Thriftiness is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation, so when it comes to leftover food, we should follow the principle of not wasting if we can. However, when it comes to eating, we should never be thrifty. Leftover food should be discarded because some foods can easily breed bacteria and even cause diseases if stored for too long. Therefore, for the sake of our health, there are certain leftover foods that we absolutely should not eat. Today, let's take a look at what these foods are.
1. Vegetables
Stir-frying vegetables can cause the loss of vitamin C, and reheating them can cause the loss of other nutritious vitamins. Moreover, vegetables contain a high amount of nitrate, which can be converted into toxic nitrites during storage due to bacterial activity. However, in general, the closer the vegetables are to the root, the lower the nitrite content.
2. Seafood
Eating seafood emphasizes its fresh taste, and consuming leftovers can not only result in the loss of freshness but also harm the liver and kidneys. Leftover seafood like crabs, fish, and shrimp can produce protein degradation products, which are toxic substances.
3. Cold dishes
Most cold dishes are not cooked at high temperatures, which can lead to the presence of bacteria and parasite eggs. Some bacteria can reproduce at low temperatures in the refrigerator, leading to intestinal diseases. Therefore, it's best to make cold dishes in moderate quantities and consume them immediately. Any leftover cold dishes should be discarded.
4. Soy products
Soy products like tofu contain a lot of water and are rich in nutrients such as protein, making them an ideal breeding ground for microorganisms. Dangerous pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum can proliferate. This bacterium can produce the world's most toxic substance, "botulinum toxin," which is 10,000 times more toxic than potassium cyanide. The toxin can be destroyed if heated above 100 degrees Celsius for a few minutes, but if it's not thoroughly heated, it can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, it's best not to keep soy products for the next meal.
5. Overnight tea
Overnight tea loses most of its vitamins over time, and the proteins and sugars in the tea can become nutrients for bacteria and mold to grow. Therefore, people generally believe that overnight tea should not be consumed.
Although I have only introduced a few types of leftover foods that should not be eaten, it's important to note that there are many other foods that are not safe to eat after being left overnight. Therefore, in our daily lives, when cooking, we should make just the right amount of food and try not to have leftovers. Cooking too much and not throwing it away is wasteful, and eating leftovers the next day is not good for our health.
