Experts warn: Why boiled eggs and 4 other foods shouldn’t be heated in a microwave

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Experts warn: Why boiled eggs and 4 other foods shouldn’t be heated in a microwave.

“Leftovers can be made into easy lunches, afternoon snacks or late-night treats. But experts warn that microwaving them may not be the best option.

Microwaves often don’t heat food evenly, creating “cold spots” that can allow harmful bacteria to survive during heating, according to Michigan State University.

4 other foods

In addition, food heated in a microwave can become tasteless, dry, or overcooked.

Food experts shared their thoughts with Fox News Digital about when to avoid microwaving food in a hurry and which foods shouldn’t be reheated this way. Some of the points may come as a surprise to some.

5 Foods Experts Don’t Recommend Reheating in a Microwave

1. Boiled eggs

Boiled eggs are a great source of protein and are a convenient, portable snack.

However, food experts recommend eating cold boiled eggs instead of microwaving them.

“Don’t microwave hard-boiled eggs,” says Amanda Holtzer, a nutritionist in Nutley, New Jersey. “Microwaving hard-boiled eggs creates steam and pressure in the egg white, which can cause the egg to explode when cut.”

“This explosion can happen in a microwave, on a plate, or even in your mouth when you bite into an egg,” Holtzer said.

2. Foods rich in vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and is heat-sensitive, so avoid microwaving foods high in vitamin C. 

“When vitamin C is exposed to heat, it is destroyed and loses its properties,” Holtzer says.

Foods rich in vitamin C include broccoli, bell peppers, berries, เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา and green leafy vegetables.

“To preserve the vitamin C content of these foods, I recommend eating them raw as often as possible,” Holtzer says.

3. Chicken

From a food safety perspective, reheating chicken is generally considered safe. 

“But from a quality control perspective, I would not recommend reheating chicken. When chicken is refrigerated after cooking, the fat in the chicken can oxidize, which changes the chemical structure of the chicken and its flavor. When reheated, the moisture in the chicken evaporates, causing the chicken to have a poor flavor and texture,” Holtzer said.

Instead of reheating, Holtzer suggests using leftover chicken to make a dish that doesn’t need to be reheated, like a chicken salad sandwich or chicken wrap.

4. Seafood

Reheating seafood is not a good option. 

“Fish is one food I would never recommend reheating. The intense heat from microwaving causes the moisture in fish to evaporate quickly, which can dry out the fish and make it feel rubbery,” Holtzer says.

From a culinary perspective, Jim Nuetzi, chef at Valor Hospitality in Atlanta, Georgia, confirms that microwaving seafood doesn’t produce the best results.

“Seafood is a no-no for me. It’s very difficult to reheat seafood without causing any side effects, but microwaving it in particular will dry it out,” Nuetzi said.

5. Steak

If you have leftover steak from dinner at a fancy restaurant and want to reheat it in the microwave the next day, experts say you won’t have the same luxurious experience on day 2 or 3.

“Reheating steak can lead to a loss of tenderness and flavor because the increased heat makes the meat dry and tough. Additionally, reheating often results in inconsistent temperatures, with parts of the steak overcooked while others remain cold,” Nuetzi says.