Reheating Food

Reheating foods for meal prep and Leftovers

Shrimp and Seafood

It usually works to reheat the way the seafood was originally prepared. For the shrimp, they were cooked in a pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Heat until the shrimp are warmed through (about 2-3 minutes). Reheating the same way will work within 1 to 3 days. Another way would be to place the shrimp on a parchment-lined baking sheet and reheat in a pre-heated 325 degree Fahrenheit oven for five to seven minutes or until they're fully warmed through.

Some clients, along with myself, use the microwave to reheat most items for 1.5 - 2 minutes depending on how warm/hot you would like your food. I would remove the lid and place a damp paper-towel over the container when using the microwave.

Most foods and seafood can be reheated in the oven at a temperature of 325 – 350 degrees. Shrimp can also be done this way. You will want to use a thermometer and bring the temperature up to about 165 degrees for service.

Steaks and Meats

I recommend placing a damp paper towel on top of the meat, using your microwave’s medium heat setting, and heating the meats in 30- second intervals, while flipping in between. The total time depends on the size and thickness of the meat, as well as your microwave, but 90 seconds to 2 minutes is a good estimate.

How to Reheat Meal Prep on Stove

Reheating food on the stove is best for anything cooked on the stove, which generally includes stews, soups, sauces, curries, rice dishes, pasta dishes, and meat dishes.

The advantage of using a stove is that you get more control over the heat. Similar to microwave, you can reheat your food covered or uncovered, but I find that slightly covering the dish will keep it moist and cook evenly.

Also, make sure to use a little bit of oil or water on the pan, which helps keep the food temperature constant. You can reheat it by either stirring or not, depending on whether you want to break the food apart while heating it.

For soups, sauces, curries, and chilis, make sure to bring it up to a boil before reducing the heat again. This maintains the temperature and ensures that your food is fully cooked and piping hot.

For dishes like rice, pasta, and stews, bring it up to a simmer before reducing the heat again. This will ensure that your meal-prepped food is warm enough but not overcooked.

How to Reheat Meal Prep in Oven

Reheating meal prepped food in the oven is also an excellent option to consider. Remember that reheating with an oven is best with food initially cooked in the oven.

Despite taking slightly longer than other methods, reheating in the oven is effective for meat dishes, baked pasta, casseroles, sheet pan meals, and more.

To reheat meal prep or leftover food in the oven, stick them uncovered or covered with aluminum foil to maintain moisture.