How to Keep Meat Pie Warm? Can You Reheat It?
Meat pies have become one of the most popular desserts in the world today. However, pies can also be savory and served as the main dish. The most popular savory pie that people love to serve to their guests is the meat pie. So, is there a way to keep meat pie warm? Can you reheat it?
You can keep your meat pie warm by placing it in a pie warmer, buffet server warming tray, leaving it in a warm oven, and wrapping it with aluminum foil. But there’s more to keeping meat pie warm than meets the eye. This article covers all the techniques you require to keep your meat pie warm and how to reheat them if need be.
How to Keep Meat Pie Warm for Hours?
There are several reasons you might end up with a cold meat pie. Luckily, there are ways to keep your meat pie warm, and you can even keep it warm for hours.
Use a Pie Warmer
The pie warmer is something you must have seen in the bakeries and pastries. It is used to showcase the pies and other dishes, and to keep those dishes warm.
Your meat pies can stay warm at 149 °F in a pie warmer for up to 4 hours.
Ensure you take note of the order in which you stored your pies. This is to make sure you know which to remove first.
Pie warmers are a great tool to have. However, they take up space and are pretty costly. Amazon offers some great pie warmers, so you can check them out here.
Use an Oven
If you don’t have a pie warmer or prefer to use an oven, you can still keep your meat pies warm for hours.
To keep your pies warm in an oven, set it to around 392 °F. Be sure to cover your bowl or baking dish adequately, either with its lid or with a foil. This will keep the snacks warm without continuing the baking process.
After about 10 minutes, you can turn off your oven. Take out the bowl or baking dish, wrap it in towels, and then place it back into the oven. This would prevent heat from escaping and keep the pies warm.
Put the Pie in Buffet Server Warming Tray
If you are having the guest over to dinner, using a buffet server warming tray is a really convenient option. This is especially if you have several types of warm dishes you want to serve.
I found one on Amazon that is worth trying. Check it out here.
However, if you close the server tray, it may cause your pie crust to get a little bit soggy.
Wrap the Pie With Aluminum Foil
The thing about aluminum foil is that it will keep your meat pie warm, but not for too long. It is a good option if you want to transfer a warm meat pie when going to someone’s place.
But, if you are looking for an option to keep the pie warm for hours, this is not the way to go.
Can You Reheat Meat Pie?
Many people just don’t have the time to make their meat pie from scratch. This is why they bake (or buy) their meat pies and store them in the freezer. Fortunately, meat pies can stay frozen for months without losing their quality or taste.
It is possible and relatively easy to reheat meat pie. You can heat meat pie as many times as you wish. However, keep in mind that the often you reheat your pie, the more likely it is to go bad. [1]
Besides reheating a pie, reheating a room-temperature pie can go a long way in giving your pie that ‘freshly-baked’ flavor.
How to Reheat Meat Pie?
There are several methods to reheat your pies, whether frozen or not. You can either use a microwave or an oven. Whichever you decide, ensure you follow these steps correctly to avoid mistakes like burning your pie’s crust.
Using a Microwave
Using a microwave is a quick and easy way to reheat your meat pie. Just ensure you only use a microwave-safe container.
However, it is the most convenient way if you need to warm only a slice or two.
- To reheat your pie, place it in the microwave. If serving appearance doesn’t matter, slicing the pie in small pieces will help in warming the pie evenly.
- Set your microwave on high and time for about 1 minute if warming the whole slice or 30 seconds if warming the small pieces.
- If your pie isn’t properly heated, you can heat it for an extra 30 seconds, ensuring you check it every 10 seconds.
Remember that microwaves work differently, so this timing might not work for you. Just ensure not to leave the meat pie in the microwave for too long.
Using an Oven
If you wish to use an oven, you can defrost your pie in the fridge for about ten hours to allow it to thaw uniformly. Alternatively, you can choose to reheat it frozen (this will take longer).
- First, pre-heat your oven to around 375 °F.
- Put the pie on a sheet of foil or a baking sheet and place it in the oven. Also, cover the pie with a sheet of aluminum foil to prevent discoloration of the pie.
- Reduce the heat to 350 °F and cook for around 15 to 20 minutes.
Like using a microwave, all pies won’t reheat properly using the exact time measurement. This is why you should use your discretion when reheating.
How Long Do Meat Pies Last?
Meat pies will last between a couple of hours to months, depending on how you store them.
At Room Temperature
Bacteria can multiply between 40 °F and 140 °F (which is why pie warmers work at 149 °F). Therefore, meat pie can only last about 2 hours at room temperature. Any longer than that, and the pie will go bad.
In the Refrigerator
You can store your meat pies in the fridge for about 3 to 5 days. However, ensure to cover the pies with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep them as fresh as possible.
In the Freezer
Meat pies can last for two months in the freezer. [2] Just like storing them in the fridge, ensure you wrap your pies in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to protect them.
