How to Reheat Seafood Boil: 3 Ideas to Try Out
It’s hard to deny that seafood boil is one of the most popular dishes in the world. Not only is it extremely delicious, but it is also quite filling, leaving you satisfied for the entire day. And since a seafood boil involves a lot of ingredients, it is highly possible that you will be left with plenty of leftovers.
However, reheating is not that easy, especially if it’s your first time. In fact, when not properly reheated, the seafood boil can have an unpalatable smell and texture. No need to worry, though, as this article will teach you how to reheat a seafood boil. But first, there are a few things you need to know about this dish and how to store it properly.
What Is Seafood Boil?
Image source: Pinterest
Generally speaking, a seafood boil recipe consists of seafood such as shrimp, crawfish, lobster, crab, and veggies like potatoes and corn, along with a variety of spices. It is called a boil because you literally boil everything in a pot and then serve it right off the stove.
However, there are many variations of seafood boil depending on what ingredients and cooking technique you use.
The exact origin of this tasty dish is unknown, but it is believed to have originated from the migration of the Cajuns back in the 1700s. Many people see this recipe as symbolizing earth, as it includes ingredients from the sea and land.
As a result, it features a perfect harmony of flavors tied together using Cajun sauces spiked with aromatic spices.
Storing Seafood Boil
Image source: Pinterest
Seafood boil is infamous for spoiling extremely fast if kept the wrong way. As a matter of fact, it can go bad just after three hours of being left at room temperature. That’s due to the structure of amino acids and fats within the seafood, which allows for enzymes to damage them faster than other types of meat. Therefore, you need to be very careful when storing the dish.
There are two main ways you can store seafood and prevent it from spoiling:
● If you want to make reheating easier, you should store the dish in a boil bag. Just make sure that the bag is clean and completely dry. Then, once the bag is filled, place it in the fridge at 40° F.
● Another way to prevent spoiling the dish is to leave the leftovers in a casserole. You’ll need to place the leftovers in the container while keeping the seafood at the bottom in order to slow down the drying process.
Freezer or Fridge?
There’s a lot of debate about whether people should store their seafood boil in the fridge or freezer. As a rule of thumb, you should use the fridge if you want to consume the leftovers the next day. That way, you allow the flavors to further permeate the dish, giving it a richer taste.
Usually, a seafood boil is safe-to-eat for up to three days in the fridge if it has been kept at 40° F. However, you need to make sure that it is stored all the way back in the fridge, away from the door, to prevent temperature fluctuations.
You can also store your leftovers in the freezer in case you want to eat them at a much later date. If you plan to do that, you need to store the dish in separate bags depending on the ingredient category.
For example, you shouldn’t place meat and vegetables in the same bag, or you risk contaminating the dish. Also, when you separate the ingredients, you help maintain the original flavor during the storage process.
More often than not, you can safely store the seafood boil in the freezer for between two and three months, but most cooks recommend that you eat it within one month to get the most out of the texture and flavor of this dish.
How to Reheat Seafood Boil: 3 Ways
Image source: Pinterest
There are several methods you can use to reheat the seafood boil. The main difference between them is the waiting time and the end result, as only some of them can maintain the original flavor of the dish.
1. Stove Heating
Reheating seafood boils over the stove is one of the most popular methods due to its many advantages. For starters, the entire dish should be ready in just over 15 minutes. As a result, this method is ideal after a hard day of work when you don’t have the patience to wait around.
Secondly, you don’t have to worry about making a mess, as stove heating is fairly clean.
Here’s how the method works:
● Add water to a large pot and bring it to a boil. You should fill the pot halfway to make the most out of this method.
● If the leftovers are already in a boil bag, then just dump it in the boiling water. If not, you should add the ingredients to a boil bag to achieve the best results.
● Let the bag sit in boiling water for about ten minutes, or until it forms condensation, which indicates that steam is accumulating inside. You may also take out the bag eight minutes after heating it to move the contents around. Keep in mind that the bag is very hot, so be careful when touching it.
● Once heated, take the bag out and place it on a cooling rack, letting the boil sit for about five to ten minutes. And voilà, your delicious seafood boil is ready!
It’s important to note that you can also use a pan instead of a large pot when stove heating. The only noticeable difference is that you will need to heat the leftovers for no more than five minutes.
2. Oven Heating
Reheating your seafood boil using an oven is perfect for leftovers that haven’t been stored in boil bags. This method is also very clean, as you won’t have to move any ingredients around too much and create a mess because you will be essentially using the same casserole you served the food in.
To try this method, you’ll need to start by:
● Moving the seafood to the bottom of the casserole and keeping the other ingredients, such as sausages, eggs, and potatoes, on top.
● Pour at least one or two cups of water into the container.
● Seal the dish inside the casserole using foil. The purpose is to trap the steam while the water boils and use it to reheat the leftovers. That way, you preserve all the texture and flavors of the seafood boil.
● Set the oven at 300° F and place the casserole inside the oven. Let it reheat for about 20 minutes, during which you can lift the corner of the foil to check if there is enough steam. Once the steam has started to form, you have to heat the dish for 10 more minutes.
● Afterward, remove the foil from the top using a fork or knife to avoid burning your hands. Remember to allow the dish to rest for five more minutes before serving.
3. Microwave Heating
Lastly, you can use a microwave to reheat your seafood boil leftovers. However, this is a double-edged sword and should be avoided if you have other alternatives. More specifically, while microwaving is fast and easy, it can overcook the vegetables and meat. You might also end up with a couple of cold spots due to how microwaves work.
If you still want to try microwaving, then be sure to follow these steps in order to make the most out of this method:
● Put the seafood boil and some water in a microwave-safe container.
● Use a microwave-safe foil or plastic to seal the container. Although plastic film works best, you can also use some tightly wrapped foil. But if you notice any sparks during the process, turn off the microwave immediately and remove the container.
● Heat the leftovers for three to five minutes. Then, check the seafood boil for cold spots and microwave it again until you are satisfied with the results. Just don’t do it too many times, or you could ruin the dish.
Featured image source: Pinterest.com
