Reheat in an Electric Roaster
An electric roaster is a table or countertop appliance that is used as a substitute for a conventional oven. When roasting or baking large amounts of food, such as for a Thanksgiving dinner, you can use a roaster in conjunction with your regular oven. Like your oven, an electric roaster can be used to reheat foods and has the added benefit of not heating up the entire kitchen. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Preheat the roaster to 350 degrees Fahrenheit according to the manufacturer's instructions. For most electric roasters, this involves simply plugging the appliance into an electrical outlet and setting the temperature.
2. Place leftover foods into appropriate-size ovenproof dishes. Add a small amount of liquid, i.e., enough to cover the bottom of the dish, if needed to keep the food from drying out during the reheating process.
3. Place the filled dishes into the preheated electric roaster. Heat the leftovers for the same amount of time that you would in a conventional oven. Most foods will reheat in approximately 30 minutes or less.
4. Remove the lid of the roaster and insert a meat or food thermometer into the thickest area of the food. The food should register at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe for eating, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Unlike cold foods eaten straight from the refrigerator, reheated foods must reach a certain temperature to prevent bacterial growth that can cause sickness. The USDA promotes that all hot foods are served hot, and cold foods are served cold. Food temperatures in the midrange, from 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, are listed in the USDA "Danger Zone."
5. Serve the reheated leftovers immediately or replace the cover on the roaster to maintain a safe temperature of the food.
Tags: degrees Fahrenheit, cold foods, conventional oven, Electric Roaster, electric roaster