Is there a time to microwave leftover from the refigerator which will assure that they are safe to eat? I know boiling something or baking it for so long will kill bacteria and germs. I don't know how long I should leave last nights mac and cheese in the microwave to make sure I don't get food poisoning. I don't normally have a food thermometor available. I'm asking this based on an average wattage microwave.
Some foods, like meats, are just too tough if microwaved for too long. If they are precooked and just being warmed, does microwaving them for 15 or 30 seconds assure their safety?
thanks.
2006-07-14 06:25:16 · 7 answers · asked by San Diego Art Nut 6 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
Microwaving is just for a quick reheat. If you have improperly stored your food, then you are in trouble. If you have to cook it longer than a reheat when the food is already cooked, then you are going to be eating shoe leather.
2006-07-14 06:29:02 · answer #1 · answered by Lynne D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Killing most bacteria is not too hard--just make sure you get your food up to 165 degrees F--an all through the food, not just some spots. There are two problems with this. If you get all your macaroni and cheese up to this temperature, a lot of the macaroni is going to be cardboard and the cheese part oil and part scorched. The other problem is that some bacteria manufacture toxins and even when you have killed the bacteria, the toxins are still there. The moral of this is you shouldn't expect the microwave to make you food safe to eat. The microwave just makes it warm, so it will taste good. You keep it safe by keeping it either hot or cold, but not warm or even cool. Salmonella, for example grows in 44 degrees F to 117 degrees, so you don't want to let food sit in that temperature range. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but those bacteria are sneaky little guys.
2006-07-14 06:54:19 · answer #2 · answered by Creeksong 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No amount of microwaving is going to kill any bacteria or mold growing in food that's been left in the fridge too long.
If it's last night's mac and cheese that you're microwaving, you'll be safe eating it no matter what temperature it's at. (unless of course you let it sit out for 2 hours after you made it and THEN put it in the fridge). If it's week old mac and cheese, just make a new batch and eliminate the question of food poisoning altogether.
2006-07-14 06:33:55 · answer #3 · answered by Julie6962 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's only last nights mac n cheese, only about 20-30 second should do the trick. Reheating anything in the microwave is safe but the time varies on what you are reheating. PS: Don't try reheating last weeks mac n cheese.
2006-07-14 06:33:50 · answer #4 · answered by Tamara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reheated leftovers need to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees for at least 15 second at that temp.. Depending of what and how much of what you are reheating there is makes this kind of difficult to answer. You should stop and stir halfway through your cooking to ensure even heating. A good rule of thumb would be, if you can't touch it for more than a second because it is too hot, it is probably cooked enough.
2006-07-14 06:34:39 · answer #5 · answered by rythempig 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If something's already been cooked, in the fridge for the night, depending on "thickness" or amount, 30 sec's to 1 to 1/2 minutes should be good....
2006-07-14 06:30:16 · answer #6 · answered by sweet ivy lyn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The important thing is proper handeling. making sure that storage containers and utensils are clean, they are sealed tight, and never touch the food or the inside of the container. Never eat out of the container, unless your not going to save it. Personally I use the stinky test. If stinky no eat. No stinky, is fine.
2006-07-14 06:33:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋