Frozen dinners became popular in the 1950s and though they've changed a great deal since then, they are still convenient. Numerous different types of premade frozen dinners are available in your grocery store, including ethnic-specific, low-calorie or food-specific, such as soup or pasta. You can also make your own frozen dinners by cooking your favorite foods and freezing them in meal-specific portions in airtight containers; making your own allows you to control the ingredients for healthier meals. Reheating frozen meals is a snap; most kitchens can accommodate cooking 10 frozen meals at once on the stove or in a conventional oven.
Stovetop
Step 1
Fill four large pots with water and bring them to a boil over high heat on the stove, all at the same time. Multiple frozen meals that come in boil-a-bag can easily be heated at the same time on the stove.
Step 2
Place the bags of frozen food into the boiling water; to evenly distribute, place three bags in each pot with one pot holding four. If possible, use a slightly larger pot for the one that will hold four bags rather than three. Reduce the heat slightly to prevent the water from splattering over the edges of the pot.
Step 3
Cook the frozen meals for 20 minutes, unless the package directions indicate otherwise.
Step 4
Remove the bags of food when they are completely thawed and piping hot; use tongs to lift the bags out of the boiling water to avoid any burns.
Step 5
Cut each bag open with scissors, carefully, and one at a time. Place the contents on a plate or bowl, whichever is appropriate, and serve immediately.
Oven
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2
Arrange the racks in your oven to be evenly spaced. For example, if you have two racks, place the first on the second level from the top and the second two slots up from the bottom. Three oven racks would be spaced by placing one on the top, one in the middle and the third on the bottom.
Step 3
Remove the store-bought frozen meals from their packaging and arrange the oven-safe containers on baking sheets; use as many baking sheets as needed to accommodate all 10 meals. Place homemade frozen meals in oven-safe cookware, such as glass casserole dishes. You may place more than one meal in a casserole dish if it is sized appropriately; however, do not crowd the food or it will cook unevenly.
Step 4
Place the baking sheets or casserole dishes into the oven. Place five meals on each rack if using two oven racks. For three oven racks, place three meals on the top rack, four in the middle rack and three on the bottom rack.
Step 5
Cook the meals for 20 minutes. Remove the meals from the oven when they are piping hot. Serve immediately.
Things You'll Need
- 4 large pots
- Tongs
- Scissors
- Baking sheets
- Casserole dishes
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