Most people and this might include you, wonder how to reheat a frozen stew. In this post, I will share with you some tips about reheating frozen stew.
Without further ado, here are the steps you can follow in reheating frozen stew.
1. Reheating frozen stew on the stove
There are many reheating methods you can do with your frozen stew. But let me first share first my favorite – on the stove.
First, you want to reheat the stew in a pot on the stove. You need to place it over medium-high heat and then stir occasionally with a wooden spoon for about five minutes or until it starts simmering.
Then reduce the heat down as low as possible but still keep it hot this should take about 15 minutes (give or take). The reheating time can vary depending on the size of your frozen stew, so monitor it closely to make sure that it doesn’t dry out.
If you notice anything burning or sticking to the bottom of the pot, add a little water and scrape off any bits with a wooden spoon. This will prevent them from becoming even more burnt.
After reheating, you’ll want to stir in any flavorings that might have separated during the reheating process. This can include salt and pepper or anything else that you like (such as herbs).
Serve with a cup of rice for an easy meal!
Here are the bonus tips you might want to keep in mind when you reheat frozen stew.
Tip 1: Make sure not to reheat your frozen stew in the microwave, reheating it this way can lead to dried-out chunks and an overly mushy texture.
Tip 2: Make sure not to reheat your frozen stew with too much water. If you do, then that means more time is needed for the reheating process. This might leave your reheated food dry or gloppy.
Advantages of reheating frozen stew on the stove
The advantages of reheating frozen stew on the stove are that you can control how much liquid you add and you can also control the heat.
This means your food should come out evenly cooked each time with a moist texture as opposed to dry or mushy.
Disadvantages of reheating frozen stew on the stove
The disadvantages of reheating frozen stew on the stove are that it takes longer than microwaving. This can mean you’ll be waiting for 15 minutes or more which might not always work with your hectic schedule.
Another disadvantage is that if anything sticks to the bottom of your pot and starts burning during the heating process, then there’s a chance for the entire pot to burn.
This can also lead to food with an unpleasant taste and smell, so it’s wise not to reheat your frozen stew on the stove if you notice anything sticking or burning.
Another disadvantage is that sometimes when heating your frozen stew in a pan over the stove, any herbs or flavorings can become too concentrated in your food.
2. Reheating frozen stew in the oven
Reheating frozen stew in the oven is a little different than reheating it on the stove.
Here are the general steps on reheating frozen stew in an oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350° F with a temperature set for reheated food.
- Place cooled, thawed, and drained frozen stew into an oven-safe dish or pot; cover tightly with aluminum foil and place inside the preheated oven.
- Heat through for 45 minutes, stirring halfway.
- Garnish the reheated stew with desired seasonings and serve while still hot.
Advantages of reheating frozen stew in the oven
The advantage of reheating frozen stew in the oven is that it’s convenient, especially if you don’t have time to wait for a stove.
This means you can simply place your food into an oven-safe dish or pot and cover tightly with aluminum foil before heating through. It also cuts down on any cooking smells which could be unpleasant.
Another advantage of reheating frozen stew in the oven is that you have a larger variety of dishes to choose from for your food.
For example, with stovetop cooking, it’s only limited to pots or pans but with an oven, there are also roasting pans and baking sheets. You can even use the broiler!
Disadvantages of reheating frozen stew in the oven
The disadvantage of reheating frozen stew in the oven is that it’s slower than stovetop cooking.
This means you might have to wait up to an hour for your food or more depending on how much you’ve made. It also doesn’t usually get as hot and dry in comparison with stovetop heating, which can lead to a mushy texture.
Another disadvantage is that your oven won’t always be the best for every type of food, so you might have to experiment with different dishes before finding one that turns out well in an oven-safe dish or pot.
The disadvantages are pretty much outweighed by all the advantages and it’s really up to what suits your needs better.
3. Reheating frozen stew in the microwave
Reheating frozen stew in the microwave is a popular way to reheat it.
Here are the general steps on reheating frozen stew in the microwave:
- Place your cooled, thawed, and drained soup into a microwavable dish or bowl; cover with plastic wrap or wax paper (layering is possible).
- Heat through for one minute at 50% power. Stir well and reheat for another minute at 50% power or until heated through.
- Serve and enjoy!
Advantages of reheating frozen stew in the microwave
The advantages of microwaving frozen stew are that it’s quick and you can do it while doing other things.
It heats up quickly in the microwave so you’ll be able to enjoy your food sooner rather than later and without having to wait for a stovetop or oven.
Another advantage is that reheating with the microwave dries out your food less than with a stovetop or oven, so it can help to retain some of the natural juices in your meal.
One more advantage is that microwaving helps keep your kitchen cool because you’re not heating up the entire house by using an oven or stove!
It also means that there’s no visible cooking smell which could be unpleasant.
Another advantage is that the dish or bowl you’re microwaving in might be made of metal, which helps to heat up quickly in comparison with a ceramic dish.
The advantages will make it more convenient for people who don’t have time to wait on their food but want something quick and simple as an alternative!
Disadvantages of reheating frozen stew in the microwave
The disadvantages are that it doesn’t heat up as evenly and can lead to a mushy texture.
Another disadvantage is overheating which can cause browning of food, which might not be desirable.
It’s also possible for the container you’re microwaving in to explode, so it may need to cool down before reheating again at 50% power or less depending on the material of your dish or bowl.
Another disadvantage is that microwaves are limited to what can be made in them and they usually only have plastic, ceramic, or glass dishes which some people may not want to use because of concerns with the chemicals used for these materials.
How to reheat frozen stew and dumplings?
There are many ways you can reheat frozen stew and dumplings. But the most common way is doing it in the oven.
Here are some general tips on reheating frozen stew and dumplings in an oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350° F with a temperature set for reheated food.
- Place cooled, thawed, and drained frozen stew into an oven-safe dish or pot; cover tightly with aluminum foil and place inside the preheated oven.
- Heat through for 30 minutes (stir halfway).
- Garnish the reheated stew with desired seasonings and serve while still hot.
Reheating in the oven might take longer than reheating on the stove.
A bonus tip is to avoid reheat frozen stew and dumplings with too much water, this can make your reheated food dry or gloppy.
Final Thoughts
Reheating frozen stew is simple. There are several reheating methods you can use.
However, just keep in mind that each of those methods has several advantages and disadvantages.
Before reheating your frozen stew, just read the tips above to give you a better idea of how to do it successfully.
Happy reheating!
