How many times can you safely reheat food?

Question

I used to think that it was only once. But if all germs are killed when food is boiled at 100 degrees for 20 minutes (Or Less time?) then surely food can be reheated infinitesimly? Also, if all germs are killed in these conditons, so long as food is cooked properly then even food starting to go off should lose its germs and still be ok (if not ideal) to eat?

Answer 1

Rule of Thumb, if you refrigerate food quickly after it has been warmed the second time you can safely heat it up one more time, depending. So that would be 3 times total !

Answer 2

bacteria grows between 5 and 63 degrees so anything between these temperatures can cause bateria to multiply. Frozen food should be kept below -18 degrees.

You should only reheat food once as when the food is cooling down bateria begin to form and the more times this happens the more harder it is to kill the bacteria even at a high temperature above 63 degrees.

Food starts to go off after a while as well so you shouldnt leave it too long before eating it. Cooked food generally has a 24-36 hour shelf life anything after may cause you to be ill.

Also when you cook food or reheat food do not put in the frigde untill it is completely cold.

Answer 3

I like the logic so yes. And yes the food will not be ideal to eat.

I am thinking of bacteria growing that are not necessarily killed by heating to 100 and boiling for 20.

Answer 4

I'm sure so long as it's cooked thoroughly. Also, if you have any leftovers, stick them in the fridge immediately. They'll be good after reheating, so long as they've been properly stored in the fridge. Remember to use tin foil or some other type of wrap so that the lasagna retains some of its moisture. You really don't want to eat rock-hard lasagna! Good luck!

Answer 5

Once.

Cooking does indeed kill the bacteria, but their spores arrive back on the food as it cools and regrow.

The issue is not so much with the bacteria though than their waste products, which cause the toxic effects. These build up every tome the bacteria are given chance to grow and are NOT destroyed by heating.

Answer 6

I lived and worked in the Ecuador jungle. The natives just keep it on a small fire all the time . I have a saying that ameba's are protein and good if they are well done. I know of several people eating meet that was under cooked that made them very sick. In many parts of the world don't eat anything that is not cooked .

Answer 7

Alot, by the FDA rules you can reheat a food as long as you have watched the temp , when reheated, was held to a temp approved by them and if during that time fell below a point or temp you reheated it back to serving temp in a certain amount of time.

Answer 8

If perhaps it's a fruit they have seeds, otherwise it's a vegetable. And vegetables are usually grown in the ground while fruits are grown in trees.

Answer 9

I too always thought you could only reheat food once.......

so i looked it up -

reheat food untill piping hot through out. Only reheat once.

(it doesnt say why on that webpage, but im sure someone will find out the reason)

Answer 10

I heard once also. I prefer to cook with an oven just because the food tastes much better and it feels like you have done a lot of work to prepare your meal :)

Answer 11

reheat the food once

the bacteria comes back and starts spreading