27
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 28-33 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 4-7 mins. on
HIGH power will reheat an
average portion. Do not
stack meals.
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.
MINCE PIES - CAUTION
CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS
AND LIQUIDS - 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.
BABIES BOTTLES -
CAUTION
Milk or formula MUST be shaken
thoroughly before heating and
again at the end and tested
carefully before feeding a baby.
For 7-8 fl.oz. of milk from fridge
temperature, remove top and teat.
Heat on HIGH power for 25-30
secs.
CHECK CAREFULLY.
For 3 fl.oz. of milk from fridge
temperature, remove top and teat.
Heat on HIGH power for 10-15
secs.
CHECK CAREFULLY.
N.B. Liquid at top of bottle will be
much hotter than at bottom. The
bottle must be shaken
thouroughly and tested before
use.
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.
Take great care when reheating
these items.
Do not leave unattended.
Do not add extra alcohol.
