In India, eating the leftover meal the next day for breakfast or lunch is a tradition that is followed in almost all houses. It is a great way of utilising the leftover food from the previous day and avoiding food waste. However, reheating food is a proper technique that many people take lightly. One of the easiest ways for people to reheat food is to simply transfer it into a glass bowl and keep it in the microwave.
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While it may sound simple and convincing to a lot of people, doing this doesn't work in the case of all food items. Noodles for instance, are one of the most highly consumed street-style snacks in India. People like to enjoy it in different flavours and its popularity is pretty widespread in India. The process of reheating noodles is not very simple and taking the approach casually can spoil the flavour of the noodles and make them too dry. Here are some tips and tricks that one can follow while reheating noodles at home.
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* Boiling
One of the major drawbacks of storing noodles in the refrigerator is that it makes the noodles too dry. The next day, when a person has to eat the noodles, the biggest concern is to restore the moisture level in the noodles. So to restore the moisture level in the noodles, one can simply transfer the pasta into a saucepan that has 2 to 3 cups of water in it. One may adjust the quantity of water depending on the amount of leftover noodles. Just remember that the water should be present in quantity so that all the noodles get properly soaked. Now bring the water to a boil with the noodles in it. Heat everything for a couple of minutes until all the water evaporates.
* Oven Reheating
Another option for reheating the noodles is to simply put them in the oven. However, there are proper criteria involved, as one cannot simply transfer the noodles into the oven and expect them to come out fresh. One has to take an oven-safe dish and cover it with foil paper properly. The next step is to spread the noodles on the top of the tray and bake it for 15 to 20 minutes at 350°F. One can also sprinkle a little bit of cheese or melted butter on the top of the noodles before baking them in the oven. If the noodles are too dry, then one can also add a dollop of fresh tomato purée or any other sauce that they would like to add before heating it in the microwave.
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* Sautéing
Sautéing is a great option for reheating for people who do not have either a microwave or oven at home. It is a method that is used in most of the households in India. One has to simply take a saucepan and transfer the leftover noodles into it. The saucepan has to be heated over low heat. In this mixture, add a little bit of olive oil, some sauces, and any other ingredients that a person thinks are needed for that extra flavour. Add 2 tablespoons of water and cover the saucepan with its lid. Let everything stay there for 3 to 4 minutes before finally taking it off the heat.
* Microwave
Microwaving the leftover noodles to reheat them is an option that one can consider if they do not have an oven at home. To achieve the best possible taste and texture in the noodles, one has to first choose a microwave-safe dish. In this, one can add the noodles and drizzle some water or sauce on top. This step is necessary to make sure that the pasta doesn't get sticky while being heated. First, heat the noodles for one minute in the microwave. Then take the dish out and see if it has been heated properly or not. If some more reheating is required, then heat it in the microwave for 15 seconds again.
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* Steaming
Steaming the pasta can be a game-changing technique for a lot of people who do not know about this way of reheating. One has to simply add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to a low-frying pan that has a proper lid. Then, in this case, one has to add the pasta and cover the saucepan with a lid. Wait for 30 seconds and then remove the lid. Store the noodles slowly and then wait for another 30 seconds. Keep doing this process back and forth until the pasta heats properly. Continuous stirring of the noodles allows the noodles to be heated evenly and it also absorbs moisture. This process requires a little bit more attention as compared to the other ones on the list.