Sad news for spud lovers: reheating leftover potatoes could make you ill. As the Independent reported, the issue with reheating potatoes isn't actually the process of warming them in the microwave or oven. If cooked potatoes are left to cool at room temperature for too long, the bacteria that causes botulism may form.
Reheat a Baked Potato in the Oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F and take the potatoes out of the fridge to reach room temperature. Place the potato on a baking sheet or directly on the oven rack to achieve a crispy skin—Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the potato is thoroughly heated.
If you have spinach or any green leafy vegetables, carrot, turnip or even celery, avoid reheating them in the microwave. These nitrate rich vegetables when heated again can turn toxic, releasing carcinogenic properties, which are generally cancerous in nature.
Mashed potatoes, like other starchy dishes that are made with dairy (think: creamy casseroles, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes), can develop a dry, gluey texture when reheated for too long, or at a temperature that's too high.
Although potatoes are generally OK to eat the next day, there are two circumstances in which they can become problematic when reheated. The first is when potatoes aren't stored in the fridge after cooking, which can give rise to dangerous bacteria Clostridium botulinum.
Place the potato in a microwave-safe dish and heat for two to three minutes, or until the potato is heated through. Learn more about how to microwave leftovers (without destroying them).
After you've cooked potatoes, you can store them in the fridge for up to three days. You can also freeze cooked potatoes. Boil them for at least five minutes before freezing.
Make-ahead mashed potatoes are a great option for the holidays. You can do nearly everything — boil, peel, and mash; stir in milk and salt — up to two days ahead. Before serving, reheat. Adding butter at the last minute makes them taste freshly mashed.
Mosley's verdict is clear cut: “You can actually reheat your leftovers as many times as you like, as long as you make sure every morsel is piping hot all the way through,” he says. SBS Food put the matter to Lydia Buchtmann, spokesperson for the Food Safety Information Council, who agreed.
Cases of botulism from foil-wrapped baked potatoes are rare, but they do occur. One example occurred in El Paso, TX, in 1994, the largest botulism outbreak since 1978.
8) Spinach, Beets, and Celery
This trio of ingredients are some of the healthiest on this list—but also the most dangerous. According to the CDC, heat can cause these veggies to actually release carcinogens when they're being reheated for a second time.
If you want to eat the next day the boiled potatoes, all you need to do is to wait until they will cool down, store them in an airtight container in the fridge, and when is needed you can reheat them in the oven, microwave, air fryer, or in a steamer.
In addition to being a good source of carbs and resistant starch, potatoes contain nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C ( 21 ). Remember not to reheat the potatoes. Instead, eat them cold as part of homemade potato salads or other similar dishes.
Oven method:
If you refrigerated your mashed potatoes in an oven-safe casserole dish, set them out on the counter to take the chill off for at least 20 minutes before you pop them into the oven. When you're ready, bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are hot throughout.
The microwave, it turns out, is actually perfect for reheating mashed potatoes. Simply add your mashed potatoes to a microwave-safe bowl, along with a tablespoon or so of milk or cream. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and microwave on 50 percent power for 60 seconds.
3 Ways to Reheat Mashed Potatoes
Place your mashed potatoes in a medium saucepan or Dutch oven, then add a tablespoon of butter and a splash of milk. Heat them for at least eight to ten minutes on low, stirring at least once a minute to keep them from sticking to the saucepan.
Mashed potatoes stored in an airtight container last 3-5 days in the refrigerator. But, keep in mind, that recipes with added dairy like butter, milk, or sour cream may go bad more quickly than plain potatoes. And be sure to store them towards the back of the refrigerator for best results.
How long will they last? According to Healthline, mashed potatoes typically last three to four days in the fridge and up to a year when frozen, although the quality of mashed potatoes will not hold up once they have been frozen.
Storing cooked potatoes
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Yes, leftover baked potatoes are safe to eat if you follow proper food safety guidelines. You may have heard that leftover baked potatoes can harbor bad bacteria and can be harmful for your health. While this is rare, it is usually the case only when they are stored in aluminum foil after baking.
Fire up the oven to reheat roasted potatoes
To get those potatoes crisp again, Consumer Reports recommends reheating in a 400-degree oven, covering your potatoes with tin foil until warm, and then removing the cover for a final few minutes to allow the skin to crisp back up.
NO! This is the wrong way to do it and is not food safe. Cooked starch foods like potatoes can grow germs if not kept either refrigerated and cold or hot over 140º F.