How To Reheat Leftovers in The Microwave Properly

Reheating leftovers is a great way to quickly make a meal. To make sure you heat your leftovers properly, we’ve put together this extensive guide for how to do it safely. Using these tips will help prevent you picking up food-borne illnesses as well as keep your food tasty.

In this guide, we are going to cover reheating all major food types including pizza, vegetables, meat, fish, rice, and casseroles.

How to reheat pizza in the microwave

Pizza is a popular takeaway choice for many people. If you have any leftovers from the night before, you can easily reheat a slice or two in your microwave. 

For best results, follow these tips:

• Place a paper towel between your plate and the slices of pizza.
• Place the plate into the microwave for one minute.
• Check if it is hot all the way through. If not, microwave for 20–30 seconds longer.
• Once hot, remove from the microwave and serve.
• Enjoy!

How to reheat soup in the microwave

Soup is great for heating up when you need a quick meal. To reheat soup in the microwave, make sure you cover the bowl or cup with a paper towel so it can steam while cooking.

Here is the best way to reheat soup in the microwave:

• Cover your cup or bowl of soup with a paper towel or napkin.
• Place it in the microwave.
• Set the microwave to three minutes and turn it on.
• Every 60 seconds, pause the microwave and stir your soup.
• Once hot, remove from the microwave and serve.
• Enjoy!

How to reheat pasta in the microwave

Pasta is another great dish to heat in the microwave when you want to create a quick lunch, dinner, or snack. The best way to ensure your pasta does not end up dry or hard is to pour a tablespoon of olive oil or any other vegetable oil you have on top of the pasta. This will ensure your pasta dish comes out nice and moist.

When reheating pasta in the microwave, follow these steps:

• Pour a tablespoon of oil on your pasta. If your pasta has a lot of sauce in it, place a paper towel over the top of the bowl or container.
• Place your bowl or container in the microwave.
• Set the timer to one minute on the low-temperature setting or 40 seconds on the high-temperature setting and press start.
• Once hot, remove from the microwave and serve.
• Enjoy!

How to reheat rice in the microwave

When reheating rice in the microwave, it’s a good idea to splash a tablespoon of water over the rice to ensure it comes out moist.

Here’s how to cook rice in the microwave:

• Pour a tablespoon of water over your rice.
• Place the bowl or container in the microwave.
• Set the timer to one minute if using the high-temperature setting or 40 seconds if using the low-temperature setting and then press start. After the cooking cycle ends, check if your rice is hot enough. If not, cook it for a further 30 seconds.
• Once hot, remove from the microwave and serve.
• Enjoy!

How to reheat meat in the microwave

When reheating meat in the microwave, make sure you only cook it for a minimal amount of time to avoid it becoming chewy and tough. If you’re reheating a dish that has meat in it like chicken curry, mix the meat throughout the dish so the meat reheats evenly.

Here’s how to reheat meat in the microwave:

• Place your dish in the microwave.
• Set the timer to two minutes on high and press start.
• Check if your dish is hot enough. If not, cook for a further 30 seconds and then check if it’s hot enough.
• Once hot, remove from the microwave and serve.
• Enjoy!

How to reheat fish in the microwave

When reheating fish in the microwave, it’s a good idea to splash a tablespoon of water or oil on it to ensure it comes out hot and moist. While you can reheat breaded or battered fish, it isn’t likely to come out crispy. Salmon steaks work best.

Here’s how to reheat fish in the microwave:

• Sprinkle a tablespoon of water or oil on your fish.
• Cover the dish with a paper towel and place it in the microwave.
• Cook for 20 seconds and then flip the fish over and cook for a further 20 seconds. Repeat this process until heated through.
• Once hot, remove from the microwave and serve.
• Enjoy!

How to reheat baked goods in the microwave

Baked goods like cakes, muffins, and brownies can be heated in the microwave very quickly. When heated, they taste as if they’ve just come out of the oven.

Here’s how to reheat baked goods in the microwave:

• Place your baked goods on a plate.
• Place the plate in the microwave.
• Cook for 30 seconds on high and then check if your baked goods are hot. If not hot, cook for 20 seconds more and then check if hot. If necessary, cook for a further 20 seconds.
• Once hot, remove from the microwave and serve.
• Enjoy!

How to reheat casseroles in the microwave

Reheating a casserole in the microwave is a great option when you want to create a quick lunch, dinner, or snack. Due to the liquid in them, they reheat really nicely too.

Here’s how to reheat a casserole in the microwave:

• Place your casserole in a microwave-safe dish.
• Make sure it’s spread out evenly.
• Cover your dish with a damp paper towel.
• Heat for one minute on high and then check if it’s heated through. If not, cook for a further one minute at a time until cooked through. Make sure you mix your casserole each time you check the temperature to ensure it heats evenly.
• Once hot, remove from the microwave and serve.
• Enjoy!