Yes, you can reheat cottage pie. Cottage pie is the quintessential comfort food, especially in the winter. It’s also one of those recipes that packs a lot more punch than you might expect. If you’ve spent time preparing and storing cottage pie, the last thing you want to do is reheat it wrong and be unable to eat and appreciate it.
Cottage pie is a mashed potato crusted with minced beef. Some of the elements in the pie’s recipe include ground red meat heated in a gravy or sauce plus onions and crowned with a layer of mashed potato. It’s easy to make a little too much cottage pie and put it in the fridge or freezer to preserve it fresh for a long time. The oven is an efficient way to reheat your cottage pie.
Can I microwave cottage pie?
Yes, you can microwave cottage pie. Heat and whisk many times with a spoon or fork. The main disadvantage of reheating in the microwave is that uneven heating may cause the cottage pie to get soggy and lose its crispy texture and flavor.
If you don’t have a way to fast-thaw your cottage pie, take it out of the freezer a few hours ahead of time. It’s enough to take it out of the fridge 15 minutes ahead of time if you have stored it there.
- In a microwave-safe container, place the quantity of cottage pie you wish to reheat.
- Make sure you evenly distribute the pie throughout the container; you don’t want to risk a few cold spots due to uneven heating. If you own an inverter microwave, you don’t have to worry about cold areas but make sure you evenly distribute the pie across the available surface.
- Microwave on high for the first 2-3 minutes, then lower the temperature.
- After a few minutes, check your cottage pie and turn the slices around.
- If you don’t think it’s hot enough, add another 30 seconds and repeat until you’re satisfied.
Other ways to reheat your pie include
Reheat cottage pie in an oven
There are some crucial factors to consider while reheating a cottage pie, or any other baked product, in the oven to ensure that everything tastes the way you want it to.
- Remove the cottage pie from the refrigerator and set it aside for at least 30 minutes to come to room temperature before reheating.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and place a baking sheet in the middle.
- Place your cottage pie on the hot pan to thoroughly heat it, then remove it from the oven when ready (it may take up to 40 minutes).
- If green beans or peas are available, serve with toppings as preferred.
Alternatively, you can use an air fryer
- Before putting your frozen cottage pie in the air fryer, preheat it. And this ensures that the heat is distributed evenly across the dish.
- Line the bottom of the air fryer with aluminum foil to avoid a mess.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and bake for 20 minutes, or until thoroughly heated.
- Before serving, remove the aluminum foil and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Serve with a side of vegetables to round off the meal.
Can I eat cottage pie the next day?
Yes, you can eat your cottage pie the next day. Reheat it until it’s boiling to kill any bacteria that may have grown.
Can you freeze cottage pie?
You can freeze cottage pie to keep it fresh. And this can be held in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Before allowing the pie to cool, you must cook each component element and assemble it. After that, you may split it out and freeze it for several months. To be safe, store any remaining pie in the refrigerator and reheat it the next day.
How to keep cottage pie
You can store cottage pie in the fridge in an airtight container for four days. You can also freeze it for up to three months. Store any leftovers in an airtight container or a zip-top bag with all the air, squeezed out. The food will be kept fresh in the zip-top bag because it is hermetically sealed. Airtight containers are ideal for preserving leftover cottage pie since they may be recycled multiple times if adequately rinsed in hot water with detergent after each use.
Can you reheat frozen cottage pie?
Yes, you can reheat frozen cottage pie. When it comes to reheating meals from your freezer, you must first thaw the meal before proceeding. It is preferable to do so. If you’re warming up your cottage pie from the fridge, preheat your oven, remove your pie from the refrigerator, and place it in an oven-safe container. Cover your food with tin or aluminum foil to prevent moisture loss, and bake the food for a specific time. Remove the food, cool it to the desired temperature, and serve when ready.
Follow these procedures to reheat cottage pie in the oven straight from the freezer:
- In the first step, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius)
- Remove the lid or cover from the cottage pie and take it from the freezer.
- Transfer the shepherd’s pie to a baking dish. You can make the recipe in a cast iron pan or a baking dish, like a casserole dish or a baking pan.
- To keep the cottage pie warm, wrap it in a tin or aluminum foil. And this is crucial because it will prevent your cottage pie from losing all of its moisture and flavor.
- Use a tin or aluminum foil to seal your cottage pie to keep it as airtight as possible. Even a modest quantity of exposure will cause moisture and flavor loss, resulting in a cottage pie that smells dry or stale.
- Please turn off the oven and place the covered shepherd’s pie in it.
- Start working after setting a timer for 60 minutes.
- After 60 minutes, carefully remove the shepherd’s pie from the pan by opening the oven door.
- Carefully remove the aluminum foil or pull the pie out of the pan. Use a toothpick, sharp knife, or fork to pierce a hole in the middle to the bottom of the pan.
- If the toothpick, knife, or fork is hot to the touch, it should be removed and tested. If this is the case, you may rest assured that the shepherd’s pie has been cooked thoroughly and is ready to serve.
- If in doubt, cover with tin foil or aluminum foil and return to the oven for another 5-10 minutes until well heated.
- Remove the shepherd’s pie from the oven after 5-10 minutes, carefully remove the tin or aluminum foil, and cool to room temperature before cutting it. In most circumstances, this will take a few minutes.
- Prepare and serve the dish.
How many times do reheat cottage pie
The Food Standards Agency advises reheating your food just once. You can reheat your cottage pie multiple times if you follow the procedures above. You should only reheat food once for safety and taste reasons. The more you reheat the food, the more texture and flavor it loses.
Can you eat cottage pie cold?
Yes, you can serve your cottage pie hot or cold. However, note that the cottage pie is best to serve when warm. You can eat your cottage pie cold as long as you properly cook it and store it.
Difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie
The main difference between a shepherd’s pie and a cottage’s pie is their meat. A cottage pie is made with beef, while a shepherd’s pie is made with lamb. While both pies are traditionally made with mashed potatoes on top, some people use other toppings for added flavor and nutrition, such as sweet potatoes.
Can you reheat cottage pie in an air fryer?
Yes, you can reheat cottage pie in an air fryer. Follow these steps:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the cottage pie from the fridge and place it in the air fryer.
- Cook for 10 minutes, or until heated through.
- Remove from the air fryer and enjoy!
Can you reheat cottage pie more than once
I wouldn’t recommend reheating a cottage pie more than once. It’s best to reheat it once to preserve its flavor and texture. If you need to reheat it more than once, follow the proper reheating procedures to avoid any food safety issues.
When reheating cottage pie, always make sure it is piping hot before serving. Enjoy!