Cooking and Reheating Guidelines
Most foods reheat very quickly in your oven by HIGH power. Meals can be brought back to serving temperature in just minutes and will taste freshly cooked and NOT leftover. Always check food is piping hot and return to oven if necessary.
As a general rule, always cover wet foods, e.g. soups, casseroles and plated meals.
Do not cover dry foods e.g. bread rolls, mince pies, sausage rolls etc.
The charts on pages
Remember when cooking or reheating any food that it should be stirred or turned wherever possible. This ensures even cooking or reheating on the outside and in the centre.
When is food reheated?
Food that has been reheated or cooked should be served “piping hot” i.e. steam should be visibly emitted from all parts. As long as good hygiene practices have been followed during the preparation and storage of the food, then cooking or reheating presents no safety risks.
Foods that cannot be stirred should be cut with a knife to test that they are adequately heated throughout. Even if a manufacturer’s instructions or the times in the cookbook have been followed, it is still important to check the food is heated thoroughly. If in doubt, always return to the oven for further reheating.
If you cannot find the equivalent food in the chart then choose a similar type and size listed and adjust the cooking time if necessary.
MINCE PIES - CAUTION
REMEMBER even if the pastry is cold to the touch, the filling will be piping hot and will warm the pastry through. Take care not to overheat otherwise burning can occur due to the high fat and sugar content of the filling. Check the temperature of the filling before consuming to avoid burning your mouth.
CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS AND
LIQUIDS - CAUTION
Take great care when reheating these items. See Page 6.
Do not leave unattended.
Do not add extra alcohol.
BABIES’ BOTTLES - CAUTION
Milk or formula MUST be shaken thoroughly before heating and again at the end and tested carefully before feeding a baby.
See page 25 for details.
PLATED MEALS
Everyone’s appetite varies and reheat times depend on meal contents. Dense items e.g. mashed potato, should be spread out well. If a lot of gravy is added, extra time may be required. Place denser items to the outside of the plate. Between
CANNED FOODS
Remove foods from can and place in a suitable dish before heating.
SOUPS
Use a bowl and stir before heating and at least once through reheat time and again at the end.
CASSEROLES
Stir halfway through and again at the end of heating.
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU USE YOUR MICROWAVE TO STERILISE BABIES’ BOTTLES. If you have a special microwave steriliser we urge extreme caution, due to the low quantity of water involved. It is vital to follow the manufacturers instructions implicitly.
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