Jambalaya is a Creole rice dish of West African, French, and Spanish influence, that mainly consists of meat and vegetables mixed with rice. It is a one pan homestyle dinner with a rich history. Jambalaya consists of andouille sausage, chicken or pork, and seafood such as shrimp or crawfish. Preparing a little too much is not uncommon and below are some of the effective ways to reheat your leftover Jambalaya.
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The Microwave Method To Reheat Jambalaya
One of the most effective ways to reheat your Jambalaya is in the microwave. The microwave method is the quickest way to reheat your rice dish, all your need is a microwave safe container and if you have already stored the leftover jambalaya in a microwave-safe dish, you do not need to worry about cleaning up any additional dishes such as a baking tray or pan. Simply follow these steps to reheat your jambalaya in the microwave.
- Make use of a microwave safe dish If your jambalaya it is not already stored in one,
- Place the leftover jambalaya in a microwave-safe dish,
- Cover your dish with a plastic wrap or with a damp paper towel,
- Heat the jambalaya for 30 seconds or so, or until steaming hot,
- Allow your dish to sit for 30 seconds, to allow the heat to distribute evenly,
- If there is a large portion of jambalaya, you may have to repeat the heating process until it is heated throughout.
- Serve the jambalaya when ready,
Advantages of using a microwave
One of the major advantages of using a microwave is that it is the quickest way to reheat your rice dish. All you need is a minute to completely warm up your jambalaya. You also do not need to wait for the microwave to heat up, and if you have stored the jambalaya in a dish that can be placed in the microwave, there won’t be much cleaning and washing up to do. The microwave method is simple and convenient.
Disadvantages of using a microwave
The microwave method can be risky when it comes to heating up a rice dish such as jambalaya. If your jambalaya contains shrimp, it might turn out rubbery when heated up in the microwave. You may need to place a plastic wrap or a damp towel over the rice dish to ensure that it doesn’t dry out in the microwave, otherwise the rice may become hard and crispy.
The Oven Method
Another effective way to reheat your jambalaya is in the oven. The oven is possibly the best way to reheat a rice dish, but only if you do it right. It takes a little bit longer, but it will be worth the wait. Simply follow these steps to reheat your Jambalaya in the oven.
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit,
- Place your rice dish into an oven-safe dish, and cover it with aluminium foil,
- You can add some water or broth to the jambalaya to prevent it from drying out, Just a tablespoon or two should be enough, so that you do not drench the rice,
- Place your dish in the oven and allow it to reheat for around 30 minutes or so, however, this will depend on the size of the portion, and whether the rice dish is still cool from being in the fridge. You may need to let it in the oven for longer,
- Once it has heated up thoroughly, serve it immediately,
Advantages of using the oven
The oven allows for the most consistent reheating for the rice dish, plus with the use of aluminium foil, it will not dry out. Adding a tablespoon or two of water or broth will further prevent your rice dish from drying out.
Disadvantages of using the oven
The oven may take a little longer to reheat jambalaya than other methods. You need to wait for the oven to heat up and then wait again for around half an hour for the rice dish to be heated through thoroughly.
The Stovetop Method To Reheat Jambalaya
The stovetop method is also a great way to reheat your jambalaya. The stovetop method takes less time than the oven method, however, a little longer than the microwave. You need to transfer the rice dish from the storage container to a frying pan, but that is easy enough. Follow these steps to heat up your Jambalaya in the oven.
- Put your jambalaya into a suitable frying pan,
- Turn the stove onto medium heat and allow it to warm up for a minute or less,
- Add a tablespoon of broth or water to the rice dish to prevent it from drying out,
- Allow the rice dish to reheat for up to 5 minutes, or until it is hot throughout,
- Serve the jambalaya immediately when ready,
Advantages of using a stove
The stovetop method is quick enough, plus you are able to make sure that the rice dish is kept moist by adding broth or water as it warms up.
Disadvantages of using a stove
The stovetop takes longer compared to a microwave, and you may have some extra cleaning to do since you have to wash an additional pan. You also run the risk of making the pan too hot and burning the jambalaya.
Tips For Reheating Jambalaya
- You should not reheat your rice dish more than once.
- You should only store your jambalaya in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If it exceeds 3 days then you will need to chuck it out.
- If your Jambalaya has sat out at room or outdoor temperature for over 2 hours then you may need to throw it away.
- To ensure the quality of the food, make sure you reheat it at a low flame temperature
- To ensure that leftovers are safe to eat, make sure the rice dish is cooked to a safe temperature and refrigerate the leftovers promptly.
- It is also important to let any frozen jambalaya defrost before reheating it.
