Unraveling the Mystery: To Reheat or Not to Reheat Chicken Pie?
Look, everyone loves a good old-fashioned chicken pie. Interestingly, I don't have a lot of mystery in my life, it's mostly just me, Harry my Dalmatian, Juniper the parakeet, and my loyal blog followers, but reheating a chicken pie? That's one mystery I can't resist meddling with. Oh, pie blimey! That feeling of flaky pastry revealing a savoury mix of tender chicken, gloriously melting in the mouth, is sublime, no questions there. Now imagine this: You’ve baked more than enough for yourself and Harry (Juniper’s into seeds, not pies, bless her), and there's almost half of it waiting to be relished the next day. The question that arises then is - Can you reheat it safely?
Well, the quick answer would be: Yes! You can safely reheat chicken pie. But the critical element is HOW you do this. I mean, you don't want to end up with a sad, soggy mess now, do you? Or worse, get campylobacter or salmonella giving you a memorable ‘loo tour’ out of your home visit plans. So, let's break this down, shall we?
A Step-by-Step Guide to Reheating Chicken Pie Safely
For the true pie lovers, reheating is an art. Not to brag, but over the years and through numerous chicken pie-baking sessions (and trust me, there have been many), I’ve, kinda, become an artist of sorts. So here’s my step-by-step guide:
First, preheat your oven to around 150°C (302°F), don't go over this temperature as it could dry out the pie.
Take your pie out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes or so, while the oven preheats.
Then, place it on a baking tray and tent it with aluminium foil. This ensures that the filling will warm up without burning the pastry.
Heat it in the oven for about 10-25 minutes, depending on the size of the pie. The key is to make sure the internal temperature reaches a safe 74°C (165°F). I suggest investing in a meat thermometer if you're into pies or cook meat often. I use mine religiously, and Harry loves the beeping sound it makes.
Finally, remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of baking for the pie to regain its golden charm.
When It's Time to Say Goodbye to Your Leftover Chicken Pie
As is often the cycle, not all pies are meant to be reheated and savoured repeatedly. In fact, it's highly advisable not to reheat chicken pie more than once. The reason? Each time you raise and reduce the temperature, you’re changing the pie's environment, making it the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. No one wants a bacterial party in their pie, right? So remember, reheating once is fine, but next time, consider sharing your pie with more than just Harry. Your neighbours or co-workers would be willing helpers in ensuring your pie doesn’t go to waste.
Make Your Chicken Pie Microwave Friendly
Yes, you can use a microwave! Before you give me that look, let me clarify. Microwaves are not the pie villain everyone believes them to be. They can come in highly handy, especially when you can't or don't wish to spend time preheating your oven. The trick lies in making your homemade chicken pie microwave-friendly.
This calls for a fun little story. Let's rewind a few years to a rainy afternoon when I decided to bake a large batch of chicken pies for a rugby game. Now Harry, bless his spots, is terrified of thunder. As luck would have it, the storm picked that very day to strike and Harry, in his panic, managed to knock out the power.
No oven. A stack of pies. A rugby game at stake, you get the picture. So, I reheated the chicken pies in the microwave. Although they weren't the same as oven-reheated, they were still the talk of the match. How did I manage it, you ask?
Firstly, always ensure you’re reheating a microwave-safe dish. A fancy pottery pie dish might look good, but it won't do any good inside a microwave. Practicality over aesthetics, folks!
Place the portion of pie onto a microwave-safe plate.
Ensure you’re heating it evenly, so cut it into smaller chunks if necessary.
Set the power level to a medium and heat for a minute, then check. You don’t want boiling hot on the edges and still cold in the middle.
Rotate/flip or stir the chunks (if you've cut them) and heat for another minute or so. Make sure the internal temperature reaches a safe 74 °C (165°F).
Implementing these strategies can ensure that you have a safely reheated, deliciously warm chicken pie that doesn’t risk turning into a food poisoning nightmare. With some care and attention, your leftover pie can safely be another meal without turning into a health hazard. Remember, when it comes to reheating food, safety is always first. So next time you have some leftover homemade chicken pie, think of me, Harry, and this guide I have bestowed upon you. Keep munching!
Write a comment