During the holidays, everyone wants to prepare a nice meal to entertain family and friends. However, many dishes are complicated to make, and just the washing, chopping, and prepping can take up most of the day. Therefore, many people often wash and cut the ingredients in advance and start cooking only when everyone has arrived. But experts point out that the preparation time for cooking should follow the "2-hour rule". If it exceeds 2 hours, not only will nutrients be lost, but it will also lead to bacterial growth, creating potential safety hazards.
This "2-hour rule" refers to the interval from when ingredients are chopped to when they start to be heated, which should not exceed 2 hours. Professor Lin Xinying, a council member of the Chinese Nutrition Society and from the Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene at Shandong University, told a reporter from the "Life Times" that violating the 2-hour rule mainly poses two types of dangers. First, it is a safety issue, mainly concerning protein-rich foods such as meat and bean products. Because these foods are rich in nutrients and moisture, they are particularly suitable for bacterial growth. If they are left at room temperature for a long time after being washed and cut, it is easy for bacteria to multiply. Second, it is a nutritional issue, mainly concerning foods rich in antioxidants like vegetables. Chopping vegetables and leaving them exposed to the air can lead to the loss of vitamin C and antioxidant substances.
Lin Xinying emphasized that cold dishes should especially follow the "2-hour rule" because they are eaten without being heated, making the risk of illness from bacterial infection even greater.