Imagine coming home after a long, exhausting day, and instead of worrying about cooking, you simply open your freezer, grab a dish, and in minutes, you have a delicious, hot meal ready to enjoy. That's the magic of Anyday dishes. These dishes are not only microwave-safe but also freezer-safe, making meal prep and reheating a breeze.

 

With Anyday dishes, you can freeze nearly any recipe and reheat it in the microwave whenever you're ready to eat. This method is convenient and saves you a lot of time on those hectic days when cooking is the last thing on your mind. Think of all the holidays, parties, events, and busy weeknight meals you can cook ahead! This method will also result in fewer dirty dishes, reducing the time spent cleaning the kitchen. Plus, you’ll also cut down on food waste by planning ahead and just reheating when needed.

 

You can always prep one of our recipes from scratch and freeze it until needed, or you can purchase ready-to-eat food from the frozen aisle and store it plastic-free in Anyday dishes. However you do it, the Anyday way is a life-changing method you should consider adopting!

 

We’ve put together some guidelines to help you achieve the best results when freezing and reheating your meals with Anyday.

 

5 Tips for Freezing and Reheating Food in the Microwave Using Anyday Dishes

1. Create your own frozen meals

Use Anyday dishes to cook meals with frozen ingredients. Prep one of our recipes from scratch and freeze it until needed. If you’re extremely low on time, you can purchase ready-to-eat food from the frozen aisle and store it plastic-free in Anyday dishes. 

 

2. Do not defrost at room temperature

Freeze your food in Anyday dishes and move it straight to the microwave. Defrosting at room temperature can cause bacteria growth.

 

3. Do not refreeze reheated food

Once reheated, don't refreeze the same food. This can be unsafe and make you sick. Enjoy defrosted food within 2-4 days, just as you would freshly cooked meals.

 

4. Use full power

Reheat frozen food at full power without defrosting first. The vented Anyday lid ensures that the food will heat evenly, making the process quick and efficient.

 

5. Make sure the food is hot

Reheat food to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If you don't have a food thermometer, use a fork to check the center's heat. Be cautious to avoid burns.

 

Test Kitchen-Approved Reheating Guidelines

We tested reheating over 25 recipes including a few common store-bought items in the microwave with an Anyday dish to show you how it works. Here’s what we learned.

 

1. Soups: Reheated evenly, maintaining flavor and consistency.
2. Mashed Potatoes: Smooth and velvety, with no lumps or dryness.
3. Pasta with Sauce: Kept pasta moist and al dente.
4. Mac and Cheese: Smooth and creamy.
5. Orzo and Salmon: Moist and flavorful, with no dry spots.
6. Frozen Rice: Reheated quickly, maintaining their fluffy texture.

Soup

Amount	Dish	Lid	PL	Reheat Time*
1 pound/ 545g	Medium Deep	Covered	10	7-9 mins

 

 

Mashed Potatoes

Amount	Dish	Lid	PL	Reheat Time*
1 pound/ 545g	Medium Shallow	Covered	10	7-9 mins

 

 

Pasta with Sauce

Amount	Dish	Lid	PL	Reheat Time*
10.4oz/296g	Small Dish	Covered	10	4-6 mins

 

 

Mac and Cheese

Amount	Dish	Lid	PL	Reheat Time*
1 pound/545g	Medium Shallow	Covered	10?	7-9 mins

 

 

Orzo with Salmon

Amount	Dish	Lid	PL	Reheat Time*
1 pound/545g	Medium Shallow	Covered	10?	4-6 mins

 

 

Frozen Rice Pucks

Amount	Dish	Lid	PL	Reheat Time*
2 pucks	Medium Deep	Covered	10	2-3 minutes

 

*All cook times are for a 1000-watt microwave.

*Reheating times are suggestions; you may need to adjust based on your microwave's wattage.

 

Key Microwave Reheating Takeaways

 

Reheating food in a microwave can vary based on food type, density, and microwave wattage. Some items, like soups, sauces, and creamy dishes, freeze into solid blocks that require more time to reheat. Foods like rice and cooked pasta, which have air pockets, reheat more quickly. Here are some general guidelines:

 

How to reheat food in the microwave based on weight:

 

• Reheating 1/2 lb usually takes 2-5 minutes on high power (1000 watts).
• Reheating 1 lb usually takes 5-7 minutes on high power (1000 watts).
• If you’re unsure of the weight, you can scale the product or check the container for guidance.

 

How to reheat dense foods in the microwave:

 

• Dense foods like Mac and Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, and Cauliflower Casserole freeze in compact blocks, requiring a bit more time to reheat.
• Typically, such foods will need closer to 7-9 minutes to reheat per pound.

 

How to reheat liquids and soups in the microwave:

 

• Similar to dense foods, soups like Loaded Potato Soup, Pumpkin Soup, Clam Chowder, and Chicken Noodle Soup also require slightly longer reheating times.
• Reheating 1 pound of soup (about 2 cups) typically takes around 7-9 minutes. Thicker, creamier, and chunkier soups might need more time than brothy ones.

 

How to reheat frozen meals:

 

• Dishes like Chicken and Rice, Orzo with Shrimp, and Bruschetta Chicken Pasta freeze with air pockets, which helps them reheat faster.
• Foods with more air, like pasta and rice dishes, generally reheat in 5-7 minutes per 1 pound.

 

Adjust to your microwave’s unique needs:

 

• Start with the lower end of the recommended reheating time and add more if needed.
• Always start with less time and add in 30-second to 1-minute increments to avoid overcooking.
• Remember, it’s easier to add time to undercooked food than to fix overcooked food.

 

These guidelines should help you achieve perfectly reheated meals with your microwave. Check your microwave's manual for additional guidelines.