The reason why you should not reuse burnt oil
By
Gretel Morales - 2024-04-11T12:51:43Z
At kiwilimón, we know that avoiding waste in the kitchen and saving as much as possible is a priority for all of us. While you can often choose to use leftovers from the previous day and reuse packaging, glass bottles, and more, the burnt oil is one of the things that should never be reused! Here’s why. You can also read: Discover why trans fats threaten your healthIs frying food bad? Yes, we know that while it is ideal to eat based on the plate of good eating and include fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains, healthy fats, and plenty of water, sometimes it’s okay to treat ourselves and eat nuggets, French fries, milanesa, and other fried dishes. Although consuming fried food or junk food occasionally does not have serious health consequences, it is important to highlight that frying all your dishes or consuming these types of foods daily is not advisable for the following reasons: 1. Fried food contains many more calories It’s better to cook things grilled or steamed. 2. Junk food threatens your health According to experts from Healthline, consuming this type of food increases your chances of developing heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity, and even diabetes. 3. Beware of trans fats! Many processed or fried foods contain this type of fat, which is very harmful to our health, as consuming them increases the risk of various diseases. Kiwilimón tip: If you want to keep enjoying crispy golden tacos or make tortilla chips without liters of oil, then cook in your air fryer. This tool makes your dishes incredibly crispy without needing to use much oil. See also: Saturated fats: What are they and why are they harmful?Is it bad to reuse burnt oil? When we are in the kitchen, it is common to have a little leftover oil after frying tacos, milanesa, and more. So, many times we save that burnt oil to reuse it the next time we cook. Although this practice is very common in Mexican kitchens, we have bad news for everyone who does it regularly, as a recent scientific study shows that consuming burnt oil can harm your health. The portal Medical News Today explains that a study on rodents indicated a “potential link between long-term consumption of reused cooking oil and an increase in neurodegeneration.” This specialized outlet also notes that rodents “on a diet containing reheated oils exhibited significantly higher levels of neurodegeneration compared to rats on a standard diet.” These harmful effects on the brain could be due to the fact that burnt cooking oil, which is then reheated, might “disrupt the gut-brain axis, which is crucial for maintaining a physiological balance and has also been linked to neurological disorders.” That scientists have discovered that reheated burnt oil can damage the brain is no small matter, even though the research was conducted on rodents. However, experts will likely conduct more tests and even clinical trials in humans to uncover the effects of this ingredient on health. So now you know, your diet is essential for maintaining good health, and you can use the plate of good eating to balance your diet. If you have any questions about the topic of fats and how they affect your health, do not hesitate to consult a specialist or your family doctor. Read more: 10 healthy fat-free meal recipes