8 Leftovers That Really Don't Reheat Well - Tasting Table

"You've filled your plate with something delicious, but halfway through, you find that you just can't stomach any more. You could throw the remainder in the trash, of course, but that's a huge waste of food you should avoid if you care about sustainability in the kitchen. That's why keeping your leftovers is generally a good idea. However, there are some types of foods that don't reheat well the next day, leaving you with a smelly kitchen,"

"When you order a steak (or you make one at home), you have to think about how well done you want it to be. If you're the kind of person who prefers their steak medium rare, for instance, then you know how important it is for that steak not to be overcooked, which can result in a tougher texture and less impressive flavor. It only makes sense, then, that reheating a steak could cause some problems on both the flavor and texture fronts."

"After all, you're messing with that delicate balance of doneness, potentially resulting in a chewier, less pleasant piece of meat. One thing is for sure: You should definitely avoid the microwave to reheat your steak. You may be able to use the oven or the stovetop for a gentler reheating process, but even so, your steak isn't likely to taste like it did when it was fresh off the grill."

Leftovers prevent food waste and support kitchen sustainability, but certain foods reheat poorly and suffer in texture, flavor, or aroma. Steak can become tougher and chewier when reheated because reheating alters the balance of doneness; microwaving is especially damaging while oven or stovetop reheating is gentler yet unlikely to replicate fresh-grilled taste. Fish releases strong, lingering odors when reheated, particularly in the microwave, which can permeate shared spaces and annoy others. Evaluating which leftovers to keep and choosing appropriate reheating methods or taking extra servings initially helps avoid unpleasant reheated meals.

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