When I bring food on a road trip, I always check if whoever we’re visiting has a microwave oven at their disposal to make sure I can reheat my food with ease. I think I’m far from the only one who rarely considers any other appliance than the microwave oven when it comes to reheating, and that’s basically because it’s such a convenient way of reheating food.
However, everyone doesn’t want to own or use a microwave oven and, therefore, they have to adapt and overcome. Because most houses come equipped with a conventional oven, that will be our second-best option.
An oven can be used to reheat food with great success. In fact, reheating food in an oven is the best way to maintain the quality of the food. It is more time-consuming than a microwave oven and less energy-efficient but for reheating french fries, bread, and pastries, the oven is the way to go as it revives the crust rather than hardening it.
Can I Use an Oven as a Microwave?
The answer to this question will vary depending on what you’re hoping for. Your oven won’t be able to turn a cold meal into a steaming hot one in a matter of two minutes, whereas the microwave can do so with ease.
An oven will need more than a couple of minutes to reach the desired temperature, and while some can reach high temperatures rapidly, they’re not as quick as microwave ovens.
Microwaves start heating the food from the inside-out the second you start the timer in a microwave oven. That’s not the case with a conventional oven as the oven’s elements have to produce heat, which takes time.
However, if all you’re looking for is the end product, which is a warm meal, then you’re definitely able to achieve the same results using an oven.
While reheating food in an oven is more time-consuming, it allows for more food to be heated at the same time than a microwave oven. The extra size and slow warm-up time come with a downside and that’s the cost of running the oven.
I think most of us can afford to run an oven on a daily basis, and I think even more of us can make adjustments in our budget if needed but it’s still something to take into consideration.
How Do You Reheat Food in an Oven?
The goal is to make a cold meal turn warm while still remaining moist, juicy, and full of flavor. It may be tempting to raise the temperature levels in order to speed up the process but be aware as you simply want to heat the meal, not make it dry.
When it comes to keeping food tender and flavorful, reheating in the oven is the most attractive alternative. As long as you approach it the right way, you should expect to restore the meal’s initial glory without making it dry.
Place the cold dish in an oven-safe dish in the middle of the oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit (120°C) and check on it after 5-10-15 minutes. You can choose to cover or wrap the meal in aluminum foil to maintain moisture and heat as it’s being warmed up.
Depending on the dish, the time it takes for the oven to heat the meal will differ.
For a steak, some sausages, and other ingredients that aren’t stacked on top of each other, 10 minutes will probably do the trick. However, lasagna or a pie that’s layered must be heated for more time in order to heat its innermost parts.
At What Temperature Should You Reheat Food in an Oven?
You may find a million different answers to this depending on what you’re reheating but what I’ve found to work for me is to reheat meals at about 250 degrees Fahrenheit, which equals about 120 degrees Celsius.
The first couple of minutes won’t do anything to the meal as the oven is still generating heat. Once the temperature starts rising, I suggest you start checking your meal once in a while to see if it’s reached the desired temperature.
For a steak, simply placing your finger on top of it will give you an idea of how warm it is. Most pieces of meat aren’t extremely thick and when they’re heated from the outside-in, you can expect the inside to be slightly colder than the inside. The difference in temperature between the inside and outside will entirely depend on the thickness of the steak.
Other items, such as casseroles, should be monitored with a thermometer. That way you can actually tell how hot the dish is on the inside, which is of greater importance when a dish is thick or layered to avoid eating food that’s cold on the inside and warm on the outside.
How Long Does It Take To Reheat Food in an Oven?
It depends on the set temperature, of course. However, as I mentioned earlier, when reheating a meal you don’t want to do it at high heat. We’re simply aiming to heat the meal, not cooking it.
It can take anywhere between 5-30 minutes to reheat a meal in the oven depending on the size and thickness of the meal. Smaller pieces will heat up rapidly while larger items sometimes need 20+ minutes to reach desired temperatures.
If you want to reheat a frozen meal, it’s best to let the meal thaw in room temperature for a couple of hours before you place it in the oven. That will give you the best results as the meal won’t be as watered-down when you’ve heated it.
You can try placing the frozen meal in the oven at very low temperatures and let it thaw in there but remember that the meal will reheat in a pool of melted ice.
Is an Oven Better Than a Microwave? Why?
No, neither of them is better than the other as it depends entirely on what qualities you’re looking for. While the microwave oven heats food much faster than a conventional oven, it cannot be used for much more than microwaving, whereas an oven can be used to bake, roast, and more. There are cons and pros to both of these appliances.
Is It Better To Reheat Food in an Oven or a Microwave Oven?
Microwaving food at high temperatures for a short period of time can still result in a substantial loss of nutrients, taste, and moisture. But still, the ability to heat a meal in less than two minutes is still very appealing, and it does work very well with most ingredients.
It should be noted that you can expect a certain loss of nutrients regardless of how you prepare the food, with steaming being the best nutrient-preserving option.
It’s probably common knowledge by now but some items shouldn’t be placed in the microwave oven as it may ruin them. Take french fries, for instance. When reheated in the microwave oven, french fries often turn into a soggy mess and lose the texture that we have grown to love.
Bread is another item that has to be microwaved with care. Microwaving bread for too long will harden it to the point where it can be used as a sledgehammer. The same principles can be applied to both pie and pastries.
For pies, pastries, bread, and french fries it’s much better to use the oven. The oven will, unlike the microwave, revive a pizza’s crust instead of turning it to stone and, overall, do a better job at maintaining the quality of the food while reheating it.
Vegetables, meat, soup, and so much more can very successfully be reheated in the microwave. The few examples listed above are not to be taken as a sign that the microwave is inferior to the oven, it’s not. They’re just good at different things.
The speed of the microwave is both a gift and a curse until you learn where the line is drawn. Being a hasty appliance also means that it’s a more energy-efficient option than the oven.