IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN REHEATING COLD FOODS
STARTING TEMPERATURE —
Foods taken from the refrigerator will take longer to reheat than foods from room temperature.
Quantity —
One serving heats faster than several servings. When heating large quantities, stir food to ensure even heating. It is quicker to heat individual plates of food than large quantities in a casserole dish.
Plated Dinners —
Arrange foods with the most dense items towards the outside of the plate. Cover meats with sauces/ gravies if desired, spread out mashed potatoes or rice so it heats more evenly. When assembling plates of leftover foods, use foods which have a similar starting temperature.
Covering Foods —
Most foods need to be covered with one sheet of absorbent paper towel to hold in the heat and prevent splattering without steaming. When more moisture is desired, cover with plastic wrap.
Heating —
Reheating is usually done on High, however, if food has a more delicate texture, like a baked custard, a lower power setting should be used. Medium for a little longer will be gentler on the food. An average plate of food would generally take 1 to 3 minutes to heat depending on the density of the food. Place it in for the minimum time and add extra heating time if required.
Ensure food is hot by feeling the bottom of the plate in the centre. If the plate is cool, food may be warm but will lose heat quickly as the plate will absorb the heat and taste cold when served.
If food is not heated enough, consumption may cause illness.
Elevation —
Elevate pastries and breads on a small plastic rack with paper towel under the food to prevent it from becoming soggy.
Caution:
Pastry items which have a filling that is high in fat., sugar or moisture will become hotter in the centre and the pastry may only feel warm. Ensure you allow it to stand for several minutes before eating.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN REHEATING FOODS FROM THE FREEZER
VOLUME —
The greater the volume and the more dense the item, the longer it takes to reheat. E.g. frozen cake will take less time than frozen casserole.
LARGE VOLUME —
Large, dense, frozen precooked foods are best thawed on defrost until icy in the centre then heated on
Commercial frozen foods —
These foods should be removed from their foil containers if possible and placed into suitable microwave safe containers. If a foil container is used in the microwave oven it shouldn’t be more than 4 cm high and must not touch the interior of the microwave oven. Remove the cover from the tray and replace with paper towel or plastic wrap to prevent splattering.
Foods to be served at room temperature —
For best results, defrost for a short time and allow to stand to complete thawing, e.g. frozen cake.
Vacuum sealed pouches —
Pierce pouches, bags before heating to allow steam to escape. This prevents bursting.
Containers —
Use dishes about the same volume of the food or slightly larger to allow for stirring. Remove or release snap seal lids other wise they will pop during heating and may disfigure.
Pies and pastries —
Pies and pastries that contain raw pastry and filling cannot be cooked in the microwave oven. Precooked products can be thawed and heated. Place them on a sheet of paper towel and elevate on plastic rack for best results. For added crispness place under the grill or in a hot oven for few minutes. Pastry items can become tough and rubbery if overheated, remember to allow 5 minutes standing then test before adding extra heating time.
Reheat
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