Will I kill us if I reheat this?

[HarrySnotter]

Made a huge shepherds pie on Friday night and heated it through last night. There's still loads left, will I kill us all if I heat it again tonight for tea? I know you're not supposed to reheat something twice but, I don't want to waste it!

Harry today is only Saturday...have you lost track with the holidays?

I often do what you're suggesting and while I know you shouldn't none of us have died yet.

Who says you can't reheat things twice?

As long as it gets hot enough you can safely reheat and eat.

It will lose some flavour and texture each time. But will be safe.

No you won't die! Do you mean Thursday night? To you still won't die. You'll be fine. Hopefully you kept it in the fridge?

It'll be fine but rather than have it for three consecutive nights, can you portion it up and freeze it? Packed lunch size for anyone with access to a microwave, maybe with some frozen veg in the tub too. Or family size for a super easy meal in January.

Who says you can't reheat things twice?

The Food Standards Agency and the NHS for a start

Depends, OP. Has it been fully refrigerated...not left sitting on the side or anything? If so, so should OK so long as it’s absolutely piping hot after reheating.

I wouldn't reheat it again but I am very risk averse with food.

I wouldn't reheat chicken or seafood more than once, but beef or lamb will be fine.

Sorry, yes it was made on Thursday night, I've totally lost track!

Will be fine we always do this

The Food Standards Agency and the NHS for a start That'susually for frozen food, and even then some foods can be reheated more than once if done correctly!

www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-store-food-and-leftovers/

There is so much misinformation about food that millions of tons of it is needlessly thrown out very year. We ALL need to learn the real facts and to stop wasting perfectly edible food!

The .gov.uk site does still use THINK TWICE but that is constantly being challenged by many food experts, but they probably won't ever change it because there are too many variables in how people keep food. They have to give the LEAST problematic information. But well kept, chilled foods can be reheated multiple times.

Think about pots of soup... started as Sunday Lunch, leftovers on Monday, stock pot on Tuesday, additions throughout the week, eaten by Saturday! That was done with foods when homes didn't have a fridge. Many of us still do it (and no, I can't make one chicken feed 3 people, but I don't waste any of it).

That's chicken and 30 people obviously

That'susually for frozen food, and even then some foods can be reheated more than once if done correctly!
No that's for all food. bacteria multiplys at a faster rate when it is sitting around the 20/70°c mark which is known as a danger zone. The spread of bacteria slows down when it is above or below these temps which is why you either cook or cool things quickly.

I do, all the time. I might microwave it though as it's likely to dry out in the oven.

Thanks Sitranced I'd never have thought of bacteria!!

Pshaw!

Try reading ALL I wrote... variables etc etc.

Regardless of all worst case scenarios it is perfectly possible to reheat food multiple times. Just as it is perfectly possible not to refrigerate food and still eat safely. Much of the world does just that. Refrigeration is a very recent thing!

Yes, you have to be sensible, yes you have to take care. But the guidelines given by the .gov etc are 'best principles' and it is beyond most people to stick to them faithfully.

My point remains. There is a lot if unnecessary food waste, some caused by the fear of stored foods. We need to rethink our insistance on 'food perfection' just as much as we need to rethink the rest of our carbon footprint. "Ugly" fruit and veg is only a small part of it.