Do you have leftover frozen soup that need to be reheated quickly? Whether it is lentil or chicken soup, it is commonly frozen and reheated in the microwave to revive the meal prep in a short time.
There are various methods of reheating frozen soup to reach steaming hot temperatures. Defrosting soup in the fridge overnight is one of the methods, but you can also use the microwave to hasten the process.
How do you reheat frozen soup in microwave? Transfer the frozen soup into a microwavable soup bowl, then partially cover with a lid, paper towel or plastic wrap.
Microwave for 2 minutes on low heat until the soup becomes slushy. Using a wooden spoon, try to break up the block of frozen soup between each 30 second duration to defrost quicker and more evenly.
When the soup is fully defrosted to a slushy consistency, transfer to preferred cooking method to finish reheating. If using a microwave to reheat, adjust the microwave to high power for 2 minutes on high power setting and ensure to keep stirring every 30 seconds.
Serve when the soup is piping hot and has reached an internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are worried about the soup exploding in the microwave, we are here to discuss the best method and tips. Answered below are frequently asked questions about how to reheat frozen soup in the microwave to solve all your concerns and questions, so read further!
Can you microwave frozen soup?
Yes, it’s possible to reheat frozen soup using the microwave. As long as the frozen soup is not spoiled and is fully reheated to an internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit, then it is safe to serve.
To speed up the process, begin by defrosting frozen soup in the microwave to make it easy to transfer into a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave on low heat for 2 minutes until it turns slushy. Stir the soup and break any ice chunks every minute for it to defrost evenly.
After defrosting, proceed to microwaving on high heat for 30 second intervals with frequent stirring until the recommended temperature is reached.
Can you reheat frozen soup twice?
No, it is not recommended to reheat frozen soup more than once. This is because the more times you freeze and reheat soup, the higher the risk of bacteria multiplying and leading to potential food borne illness.
Ideally, it would be best to consume soup straight after reheating to enjoy the best taste. Reheating food twice might pose the risk of food poisoning if the food is not handled safely.
Based on general food safety guidelines, as long as you reheat soup to the proper temperature, it can be safely reheated. However, according to the food standards, it is recommended that any meat based soup should only be reheated only once.
When reheating soup, ensure it’s piping hot throughout, and not in select hotspots to ensure it is well reheated and all bacteria destroyed. Keep in mind the quality tends to decrease every time it’s reheated, which results the consistency or even taste might not be as good as fresh made.
How long to reheat frozen soup in microwave?
On average, it takes between 2 to 3 minutes to thaw frozen soup completely, followed by 2 to 3 minutes on high to fully reheat the previously frozen soup to a safe internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
This reheating time may vary based on the amount of frozen soup and microwave wattage. The more the soup and lower the appliance wattage, the longer it takes to reheat frozen soup in the microwave.
Reheating soup directly from frozen is entirely possible, but it’s best defrosted with a microwave before reheating.
Put the frozen soup in a microwavable bowl. Cover the container partially with a lid, damp paper towel or plastic wrap, and microwave at low temperature in 2 to 3 minutes.
Stir thoroughly every minute, and repeat the process until the soup becomes slushy.
Whether the soup is made with broth or noodles, defrost before reheating for best results.
Tips to Reheat Frozen Soup in Microwave
Reheating frozen soup in microwave is a quick and painless process. However, there are microwave tips to keep the consistency and taste as fresh as possible.
Here are useful tips for reheating frozen soup in the microwave:
- Check for microwave-safe symbols. Typically, ceramic and glass bowls are microwavable. At the same time, metal bowls should never be put in the microwave. Plastic tends to leak harmful chemicals into your food when the heat is in the microwave that can lead to a high risk of various illnesses.
- Use microwave soup bowl or microwave safe mug to reheat frozen soups. In general, we recommend using glass or ceramic dish ware in the microwave.
- Avoid using the highest power setting, even if it’s the default setting of the microwave. The high heat isn’t necessary and brings out the least consistent results.
- Low power will allow the frozen soup to thaw evenly. Always enter the cooking time first and then press the power button to adjust the power level or use the defrost setting to thaw the frozen soup before reheating.
- Carefully remove the bowl from microwave by using heat-resistant gloves or oven mitt, the container will be extremely hot.
- Stir frequently with a wooden spoon instead of metal spoon to avoid any harm when stirring steamy hot broth. Stir to break up any large chunks of frozen soup when defrosting, then stir to evenly distribute heat when relating the previously frozen soup.
Best Way to Reheat Frozen Soup in Microwave
Take the frozen soup out of the freezer and transfer it to a microwave-safe bowl. Remember to check for the microwave safe label at the bottom part of the bowl before placing it in the appliance.
To thaw the frozen soup, cover the bowl using plastic wrap, paper towel or microwave cover with a vent.
Put the bowl in the microwave and switch to low heat setting or adjust the power to 30%. Reheat the soup for 2 minutes until it become slushy.
Take the bowl from the microwave, stir the soup and break any big ice chunks before placing it back in the microwave.
To reheat the soup, change to high heat and microwave for 30 second increments with frequent stirring until the soup reaches 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Test the temperature of the soup using a food thermometer. Take the bowl from the microwave and put the food thermometer inside the soup. Check if the temperature is 165 degree Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius to ensure it’s safe for consumption.
The thermometer should not contact the sides or bottom of the bowl to avoid giving incorrect temperature readings.
You can also use a knife or spoon in place of the thermometer. Put the utensil into the middle of the bowl, and if the surface is hot then the soup is warm enough to serve.
Reheating Frozen Soup in Microwave: Conclusion
Frozen soup is a wholesome and nutritious meal prep to reheat and enjoy at anytime. Furthermore, it is quick to prepare when in hurry, and leftover soups can be frozen to consume at a later date.
Quickly reheating frozen soup can be tricky, but the microwave makes it safe to reheat any type of soup to revive the flavor and taste.
Avoid reheating soup more than once if possible. When food is stored, cooled, and reheated, harmful bacteria are likely to multiply.
In case you have leftovers from a large batch of soup, it’s safer to freeze and reheat single portions instead of the entire quantity.
Select the amount of frozen soup and transfer into a microwave safe soup bowl and cover loosely with a lid.
Set the microwave on defrost power or 30% low heat level and run for 2 minutes. After the intervals, break any ice chunks and stir thoroughly and continue thawing until the soup become slushy and room temperature.
Depending on how much frozen soup is being defrosted, it may take slightly more than 2 minutes.
After defrosting the frozen soup, proceed with reheating on high heat. Microwave for 30 second increments until the internal temperature reaches 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit for the previously frozen soup to be safe to eat.
There you have it, prepare a large batch of soup and store the leftovers in the freezer. When it come time to eat, microwave frozen soup and have a hot meal ready to eat in minutes.