How to preserve overnight meals and how to store overnight meals correctly

Overnight meals can cause some harm to our bodies, but if we can store them properly the harm can be reduced. The most important point is that the later the meals are put in the refrigerator, the more likely they are to produce toxins. If they are stored properly, they are also safe to eat.

1. Fish, meat, and soy products - beware of toxic microorganisms

Fish, meat and soy products only have the problem of microbial reproduction, and the problem of nitrite basically does not need to be considered.

Compared with fish, meat and soy products, soy products are more susceptible to spoilage. Their common trouble is that they can breed dangerous pathogens, such as the dreaded Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium can produce the world's most poisonous toxin, "botulinum toxin", which is 10,000 times more toxic than potassium cyanide. The toxins can be destroyed by heating them over 100 degrees for a few minutes, but if they are not heated thoroughly, they are very dangerous.

Abstract: Many people have heard that leftovers cannot be left overnight as they will become poisonous; others have heard that the nutrients in leftovers will be severely lost and eating them will be useless. In fact, whether leftovers are edible depends on what is left, how long it has been left, under what conditions it is stored, and under what conditions it is reheated.

2. Vegetables - beware of nitrites

People often say that harmful substances may be produced when food is left overnight, but this actually refers to vegetables. Because vegetables contain high levels of nitrite, they may gradually turn into toxic nitrite due to bacterial activity during storage.

However, if it is only left in the refrigerator overnight, the increase in nitrite is far from enough to cause a food safety accident. But in any case, it is not recommended to leave vegetables for more than 24 hours, and you should be even more careful with cold dishes.

Abstract: Many people have heard that leftovers cannot be left overnight as they will become poisonous; others have heard that the nutrients in leftovers will be severely lost and eating them will be useless. In fact, whether leftovers are edible depends on what is left, how long it has been left, under what conditions it is stored, and under what conditions it is reheated.

3. There are some tips for storing overnight soup

Many people like to make soup. They put the leftover soup in the refrigerator and boil it the next day to drink. Is this overnight soup good for the body?

Healthy eating method: The best way to preserve soup is not to add salt or other seasonings to the soup base. After the soup is cooked, use a clean spoon to scoop out the portion you want to drink that day. If you can’t finish it, it is best to store it in a clay pot in the refrigerator. Because leftover soup is prone to chemical reactions if kept in aluminum or stainless steel pots for a long time, it should be placed in glass or ceramic containers.