# Prepared food that's only good when fresh **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606 "2017-07-06T14:52:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/21 "2017-07-06T18:16:32Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Pizza reheated in a pan on top of the stove is almost better than fresh. Just heat up a nonstick pan, throw in a couple slices of pizza. Flip it over so the cheese side is down for part of the cooking process (really, it works) but also make sure to leave the crust side down long enough to re-crisp the crust. Just what I came in to post. You can also just cover the skillet lightly with foil while the pizza is heating up crust side down, and the trapped heat will re-melt all the cheese without flipping. We’ve come to prefer pizza re-crisped this way to fresh out of the oven. You can also re-crisp cold french fries this way. Since I really love Five Guys’ fries, I like to bring home a batch to serve with the steaks or chops I’m preparing for dinner. Just as I take the steak off the fire, I start re-crisping the Five Guys fries and the two dishes are ready to serve together. My contribution to the thread: risotto doesn’t reheat worth a damn. It’ll never be the soft, flowy mass of tender rice again, no matter what you do. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/22 "2017-07-06T18:19:51Z")
> [@Clark\_Cello](#): > > Depends how you do it. If you microwave it, agreed, it is bad. If you heat it gently in the often, it is a little better, but generally dry and not great. However, if you vacuum seal it and heat it gently in a hot water bath, it is pretty good. Not as good as fresh, but I will happily eat it. Not even the over, which I’ve learned in the hot hot west where we don’t like oven this time of year. I use the defrost function on the microwave all the time. More even heating. For me, it’s those skinny fast food French fries, clearly only meant to be eaten on the drive from point A to point B which should not be longer than 3 minutes. Nothing from Taco Bell can be reheated. Ever. Jack In The Box tacos cannot be reheated, Ever ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/23 "2017-07-06T18:47:21Z")
Anything with alfredo sauce. It just gets all gloppy and disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/24 "2017-07-06T18:54:13Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Nothing worse than day-old Guacamole. How about two day old Guacamole? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/25 "2017-07-06T20:12:42Z")
Rice. White rice refrigerated or left alone for a few hours turns into a bowl of crystal shards. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/26 "2017-07-06T20:23:34Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Rice. White rice refrigerated or left alone for a few hours turns into a bowl of crystal shards. That’s the basis for a great fried rice! Fried rice practically requires day-old, leftover rice. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/27 "2017-07-06T20:30:27Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Rice. White rice refrigerated or left alone for a few hours turns into a bowl of crystal shards. That is fixable! 1. Wet a paper towel,squeeze out the extra water 2. Cover rice with wet towel 3. Use microwave to reheat rice. I like 3 minutes on medium power for a plate of leftovers, YMMV. Presto! Rice that’s nearly as good as fresh! ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/28 "2017-07-06T20:38:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Also, most seafood. Shrimp fresh off the barbie are wonderful. 20 minutes later, not so much. Definitely fish. Particularly battered deep fried fish(Fish’n’Chips type). Fried chicken is so much better cold out of the fridge, but fish just isn’t. There are a couple places that serve like a pound and a half of fish on Fridays, and offer you a doggie bag. But there is no way known to man or elf that can turn yesterdays fried fish into something good again. > [@](#): > > Nothing worse than day-old Guacamole. No. guac doesn’t really blend it’s flavors completely for 8-24 hours, 24-48 hours is peak Guac,but it is still good after that. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/29 "2017-07-06T21:38:53Z")
Fried chicken livers are amazing fresh, but once they cool off they’re meh and if you reheat them they get hard. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Nothing worse than day-old Guacamole. > [@running\_coach](#): > > How about two day old Guacamole? Where are you guys getting _leftover_ guacamole? I’ve never heard of such. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/30 "2017-07-06T23:32:04Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Salad. > > Most cold sandwiches. Yes, I agree. I guess this goes along with the bread thing too. A leftover half of a hoagie is never as good as the first half. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/31 "2017-07-06T23:46:09Z")
Soba noodles. Ramen. Soufflé. Omelet. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/32 "2017-07-06T23:48:20Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > Where are you guys getting _leftover_ guacamole? I’ve never heard of such. Doesn’t happen often, but when it does… Actually, there is a little game we play at my house. I cook enough food for the family. But since they ate a tub of sour cream and a box of Pop Tarts an hour earlier, they don’t eat what I spent time and money on preparing. Drinking ensues. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/33 "2017-07-07T00:33:47Z")
Buffalo (or similarly sauced) chicken wings. They’re good for about 5-10 minutes out of the fryer, then it’s a soggy mess of spicy acidic chicken. Krispy Kreme donuts (or really, any yeast-raised donuts). Only worth it if they’re hot out of the fryer. For that matter, pretty much anything deep fried. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/34 "2017-07-07T00:39:46Z")
> [@Clark\_Cello](#): > > Depends how you do it. If you microwave it, agreed, it is bad. If you heat it gently in the often, it is a little better, but generally dry and not great. However, if you vacuum seal it and heat it gently in a hot water bath, it is pretty good. Not as good as fresh, but I will happily eat it. I find it generally reheats fine if, like you say, you reheat it slowly. I normally don’t sauce my brisket, but when I reheat it, I’ll reheat it slowly with a little bit of sauce, apple juice (which I more often use for smoked pork shoulder), or even a little bit of beef stock. If it wasn’t dry off the smoker, I haven’t found it problematic when reheated. Sure, it’s a little different, but it’s still delicious. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/35 "2017-07-07T00:59:21Z")
Hamburgers need to be eaten at the restaurant. They just aren’t as good if you take them home. They cool off and the fat congeals. They aren’t juicy anymore. Donuts have to be eaten fresh out of the fryer. They aren’t the same after they get cold. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/36 "2017-07-07T01:17:45Z")
Actually, I kinda fundamentally disagree with the OP entirely. Sorta. It is the rare food that can’t be transmogrified into something delicious as leftovers. Sure, that mac & cheese isn’t going to be as good **as m & c** later. But it will be magnificent as a component of Bachelor Chow. Ditto that baguette. Don’t eat it as bread, eat it as croutons, or bread pudding. If you just try to recreate what the dish originally was, _of course_ you will be disappointed. You have to be _creative_. Brisket becomes BBQ beef becomes hash. The exception to the leftover rule is foods that spoil uber-quickly, like guacamole. I have never found a use for day-old guac. Don’t get me started on fast food fries. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/37 "2017-07-07T07:32:47Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Nothing worse than day-old Guacamole. I sort of agree, but my tip for this is to flatten the surface of the left over Guacamole (sure…“left over” like that ever happens!) and pat down a layer of cling-film over the surface. No discolouration and the taste remains pretty fresh. But yes, in general it is far better made and eaten within the same half-hour. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/38 "2017-07-07T09:25:05Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Nothing worse than day-old Guacamole. Put the guacamole and half an onion in a sealable container and the onion will keep the guacamole fresh. Same for a plain half avocado. Has anyone mentioned oysters yet? Fresh oysters are delicious, but they absolutely do not keep. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606/39 "2017-07-07T15:21:32Z")
To all the objectively correct answers above I’ll add these Thai dumplings (saku sai moo) with a tapioca shell. [Tapioca Dumplings - Saku Sai Moo สาคูไส้หมู - ThaiTable.com](http://www.thaitable.com/thai/recipe/tapioca-dumplings) They are transcendently delicious when fresh or, even better, a few hours old (they’re better at room-temp than piping hot, IMO). But refrigeration hardens the tapioca into hard, gummy, chewy awfulness. Careful, fiddle reheating will make them mostly edible again, but still disappointing, because the memory of the fresh ones still lingers from the day before. PS: Athena, you are a wise goddess – I will have to try reheating some leftover pizza in a skillet, including flipping it to cheese side down. It may be a while, though, because most good pizza is pretty awesome cold! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepared-food-thats-only-good-when-fresh/790606.md?page=1)