Heating or Reheating Guide
1. Directions below are for reheating already-cooked foods at refrigerator or room temperature. Use microwave oven safe containers.
2. Cover most foods for fastest heating (see tip). Exceptions are rare or medium meats, some sandwiches, griddle foods like pancakes and
baked foods.
3. Adjust temperatures to your personal taste. Stir foods before serving.
4. Be sure foods are heated through before serving. Steaming or bubbling around edges does not necessarily mean food is heated throughout.
As a general rule, hot foods produce an area warm to the touch in center of underside of dish.
Approximate
Item
Amount
Min.
Appetizers
Saucy; such as meatballs,
to 2 servings
High (10)
to 4
cocktail franks, etc.
3 to 4 servings
High (10)
4 to 6
cup/serving)
Dips: cream or processed cheese
cup
Medium (5)
1 to 3
1 cup
Medium (5)
3 to 5
Pastry bites:
pizzas,
rolls, etc.
2 to 4 servings
High (10)
to
Tip: Cover saucy appetizers with wax paper. Cover dips with plastic wrap. Do not cover pastry bites, so that they
crisp.
Plate of
Meat plus 2 vegetables
1 plate
High (10)
2 to 4
Tip: Cover
of food with wax paper or plastic wrap.
and Main Dishes
Saucy main dishes: chop
spaghetti,
1 to 2 servings
High (10)
3 to 7
creamed chicken,
stew, macaroni and
3 to 4 servings
High (10)
6 to 10
cheese, etc. (%-1 cup/serving)
1 can
High (10)
4 to
Thinly sliced roasted meat:
Rare beef roast, minimum time; Medium rare,
1 to 2 servings
Meal-High (7)
to 2
maximum time (3 to 4-oz./serving)
3 to 4 servings
Meal-High (7)
to 3
done: beef, pork, ham, poultry, etc.
1 to 2 servings
Meal-High (7)
to 3
3 to 4 servings
Meal-High (7)
3 to 5
Steaks, chops, ribs, other meat pieces:
Rare beef steak
1 to 2 servings
Meal-High (7)
3
3 to 4 servings
Meal-High (7)
3 to 7
Well done beef, chops, ribs, etc.
1 to 2 servings
Meal-High (7)
1 to 3
3 to 4 servings
Meal-High (7)
3 to 6
Hamburgers or meat
1 to 2 servings
High (10)
(4-oz./serving)
3 to 4 servings
High (10)
to 2
to 3
Chicken pieces
1 to 2 pieces
High (10)
to 2
3 to 4 pieces
High (10)
2 to 3
Hot dogs and sausages
1 to 2
High (10)
to 1
3 to 4
High (10)
1 to 3
Rice and pasta
1 to 2 servings
High (10)
1 to 2
cup/serving)
Topped or mixed with sauce
1 to 2 servings
cup/serving)
High (10)
3 to 6
3 to 4 servings
High (10)
8 to
Tip: Cover saucy main dishes with plastic wrap. Cover other main dishes and meats with wax paper. Do not cover rare or medium rare meats.
When heating or reheating 3 to 4 servings of meat slices or pieces, rotate dish 1/2 turn after
of time.
Sandwiches
Moist filling: Sloppy
barbecue,
1 to 2 servings
Meal-High (7)
1 to
ham salad, etc. in bun
cup/serving)
3 to 4 servings
Meal-High (7)
to 4
Thick meat-cheese filling; with firm bread
1 to 2 servings
Meal-High (7)
2 to 3
3 to 4 servings
Meal-High (7)
4 to 5
Tip: Use paper towel or napkin to cover sandwiches.
10