What to use instead of microwave ?

[Soher]

Never owned a microwave. A lot of people I know irl can’t get their heads around it and don’t believe me when I say I’ve never needed one, I haven’t until now.
I have a baby and I’ve no idea how to warm his food up that I’ve batched cooked.
For example last night I made salmon, sweet potato and kale , extra portions in Tupperware ready for meals this week but how do I reheat?
Do I give it cold? Warm in pan? Can I reheat salmon?

If space and cost is not the issue then get a ninja grill. Very handy for all sorts and it has a reheat setting.

Depends what you are reheating but always reheat thoroughly - please don’t “just reheat to eating temp” like some here seem to be advocating - that is a sure fire way to make your baby poorly. Normal baby poo is bad enough without having to deal with baby diarrhoea.

Anything that can be stirred (eg curry, stew etc) can be heated in a pan. For very small portions you may want to use a water bath (a heatproof bowl in a pan of water but make sure the water doesn’t go in the bowl) and stir till it is just bubbling which indicates it is almost boiling which is hot enough to kill the bacteria. Then leave to cool - you can swap out the hot water for cold water to cool it down faster.

Anything solid you can reheat in the oven - cover with foil to avoid it drying out. Again make sure it is piping hot and then let it cool - you can pop a plate in the fridge while it is cooking and pop it on that to cool faster.

Or invest in a microwave - makes all this much easier! But again always heat till piping hot and allow to cool.

You need to make sure it’s piping hot when it’s warmed up. It’s time to consider getting a microwave or just use the oven/hob and make things that are easier to warm up.

I don’t have a microwave. I had one years ago, pre-children, and never used it so gave it away to reclaim the work surface space. I can’t remember how I heated my children’s food when they were little.

I would do some combination of warm up in a pan on the hob (if purée/all in one slop), or warm on a low temperature in an oven, or serve cold. Or combination of cold batch-cooked stuff with a warmer element like veg or rice?
This phase is very short-lived.

I just reheat on the stove. But how have you lived without re-heating your tea each time it goes cold while faffing with the baby? 😂

I don’t think it’s a badge of honour not to own a microwave.

Yes you can manage without but microwaves are not unsafe, as some are declaring.
Its not “healthier” to avoid buying a microwave or a sign you’re a better cook.

You’ll just be spending more time and money heating food without one, as everyone did before they were invented.

The same with any labour saving device in the home.

You are not alone. I have had a microwave in the past but for the last few years I haven’t had one, I prefer the extra space on the counter. I batch cook and I have a baby too. I reheat our food in a pan, stir frequently and cover with a lid. I use a small pot (also with a lid) for soup, milk, etc.

Exactly

I did 4 years without one after I bought my flat; it wasn't top of my list of things to buy, other stuff was more needed as l didn't use microwaves heavily anyway, and I suppose I then got used to not having one at all . Meal planning and defrosting in good time helped and it became routine. Reheating on the hob doesn't take that long.

We eventually got a microwave as we were offered one free and it's more convenient for DH. I still don't use it much but it's very handy when I do! Are you sure you won't consider one OP? It would be very quick and and the most convenient - time, labour and money wise- for what you want. I'd certainly be getting one as a priority if we were still without and having a baby!

Otherwise, in your situation I'd reheat in a pan on the hob or use the glass dish /pot solution a pp suggested.

OP I’d just get a microwave. I left home and BF who became DH had one, it packed up ten years later and I thought I’d not bother getting another, two days later after tearing my hair out I was up the shop to replace it. Having kids and no microwave was my idea of hell.

Just buy a microwave. Much easier to hear things like beans. soup. Making the kid a quick baking potato when they’re older etc. you’ll use it.

Get a microwave, it's so easy for warming up food. Or warm up in a saucepan.

Just get a microwave. Probably work out cheaper in the long run than putting on the oven to reheat food

Glass dish in oven with foil over for 20 minutes

Heats without drying

Good you do not use a microwave as heating in plastic imparts billions of microplastics into the food.

It also creates hotshots for food for a baby unlike oven

No need heating in oven is easy

I do it for everything, trick is just to cover in foil.

I’d use one of the very small saucepans you can get - will take a few minutes at most, and not hard to clean.

Not if you put in oven and cover in foil

Everything heats nice and even no stirring required

Its also the best way on earth for reheating mashed potatoes to stop them going gluey

Some people myself included don't want a microwave for many reasons

Heating in the oven is just as convenient

I'd use a bowl over a pan of boiling water to stop it drying out.

Although I'd definitely invest in a microwave and learn about batch cooking. The time you save can be put to better use now you have a child .

I wouldn’t say it’s just as convenient, it takes much longer . For a start you need to preheat your oven , it takes longer and you can’t use all dishes or containers .

I didn't own a microwave for a few years and just used a small pan on the hob.

I didn't have a microwave at all until I was in my 50s but I'm so glad I have one now, so I would highly recommend getting one if you can. Having said that, babies don't need their food to be hot or even warm, especially when it's only a few mouthfuls, which seems to be the stage you're at. Just take it out of the fridge in advance and let it come up to room temperature slowly. In the case of things like salmon, meat generally and rice, I would be very wary of reheating in any case. They need to be reheated thoroughly (to piping hot) and that's difficult with such tiny quantities,without it drying out. My approach was food from the fridge, brought to room temp if I thought it would be nicer that way, or else I would make our meal, set some aside, we would eat ours and by the time we had finished, the baby's portion would be cool enough to stick in the blender or mash, as appropriate.

egg poacher if you don't want a microwave? https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=egg+poacher&crid=1JAJ1VILL4SH1&sprefix=egg+poacher%2Caps%2C84&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

If you must reheat it, Salmon should ideally be reheated in the oven, but I feel like it would be really dry. I would personally eat the dish cold next day as part of a salad type dish (turn potatoes into potato salad with spring onion, mayo/yoghurt, herbs maybe) if I wasn’t eating on the same day.

Also if it was originally frozen, defrosted, cooked, refrozen, redefrosted and reheated, I feel like quality and taste would be bad.

I batch cook veggie meals (usually different types of curries as they reheat well and can even taste better the next day) and reheat on the stove top. We use the stovetop, air fryer (which grills, bakes, roasts, dehydrates) or slowcooker for pretty much everything and don’t miss a microwave.
I would always cook meat and fish fresh and eat the next day at the latest.

You can make poached eggs in a saucepan of water