En-9
English
Many convenience foods are readily available in supermarkets. You may
also wish to reheat homecooked food or leftovers. This can all be done
safely in your oven, however you must check the food carefully to see if it
is piping hot before serving, just as you would in a conventional oven.
Chilled foods to be reheated must also be stored correctly.
How do I choose which method to reheat by?
The heat method i.e. Microwave only or Combination, depends on the
type of food to be reheated. For foods that do not require browning,
reheat by microwave only. For foods that do require browning, reheat by
Combination.
How long do I reheat foods for?
There are reheating charts for Microwave and Combination: these
charts give timings that are a guideline ONLY, as the exact time will
depend on the weight of the food, size of the dish used and start
temperature.
What should I do if the food I am reheating does not appear
in the charts?
It is not possible to test every food available for the following charts,
however we have selected a great variety of foods, and suggest that by
following the guidelines given, you can reheat safely and successfully.
Stirring and Turning
Whenever possible, foods should be stirred or turned over during
reheating. This helps ensure that the food reheats evenly on the outside
and in the centre.
Standing Time
Many foods require a STANDING TIME after reheating. Standing time is
a rest time which allows the heat in the food to continue to transfer to the
centre, thus eliminating cold spots. If the food has been covered during
the reheating time, then leave the covering on during the standing time.
Stand time is particularly important for dense foods e.g. Lasagnes,
Gratins, etc and those foods that cannot be stirred during reheating.
When is food reheated?
Reheated food 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 reheating
by microwave or Combination present no added safety risks.
Foods that cannot be stirred should be cut with a knife to test that they
are well heated through.
Even if manufacturerʼs instructions or the times in the reheating charts
have been followed, it is still important to check that the food is piping
hot. If in doubt, always return the food to your oven for further reheating.
Reheating by Microwave
Reheating
Food Weight/quantity Fresh Frozen
DELICATESSEN STARTERS
- croque monsieur 1 piece (170 g) MAX 1 min MAX 2 mins 30 secs to 3 mins
2 pieces (320 g) MAX 2 mins MAX 5 mins
- shellfish (1) 1 piece (170 g) MAX 2 mins MAX 3 mins
2 pieces (220 g) – MAX 6 to 7 mins
- unfilled pancake (1) 1 piece MAX 30 secs –
- stuffed pancake (1) (2) 1 piece (150 g) MAX 2 mins MAX 3 to 4 mins
2 pieces (300 g) – MAX 5 mins
- soup (1) (2) 400 g MAX 4 mins –
1 litre MAX 6 to 7 mins MAX 11 to 12 mins
- small pizza (1) 1 piece (160 g) MAX 1 min MAX 2 mins 30 secs to 3 mins
- small quiche (1) 1 piece (130 g) 600 W 1 min 10 secs MAX 3 mins
- Nem, Samosa (2) 2 pieces (150 g) MAX 20 to 30 secs MAX 4 mins
READY-COOKED DISHES
- stuffed tomatoes (1) 1 piece (170 g) MAX 2 mins MAX 6 to 7 mins
- Chilli con Carne (1) (2) 400 g MAX 3 mins 40 secs –
- Chicken Korma with rice (2) (3) 350 g – MAX 6 mins
- Quenelles (1) (2) 4 pieces (320 g) 440 W 4 mins –
6 pieces (240 g) – 600 W 6 mins
- Snails (1) 12 pieces (100 g) 250 W 3 to 4 mins 440 W 3 to 4 min in their tray
- Gratin dishes (starchy with meat) (1) 300 - 400 g MAX 3 mins MAX 8 to 10 mins
600 g MAX 6 to 8 mins MAX 13 to 14 mins
1 kg MAX 10 to 11 mins MAX 16 to 18 mins