36
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 37-46 show you the best
way to cook or reheat your favourite foods.
The best method depends on the type of food.
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 prepa ra tion 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 manufac tur erʼs
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.
Plated meals
Everyoneʼs 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 3-5 mins. on HIGH power
will reheat an average portion.
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.
Take great care when reheating these items.
See Page 12.
Do not leave unattended.
Do not add extra alcohol.
Milk or formula MUST be shaken thoroughly
before heating and again at the end and
tested carefully before feeding a baby.
See page 37 for details.
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU
USE YOUR MICROWAVE TO STERILISE
BABIESʼ 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.
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.
