Convenience Foods
Microwaves and convenience foods make a perfect partnership. You can often defrost, reheat and serve a dish in the same container, which saves time and washing up. I can’t stress enough, though, that you must make sure food is piping hot throughout before serving - not just nicely warm - otherwise germs can breed and serious food poisoning can result.
In this section, you’ll find general hints and defrosting and heating times for many favourite convenience foods. If I refer to a frozen item (such as a frozen lasagne) and you have a cooked and chilled one, simply omit the defrosting time and use only the reheating time. If you have taken your dish straight from the fridge, however, you may need to add a little extra heating time.
The ‘piping hot’ test
Food must be piping hot throughout, not just warm. The best test is to insert a knife down through the centre of the heated food. Hold there for 5 seconds, then remove. The blade should be burning hot to touch. If not, microwave a little longer and check again.
Reheating ready-made foods
Many ready-made foods can be reheated in the microwave, for example, pizzas, baked beans, canned pasta, soups and stews, frozen and cook-chill meals. Followthe manufacturer’s instructions on the packet or can. Always remove any foil containers and empty canned foods into a bowl. Stir canned foods and cook-chill items in sauces several times during heating to distribute the heat evenly. Remember always to pierce the bag of boil-in-the-bag foods.
Plated meals
Always arrange plated meals with the densest, thickest foods towards the outside of the plate. Ideally, leave the centre clear or containing only peas or other low-density items. Potatoes, in particular, take quite a while to reheat. Make sure they are not cut too large. Also, make sure the food is completely covered with a lid or dome before reheating or the edges are likely to dry out before the centre is heated. It is a good idea to add gravy or a sauce too, to prevent drying.
To test whether the food is hot throughout, touch the centre of the underside of the plate with your fingers. It should feel piping hot.
You can heat several plated meals at the same time, using microwave stacking rings. Rearrange the plates during heating so that they all receive the same amount of microwave energy.
Pies
You can’t cook these successfully in the microwave but they can be reheated (see individual entries). Take care not to overheat or the pastry (paste) will be unpalatably tough. You can, if necessary, crisp the crust under a hot grill (broiler) after heating, but take care not to burn it!
Defrosting and heating times for convenience foods
Frozen ready-meals can be cooked from frozen on Medium, but for best results defrost, then cook. As a rough guide to the time for cooking from frozen on Medium, add together the defrost and cooking times given on the following pages.
Canned baked beans or pasta
Reheating: Empty the beans into a bowl or serving dish. Stir once or twice during heating.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750W |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
425g/15oz/1 large can |
4 mins |
3 mins |
3 mins |
2½-3 mins |
|
225g/8oz/1 small can |
2 mins |
l½ mins |
1 min |
1 min |
Standing time: None. Stir and serve.
Canned baked beans or pasta on toast
Reheating: Make the toast in the normal way and butter, if liked. Place on a serving plate. Spoon 1 quantity of cold baked beans over.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 portion on toast |
2 mins |
1½ mins |
1 min |
1 min |
Standing time: None. Serve straight away.
Canned savoury mince or stew
Reheating: Turn into a dish. Cover with a lid or clingfilm (plastic wrap), rolled back at one edge.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
425g/15oz/1 large can |
4-5 mins |
3½-4 mins |
3½ mins |
3 mins |
For a quick shepherd’s pie, after heating, top with mashed potato and flash under a hot grill (broiler) to brown.
Standing time: 2 minutes, covered with a dome of foil.
Canned steak and kidney pudding
Preparation: Remove the pudding from the can and turn out on to a plate. Cover with a pudding basin, large enough not to come in contact with the pudding.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
Family-size |
7½-9 mins |
6-7½ mins |
4½-6 mins |
4½ mins |
|
Individual |
2½-3 mins |
2-2½ mins |
1½-2 mins |
1½ mins |
Standing time: 2-3 minutes.
Canned frankfurters
Preparation: Empty with their liquid into a casserole dish (Dutch oven). Shake the dish once or twice during heating.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650W |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
8-10 |
3-4 mins |
2½-3½ mins |
2-3 mins |
2½ mins |
Standing time: 1 minute. Drain and serve.
Hot dogs
Preparation: Prick 4 hot dog sausages and place in finger rolls. Wrap individually in kitchen paper (paper towels) and arrange in a circle on a plate or the turntable. If serving with onions,
cook these first.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
4 |
3 mins |
2 mins |
1 min |
1 min |
Standing time: None. Open the kitchen paper, add cooked onions, if liked, ketchup (catsup) and mustard and serve straight away.
Smoked pork ring
Preparation: Place in its package in a shallow dish. Pierce the bag in several places. Turn over halfway through heating.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 |
4 mins |
3½ mins |
3 mins |
2½-3 mins |
Standing time: 2 minutes. Cut open the bag, remove and slice.
Boil-in-the-bag frozen fish in sauce, frozen stew or casserole
Reheat from frozen.
Reheating: Pierce the bag and stand it on a plate. Flex the bag once or twice during heating. Alternatively, cook on Medium for an extra ½-1 minute.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 portion |
4mins |
3½ mins |
3mins |
2½-3 mins |
Standing time: 2 minutes.
Frozen macaroni cheese
Defrosting: Remove any foil packaging and place on a plate or in a dish.
|
Quantity |
Time on Medium-Low (all power outputs) |
|
Family-size |
8 mins |
|
Individual |
5 mins |
Standing time: Family-size: 6 minutes. Individual portion: 2 minutes.
Reheating: Increase the microwave output to Full Power.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
Family-size |
6 mins |
5 min |
4 mins |
3½-4mins |
|
Individual |
2 mins |
1½ mins |
1-1½ mins |
1 min |
Standing time: 2-3 minutes. Test with a knife to check it is piping hot.
Frozen plated meal
Defrosting: Remove any foil wrapping. Cover with a lid or microwave dome.
|
Quantity |
Time on Medium-Low (all power outputs) |
|
1 plate |
5 mins |
Standing time: 2 minutes.
Reheating: Increase the microwave output to Full Power.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 plate |
4-5 mins |
3½-4½ mins |
3-4 mins |
3-3½ mins |
Standing time: 2 minutes.
Yorkshire puddings
Reheating: Put 4-6 puddings in a circle on a sheet of kitchen paper (paper towel) on a plate.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
4 large individual or 6 small individual |
40 secs |
30 secs |
20 secs |
20 secs |
Standing time: 1 minute. If reheating from frozen, add on a few extra seconds per pudding.
Quiches, flans (pies) and tarts
Defrosting: Remove any foil packaging and place on a plate or in a flan dish (pie pan).
|
Quantity |
Time on Medium-Low (all power outputs) |
|
1 x 20 cm/8 in |
4mins |
Standing time: 5 minutes.
Reheating: Turn the microwave output to Full Power.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650W |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 x 20 cm/8 in |
4mins |
3½ mins |
3 mins |
2½-3 mins |
After heating, the pastry (paste) should feel warm and the filling piping hot. If not, heat for slightly longer.
Standing time: 2 minutes.
Double crust pie
Defrosting: Remove from any foil container. Place on a plate or in a shallow dish, if necessary.
|
Quantity |
Time on Medium-Low (all power outputs) |
|
1 x 20 cm/8 in pie |
4 mins |
Standing time: 5 minutes.
Reheating: Turn the microwave output to Full Power. Pierce the top crust in several places with a sharp knife.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750W |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 x 20 cm/8 in |
4-5 mins |
3½-4½ mins |
3-4 mins |
3-3½ mins |
Heat just until the pastry (paste) feels warm – the filling will be much hotter and it must be piping hot before serving. Don’t overheat or the pastry will become very soggy. If this happens, crisp under a preheated grill (broiler).
Standing time: 5 minutes.
Mince pies, vol-au-vents and individual fruit pies
Defrosting: Arrange in a circle on a plate after removing any foil containers.
|
Quantity |
Time on Medium-Low (all power outputs) |
|
1 |
30 secs |
|
2 |
45 secs |
|
3 |
1 min |
|
4 |
l½ mins |
Standing time: 5 minutes.
Reheating: Arrange in a circle on the turntable or a plate after removing any foil containers.
|
Quantity |
Time on Medium (all power outputs) |
|
1 |
15-20 secs |
|
2 |
30-40 secs |
|
3 |
45-50 secs |
|
4 |
1 min |
Heat only until the pastry (paste) feels warm -the filling will be much hotter. If you overcook them, they will be extremely soggy.
Standing time: 2 minutes.
Sausage rolls
These are best reheated, not just defrosted, before eating.
Defrosting: Arrange in a circle on a plate after removing any wrapping or foil containers. Turn over once during defrosting.
|
Quantity |
Time on Medium-Low (all power outputs) |
|
1 medium |
1 min |
Standing time: 5 minutes, or until completely defrosted.
Reheating: Place on a piece of kitchen paper (paper towel).
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power (all power outputs) |
|
1 |
15-20 secs |
|
2 |
30-40 secs |
|
3 |
45-50 secs |
|
4 |
1 min |
To re-crisp the pastry (paste), place briefly under a hot grill (broiler). Standing time: 1 minute.
Pizza
Defrosting: Remove all packaging and place on a microwave rack.
|
Quantity |
Time on Medium-Low (all power outputs) |
|
1 x 20 cm/ 8 in pizza |
4 mins |
Standing time: 5 minutes.
Reheating: For a crisp base, cook on a browning dish or place on a microwave rack so that steam can circulate and stop the base getting too soggy. For slices, test after 10 seconds. Do not overcook.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 x 20 cm/8 in pizza |
6 mins |
4½ mins |
3 mins |
2½-3 mins |
|
1 slice |
20-25 secs |
15-20 secs |
15 secs |
15 secs |
Standing time: 2 minutes.
Chinese take-away
Reheating: Turn into containers and cover. Stir frequently to distribute the heat evenly. You can heat up to 4 separate portions successfully.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 portion |
3½ mins |
2½-3 mins |
2-2½ mins |
1½-2 mins |
|
2 portions |
6 mins |
5 mins |
4 mins |
3 mins |
|
3 portions |
9 mins |
8 mins |
7 mins |
6-6½ mins |
|
4 portions |
12 mins |
11 mins |
10 mins |
9-9½ mins |
Standing time: 2 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. Stir and serve.
Pancakes
Reheating: Place in a stack on kitchen paper (paper towels) on a plate. Cover with more kitchen paper. Alternatively, wrap in a clean napkin. Turn the stack over halfway through heating time.
|
Quantity |
Time on Full Power |
|||
|
600-650w |
700-750w |
800-850w |
900-1000w |
|
|
1 |
10-15 secs |
10 secc |
10 secs |
10 secs |
|
8 |
1½ mins |
1-1½ mins |
1 min |
½-1 min |
Standing time: 1 minute. Serve immediately.