Wait a minute, is that rice?
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Smart Southerners love leftovers.
However, not all leftovers are created equal.
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Some things just don’t reheat well.
And some leftovers can even be dangerous!
Eggs
Nicolaisen and Stevens say you should avoid eating leftover eggs.
“Eggs turn green from overcooking by the nitrogen oxidizing, and therefore can actually make you sick.”
“you might breathe a sigh of reliefthis obviously doesn’t apply to deviled eggs.
If you’re microwaving deviled eggs, you’ve got bigger problems than a tummy ache.”
French Fries
Those crispy, deliciousfrench friesare never quite the same when you reheat them at home.
“First, they blanch them and then they fry them.
By the time you order them, they were already cooked two times.”
This means that when you reheat french fries, you’re essentially reheating them a third time.
The end result is dry and disappointing.
“Most types of non-oily fish dry out really easily when reheated,” Nicolaisen noted.
That’s right,bacillus cereusand other bacteria begin to develop in rice when it sits at room temperature.
“Hold up before you burst into a panic and start purging your fridge.
Leftover rice is fine if stored properly and eaten within a reasonable window of time.”
Cook until the bottom is crisp and the squash is heated through."
Stevens says shrimp is all about the texture and mouthfeel.
When you reheat it, that texture becomes rubbery and much less pleasurable.
“The reason shrimp get rubbery is because most folks tend to overcook them in the first place.
If you want to enjoy leftover shrimp, don’t cook them to death in the first place.
Do NOT microwave themthis only leads to sadness.”
Because of this, they tend to be tough and chewy if youreheat them a third time.
“I’m going to straight up argue with Chef Stevens on this one.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with leftoverchicken wings, as long you reheat them gently.
If you want to get super-fussy about it, sure, a thrice-heated wing could potentially get tougher.
Eat it cold if you’re that concerned.”
To add insult to injury, fruit salad does not keep well.
