5 types of water that should not be stored in a thermos

Here are 5 types of drinks that should not be stored in a thermos.

Milk

Cold weather makes drinking cold milk uncomfortable, so many people like to heat it up and store it in a thermos to drink gradually. However, this is not the right way to do it.

Milk is rich in nutrients and the warm environment in a thermos creates conditions for bacteria to grow, making the milk susceptible to spoilage. Furthermore, the proteins in milk are also susceptible to change when left at high temperatures for a long time, reducing its nutritional value.

If you need to use a thermos to store milk, drink it within an hour.

Chinese medicine

Many people, for the convenience of carrying it, put the decoction into a thermos. However, the composition of traditional Chinese medicine is very complex and acidic or alkaline. Thermos are usually made of stainless steel and contain metal elements such as manganese, iron, chromium and nickel. When traditional Chinese medicine comes into contact with these metals, a chemical reaction may occur, reducing the effectiveness of the medicine or creating harmful substances.

In addition, Chinese medicine can easily deteriorate if left in high temperatures for a long time. It is best to store Chinese medicine in glass or ceramic cups to preserve the effectiveness of the medicine.

Acidic drinks and carbonated water

Acidic drinks such as fruit juices and carbonated water should not be stored in thermos bottles. These acids can corrode the stainless steel inside the bottle, damaging the coating and releasing heavy metals into the water, posing a health hazard.

If you put too much or shake it vigorously, the CO2 gas in the carbonated water will escape, creating high pressure, leading to the risk of explosion or spilling water when the lid is opened. Instead of using a thermos, you should store these drinks in glass or ceramic cups.

Water containing salt

If the beverage contains salt, it should not be left in the thermos for too long. Although the thermos has an anti-corrosion coating, salt water can still destroy this protective layer. It can even release heavy metals, which are harmful to health.

Tea

Tea contains a lot of tannins, caffeine, aromatic oils and vitamins, and is only suitable for brewing with water around 80°C. When brewing tea in a thermos, the high temperature and long heating time will destroy the vitamins, evaporate the aromatic oils, and extract too much tannin and caffeine. This will destroy the flavor of the tea, cause bitterness and increase the risk of harmful substances being produced. In addition, tea left in the thermos for a long time will leave a residue that is difficult to wash off, making the thermos look dirty.

In short, thermos bottles are very convenient but not all drinks are suitable for storing in them. Choose the right type of drink to both preserve the flavor and protect your health and the life of the bottle.