Our Kelowna appliances experts recommend reheating leftover food using the right equipment.
Leftovers are a wonderful thing. It’s like getting two (or more) meals for the effort of one. However, sometimes the quality of reheated food can be a bit on the iffy side. That’s why our Kelowna appliances experts stress the importance of choosing the right equipment for the job.
Certain appliances lend themselves well to reheating various types of food, and we’re here to help you decide which appliances works best.
Microwaves
Microwaves get a bad rap for reheating food because they’ve traditionally associated with delivering food that’s:
- Unevenly warmed
- Dried out
- Tough and chewy
- Lacking the original flavour and consistency
However, microwaves are the quickest and easiest method for reheating food available. Plus, companies such as Panasonic have created Inverter® Technology that provides great:
- Flavour
- Colour
- Shape
- Consistency
Due to its faster cooking time, Inverter Technology is also reported to maintain higher nutrient levels of certain foods (for example, ascorbic acid in broccoli) compared to more traditional cooking methods using other Kelowna appliances.
Stovetop
Whether you’re cooking on a Vario Gas 400 Series by Gaggenau, or a Fagor induction model, cooktops are ideal for reheating things like soup, stir-fries and leftover Chinese food. This can take a little longer than a microwave, but the results are usually pretty good.
And if you haven’t tried it, one of the most famous dishes in English cuisine—bubble & squeak—is a must. Basically, it’s a mash-up of the leftover meat and vegetables from a traditional Sunday roast. Cooked correctly, you’ll see and hear your skillet’s contents bubbling and squeaking when it’s ready (hence the name). If you’ve got leftover gravy, well that’s… gravy.
To learn more about gas and induction cooking, read our post: What’s the Difference Between Gas & Induction? Kelowna Appliances Pros Explain.
Steam Oven
Where microwaves can sometimes dry food out during the reheating process, one of the newer items you’ll find at Kelowna appliance stores—the convection steam oven—is proving to be a food-warming whiz.
Simply put, built-in steam ovens, like the ones by Wolf, bring leftovers back to life.
Using a combination of air movement and super-heated steam, these appliances heat food with consistent precision.
You can also use steam ovens to return moisture to fine cuts of meat that might have dried out during refrigeration, or freshen day-old bread.
Not only will you benefit from better tasting leftovers, you’ll likely throw less food in the garbage as a result.
Handling Leftovers Safely
Leftovers are great, but they need to be handled and stored properly to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Proper handling includes:
- Not allowing food to sit on the counter for hours before you chill them
- Packing and covering them in clean containers
- Storing them for a reasonably short period of time
- Add a sticky note or label noting the date that the food was cooked
- Reheating food thoroughly before eating
Are you looking for the latest cooking appliances to get the best results from your culinary endeavours? Before you check out Kelowna appliances, come and visit the experts at Genier’s in Vernon. We carry the largest selection of top cooking appliances in the Interior.