated heating, forming harmful compounds. Vegetables containing nitrates, in particular, convert to nitrites upon reheating, which are considered dangerous for the body. Among these, spinach, fenugreek, cabbage, green leafy vegetables, and potatoes pose the greatest risk. The nitrates in these vegetables convert to nitrites upon reheating. This can lead to problems like methemoglobinemia, a condition in which the blood's oxygen capacity is reduced. This can cause dizziness, weakness, vomiting, and even blue-skin syndrome in children. There's also a risk of food poisoning.

Which vegetables should not be reheated? 1. Spinach

Often, we take leftover vegetables out of the refrigerator and reheat them the next day, but reheating every vegetable isn't a good idea. Spinach is one such vegetable. Reheating it can rapidly increase nitrite levels and cause serious health problems.

2. Potatoes

The starch in potatoes breaks down and forms toxic compounds when reheated. This can increase the risk of food poisoning. Therefore, reheating potatoes should be avoided even with vegetables containing potatoes.

3. Mushrooms

Mushrooms are considered a very beneficial vegetable, but eating them after reheating them can cause serious harm. Mushroom proteins change upon reheating, and can cause stomach upset, gas, and vomiting.

4. Eggs

If you're making egg curries or adding them to gravy, it's best to eat them immediately. Reheating egg curries or egg bhurjis is harmful, as the proteins can be damaged.

Photo Credit: iStock

What turns toxic when stored in the fridge?

• When leftover leafy vegetables like spinach, fenugreek and mustard are kept in the refrigerator, their nitrates increase and start turning into nitrites within a few hours, which are harmful.
• Keeping cut fruits and salads in the refrigerator for a long time causes bacteria to grow rapidly and there is a risk of food poisoning.
• Bacillus Cereus bacteria grow rapidly in cold rice, and they don't die even in the refrigerator. Eating this rice can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea.
• Boiled items like boiled potatoes, boiled lentils grow bacteria rapidly and can easily become toxic if stored in the refrigerator incorrectly.

What happens when spinach is reheated?

Spinach is very high in nitrates. When you reheat spinach, the nitrates convert to nitrites. This can cause problems like low blood oxygen levels, blue-skin syndrome in children, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, and headaches.

PC:NDTVINDIA