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.
Here's why. Preparing meals in bulk and reheating them is a great way to save time in the kitchen and can also help to reduce food waste. You might have heard the myth that you can only reheat food once before it becomes unsafe to eat.
If food has been hygienically prepared, cooled quickly after cooking (or reheating) and stored cold, reheating more than once should not increase the risk of illness. However, prolonged storage and repeated reheating will affect the taste, texture, and sometimes the nutritional quality of foods.
Extra mashed potatoes? Lucky you. Cold leftover mashed potatoes can be reheated right back to their former hot, creamy, and smooth state.
Reheat Leftovers Safely
When reheating leftovers, be sure they reach 165° F as measured with a food thermometer. Reheat sauces, soups and gravies by bringing them to a rolling boil. Cover leftovers to reheat. This retains moisture and ensures that food will heat all the way through.
If you do reheat food, make sure the whole dish is steaming hot throughout. While almost all foods can be reheated numerous times, it is best practice to avoid reheating the same meal where possible. Each time food is cooled, stored and reheated, the likelihood of harmful bacteria multiplying increases.
Remember, reheating means cooking again, not just warming up. Always reheat food until it is steaming hot all the way through (you should only do this once).
The BBC good food's home economist Steffi recommends keeping leftover mash in the fridge for up to three days. You can also freeze it for up to two months. When it comes to defrosting, leave it in the fridge overnight to thaw completely.
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.
Tips on serving rice safely
Keep rice in the fridge for no more than 1 day until reheating. When you reheat rice, always check that it's steaming hot all the way through. Do not reheat rice more than once.
Once it has reached at least 165 degrees, it can then be served or placed in hot-holding equipment. Any reheated food that does not reach 165 degrees within two hours must be thrown away.
Some cooks take it a step further and actually mash their potatoes ahead of time, up to the day before, and then reheat them in the oven or microwave. In fact, if reheated in the microwave with a bit of extra butter, your favorite starchy side may taste even better the next day.
How long can mashed potatoes be safely refrigerated? A: You can typically mash the potatoes and keep them refrigerated for about two to three days. Be sure to keep them in an airtight container because if you don't, the pulp will oxidize and turn gray.
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.
If stored correctly in plastic containers, leftover mashed potatoes can last 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Just make sure the leftovers are stored in a sealed container. An airtight container will keep the moisture inside the container and keep the potatoes from drying out.
Mashed potatoes can sit out for two hours at room temperature. Any longer than that, they can enter the “danger zone,” which are unsafe temperatures that promote the growth of bacteria.
Mashed potatoes can last for up to five days in the fridge, and they'll stay fresh for at least ten months if stored properly in the freezer.
Storing and Reheating KFC Potatoes
Keep your leftover spuds covered in the fridge and eat them within 3 days before they dry out and lose their flavor. To reheat, all you need to do is cook them on 50% power in the microwave until warm.
How do you store leftover mashed potatoes? Mashed potato is best stored in the fridge or freezer. Storing mashed potatoes in an airtight or sealed container, both shallow and wide, is the best way to store them in the fridge.
Once it has been cooked, how often can you reheat it? Well the Food Standards Agency recommends only reheating food once, but actually several times is fine as long as you do it properly. Though that is not likely to improve the taste.
After each reheating, leftovers will be safe in the fridge for an additional three to four days. Because the quality decreases each time food is reheated, it is best to reheat only the amount needed. Cooked foods that cannot be used within four days should be frozen for longer, safe storage.
Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.
Contaminated food will usually look, smell and taste normal. Food poisoning bacteria can grow and multiply on some types of food more easily than others. Potentially high-risk foods include: raw and cooked meat - such as chicken and minced meat, and foods containing them, such as casseroles, curries and lasagne.