TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA – Almost everyone will like the opor and rendang menu. These two menus are usually always served during Eid.
Both are very iconic and have become mandatory dishes when Eid al-Fitr arrives. During Eid, opor and rendang are usually made in large quantities to be eaten with the extended family.
But unfortunately, the opor and rendang dishes are sometimes not finished straight away, and are then used as side dishes in the next few days.
When they are about to be served, these two foods are usually first heated over a fire with the aim of making them delicious again.
The heating process can even be done several times or repeatedly depending on the conditions and availability of opor and rendang.
The heating process will often only be stopped if the two foods are stale or about to run out. Even though this is not good for health.
Dangers of heating coconut milk foods
Indriati Solo Baru Hospital Nutritionist, Rista Yulianti Mataputun, S.Gz., explains the reason.
According to him, opor and rendang are foods made from a mixture of coconut milk. This is what makes opor and rendang not recommended to be heated repeatedly.
He explained that coconut milk is actually included in the good fat category. Coconut milk contains fatty acids and trilycerides which are easily burned by the body.
However, if it is heated or warmed repeatedly, the fat in coconut milk can unfortunately turn into saturated fat.
This type of fat is known to increase levels of bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the body, thereby increasing the risk of blocked blood vessels and even heart disease.
“If dishes containing coconut milk are heated many times, a layer of oil will form. “This is what causes this dish to be dangerous,” explained Rista when interviewed by Kompas.com, Tuesday (19/5/2020).
Coconut milk should not be cooked too long. Apart from that, he recommends that you should not cook food containing coconut milk for too long.
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As with cooking repeatedly, cooking coconut milk for too long can also make the coconut milk a source of saturated fat.
“Coconut milk should be added last (into the pot or pan) or most importantly, don’t leave it on the heat for too long,” he explained.
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Rista understands that many people have heated opor and rendang, especially when Eid arrives. This is done to prevent wasteful actions due to throwing away food.
He is of the opinion that, in a month, it is okay to eat heated opor or rendang a maximum of 3 times. However, consumption of these foods should still be accompanied by nutrient-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables.
“I think many people have experienced this (eating reheated opor and rendang several times). This is still allowed but keep the frequency around 2-3 times per month.
“However, it would clearly be better if coconut milk dishes were not heated,” he explained.
This article was published on Kompas.com with the title Beware of the Bad Effects of Eating Opor and Rendang that are Reheated Repeatedly
Author: Irawan Sapto Adhi
