Reheating Vegetables.
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Reheating Vegetables.
Morrisons now have bags of "Chunky cut Mediterranean Vegetables" - butternut squash,courgette, red onions and red pepper" - conveniently chopped. I thought they would be very handy for something i had in mind, so I bought a pack. The cooking instructions are essentially, to traybake from frozen. Two further instructions puzzle me. First, and in bold lettering - "Do not reheat". Second - "use within 24 hours of opening". I'm all for following instructions if i can see why, but I'm at a loss to understand these, when they apply to vegetables. Any ideas, please?
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
I think they are covering themselves for food poisoning issues, if the vegetables aren't used quickly, or if they aren't reheated properly. reheating might spoil the texture a bit too.
I don't see what's wrong with using part of the pack, if the rest is kept frozen.
Also, if I had leftover cooked vegetables, I'd reheat them in a tomato sauce, and use as a pasta sauce. Or ditto for curry. Any loss of texture wouldn't be noticed.
I don't see what's wrong with using part of the pack, if the rest is kept frozen.
Also, if I had leftover cooked vegetables, I'd reheat them in a tomato sauce, and use as a pasta sauce. Or ditto for curry. Any loss of texture wouldn't be noticed.
Traditional home baking, and more:
http://mainlybaking.blogspot.co.uk/
http://mainlybaking.blogspot.co.uk/
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
Thanks Sue. Yes, I did think with tray baking them, they might be a bit dry for a further re heat, and I was proposing to microwave them to have with a bit of fish, or, as you say, whip up a sauce, and have with pasta.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
- PatsyMFagan
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Re: Reheating Vegetables.
I would agree with Sue ... they are just covering themselves ..
I presume there are microwave instructions on the packaging as well as oven cooking ? Sometimes microwaving is unsuitable.
I presume there are microwave instructions on the packaging as well as oven cooking ? Sometimes microwaving is unsuitable.
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
I was going to microwave them as a reheat, with a little water, in an attempt to avoid further drying out. As a matter of interest, it does say not suitable for freezing - from raw, that is.
- liketocook
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Re: Reheating Vegetables.
Agree with Suelle and Patsy, covering themselves against food poisoning and texture loss. No wonder there's so much food waste as many food will follow these.
- Stokey Sue
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Re: Reheating Vegetables.
I'm a little confused
These are fresh not frozen?
So they will have quite a short life after opening the package, as the components may deteriorate at different rates, and the peppers may go soggy, but I think 24 hours is pessimistic
Leftover roast veg keep well in the fridge, and can be used as Suelle suggests. if reheating in the microwave I wouldn't add water, just cover well.
I've recently rediscovered in a cupboard a small Pyrex casserole, like a soup plate with a lid, it's perfect for storing and reheating fairly small amounts of food
These are fresh not frozen?
So they will have quite a short life after opening the package, as the components may deteriorate at different rates, and the peppers may go soggy, but I think 24 hours is pessimistic
Leftover roast veg keep well in the fridge, and can be used as Suelle suggests. if reheating in the microwave I wouldn't add water, just cover well.
I've recently rediscovered in a cupboard a small Pyrex casserole, like a soup plate with a lid, it's perfect for storing and reheating fairly small amounts of food
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
Thanks everyone - all part of the learning curve. Yes Sue - they were in the chiller section. My original idea, when I first noticed them, was to make a type of ratatouille, with a piece of fish on top for the final few minutes - but when I got them home, I realised i'd have to revise my plans.
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
one of the local pasty shops used to do a really lovely mediterranean veg one, with some basil, cheese and the usual salt and pepper.
i think that's what i'd use the rest of the packet for! (not precooked).
i think that's what i'd use the rest of the packet for! (not precooked).
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
Gruney2 wrote:Thanks everyone - all part of the learning curve. Yes Sue - they were in the chiller section. My original idea, when I first noticed them, was to make a type of ratatouille, with a piece of fish on top for the final few minutes - but when I got them home, I realised i'd have to revise my plans.
I think what's confused us is that you said 'traybake from frozen' in your original post, in which case the 'use quickly' instruction really did seem superfluous.
Traditional home baking, and more:
http://mainlybaking.blogspot.co.uk/
http://mainlybaking.blogspot.co.uk/
- Earthmaiden
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Re: Reheating Vegetables.
They really are covering their backs aren't they! I'd just use them as I pleased within a short time. Pre-chopped & bagged veg usually needs eating pretty quickly after opening.
I do like the sound of those pasties, scully.
I do like the sound of those pasties, scully.
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
I suspect the ‘use within 24 hours’ advice is because prepared vegetables are often packed in what’s called ‘a protective atmosphere’ or somesuch, which means that the veg are sealed into the pack with some gas which prevents the cut surfaces from browning (forget what it’s called … SSue will know) … once the bag is opened the gas will dissipate and the cut surfaces of the veg will oxidize and turn brown and deteriorate.
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
I’m a great nibbler of raw vegetables and I’m sure I’ve seen some bags of pre-prepped fresh veg saying not to eat uncooked! What in earth do they do to them?
(They’ll be from either M&S or Sainsburys)
(They’ll be from either M&S or Sainsburys)
- Stokey Sue
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Re: Reheating Vegetables.
Suffs wrote:I suspect the ‘use within 24 hours’ advice is because prepared vegetables are often packed in what’s called ‘a protective atmosphere’ or somesuch, which means that the veg are sealed into the pack with some gas which prevents the cut surfaces from browning (forget what it’s called … SSue will know) … once the bag is opened the gas will dissipate and the cut surfaces of the veg will oxidize and turn brown and deteriorate.
Yes, quite likely they are packed in what's called MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) but the gas mixture will depend on the food type and the equipment
https://www.chilledfood.org/modified-at ... in-salads/
Amber wrote:I’m a great nibbler of raw vegetables and I’m sure I’ve seen some bags of pre-prepped fresh veg saying not to eat uncooked! What in earth do they do to them?
Probably what they don't do (because not really feasible) - which is prepare and pack the veg in such a way that all of the soil borne bacteria initially on the surfaces are completely removed by washing and peeling etc and don't increase in number during storage. They probably are usually safe, but it can't be guaranteed. Most soil borne bacteria are completely destroyed by raising the temperature above 70C so home cooking is enough to disinfect the product.
- Earthmaiden
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Re: Reheating Vegetables.
They must do something to bagged salads to make them suitable for eating raw without heating to 70 degrees. Perhaps the use of something like chlorine somewhere along the line.
I bought prepared bagged carrots in M&S a few months ago (I think I was in a hurry to get something for GD's supper). They had a really horrible taste which I assumed was related to some kind of treatment.
The saddest thing to me is to see a note on bags of beansprouts saying they should not be eaten raw. I have a feeling there was an incident related to a water borne disease and beansprouts a while back. I always used to buy them for salads (yes, I know I could sprout my own).
I bought prepared bagged carrots in M&S a few months ago (I think I was in a hurry to get something for GD's supper). They had a really horrible taste which I assumed was related to some kind of treatment.
The saddest thing to me is to see a note on bags of beansprouts saying they should not be eaten raw. I have a feeling there was an incident related to a water borne disease and beansprouts a while back. I always used to buy them for salads (yes, I know I could sprout my own).
- Stokey Sue
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Re: Reheating Vegetables.
There was an incident in Germany where bean sprout salads sold as street food at a festival gave people an E. coli infection
It turned out, iirc, that the infection had NOT come from the water used to create the sprouts but had bean lurking in the beans themselves, there was a bit of a problem tracking it down because the water in commercial bean sprout production is really thoroughly cleaned as it is recycled, so the water was obviously not the problem
It turned out, iirc, that the infection had NOT come from the water used to create the sprouts but had bean lurking in the beans themselves, there was a bit of a problem tracking it down because the water in commercial bean sprout production is really thoroughly cleaned as it is recycled, so the water was obviously not the problem
Re: Reheating Vegetables.
All very interesting. In the past I would never have dreamed of buying pre-prepped veg, but as we’ve got older, our circumstances/needs/appetites etc have changed and sometimes we just don’t want a whole cauli/head of broccoli/kilo of beans. Those little microwave bags from M&S can be perfect.
- Earthmaiden
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Re: Reheating Vegetables.
I wonder why the note on bean sprout bags then. I had only ever used them as a salad vegetable until I read it. Maybe I'll try again and hope for the best.
I agree that pre packed veg has its place but hate bagged salad leaves. Are the microwaveable bags in M&S frozen or fresh? The carrots I bought were fresh and prepared. Never again.
I agree that pre packed veg has its place but hate bagged salad leaves. Are the microwaveable bags in M&S frozen or fresh? The carrots I bought were fresh and prepared. Never again.
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