These days, for the sake of convenience, many families choose to entertain friends and relatives in the dining room, taking home any leftover food. However, what they may not realize is that there are specific guidelines for consuming packed food; if not handled properly, it can potentially harm your health.
1. Fish
Fish is rich in nutrients, but it is also an excellent breeding ground for E. coli. At room temperature (20°C), bacteria on fish can multiply to over a hundred million within 6 hours. Therefore, leftover fish must be reheated before consumption. When reheating, be careful not to use excessively high temperatures, as the animal fat tissue in fish can produce harmful peroxides at high heat, and nutrients like vitamins A, E, and D in the oil can lose their nutritional value.
2. Shellfish and Seafood
These foods are suitable for packing, but they must also be reheated before eating. It is also recommended to add some aromatic seasonings like yellow wine, scallions, ginger, and garlic when reheating to kill the bacteria that grow on seafood. If some seafood has been stored for too long, it must be marinated in vinegar for about 10 minutes to kill any Vibrio parahaemolyticus and prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.
3. Starchy Foods
Starchy foods like rice cakes should be consumed within a maximum of 4 hours. Even if they don't taste spoiled, they can still cause adverse reactions. This is mainly because they are easily parasitized by Staphylococcus, and the toxins from these bacteria do not break down properly when reheated. Therefore, such foods must be finished within 4 hours; otherwise, they should not be eaten, even if they do not appear to be spoiled.