Home made ready meals

pigpen

Covering while reheating stops stuff drying out too.. I usually use a plate over the top.

Adding a little extra water to stuff like casseroles before reheating also helps.

If it is drying out it is maybe being reheated for too long also!

Molly41

Perhaps it is time for the reluctant cook to produce his own food?

maman

If you do a roast type meal it's better to reheat the gravy separately and then pour over. This helps to sort out any dryness too.

bargainbetty

Wet a single paper towel and lay it over the solid food before putting it in the microwave. It provides just enough moisture to stop the food drying out and won't stick to the food (unless it's something sticky).

He can also start to batch cook his own meals in advance, or just eat what you give him.

CupOfChai

I'm doing this at least once a week at the moment for OH. He heats his dinner up inside the microwavable plastic clip-lock box I put it in, with the lid loose and balanced on, it doesn't get too dry. I reheat mine on microwavable plate covered in clingfilm, pierced with a fork to let steam out, and neither does it get dry. I generally do him the following sorts of things for these days:

Curry/chilli and rice (run cold water over the rice in sieve to cool quickly, then mix with the cold sauce).

Pasta and sauce/pasta bake - you need to mix the sauce through the pasta not have it in a pile on top, else the pasta goes dry and all sticks together. Short shapes like penne or fusilli work better than spaghetti too.

Shepherd's/cottage/fish pie and veg

Stews/casseroles or sausages or pie with potatoes and veg. It's better to heat gravy separately or make up from granules, then pour over the dinner after heating.

Stirfry isn't so nice, gets overcooked. At this time of year you could also leave him anything with salad that doesn't need reheating!

marluc

Thanks everyone for your very helpful replies. I have bought a microwave lid to put over his meals, so hopefully this will help. I wouldn't expect my son to start cooking when he comes home as he is shattered. As an eg he came home last night at 11.20pm, a little late to cook.
Thanks again.

-taff

Make something in the slow cooker, e.g. a curry, and leave it on until he gets home.

It'll be hot, and he can microwave some pre-cooked rice with a couple of reaspoons of water.

Seakay

He's 22 and you're doing his cooking for him even though he's not eating with the family? I hope you're getting paid by him for all of this because it sounds as though he's out making money and you're doing everything that you would do for a thirteen year old and not being paid for it. If he's at home and earning then you owe it to him to introduce him to the economic realities of the world, like what you have to pay for bed and board and what choices you get (none). If he doesn't want to cook after a long day then perhaps he should consider what it is worth to him to have someone else do that job for him.

marluc

-taff wrote: »

Make something in the slow cooker, e.g. a curry, and leave it on until he gets home.

It'll be hot, and he can microwave some pre-cooked rice with a couple of reaspoons of water.

Thanks for idea. What common sense! I have been cooling down meals done in slow cooker and putting them in the fridge.

marluc

Seakay wrote: »

He's 22 and you're doing his cooking for him even though he's not eating with the family? I hope you're getting paid by him for all of this because it sounds as though he's out making money and you're doing everything that you would do for a thirteen year old and not being paid for it. If he's at home and earning then you owe it to him to introduce him to the economic realities of the world, like what you have to pay for bed and board and what choices you get (none). If he doesn't want to cook after a long day then perhaps he should consider what it is worth to him to have someone else do that job for him.

My son has just started this job. Not that it has anything to do with me asking for any ideas nor whether he is paying for his food. I am his mother, not his housekeeper.