Topic: Re heating

[Cory Ander]

Hi Bangra,

Strictly speaking, I'm pretty sure that it is best not to not re-freeze ANY food that has been previously frozen and fully thawed (outside of a fridge)....unless if was raw and subseqeuntly fully cooked.  This goes for curry base too.  Not only does the quality of the food deteriorate, but, more importantly, there is an increased health risk due to increased bacterial growth in the food.

Having said that, I do it all the time with curry base, as you describe, and so far I'm all right Jack...honest!    Well, probably like you, I aint gonna waste a perfectly good curry now, am I! 

Regards,

[Cory Ander]

When you freeze your base sauce, then take it out to use. Is it better to let it defrost then heat or heat up from frozen, or does it make not make any difference.

Hi Vindaloo,

Similar to CK - I usually take out curry base and chicken breasts and defrost them, at room temperature (defrosting in a fridge is best, but it takes forever!), for several hours, before use.

If I haven't planned ahead, I simply defrost them both in a microwave.  Otherwise, I simply defrost the curry base, in pan, on low heat.  I haven't really detected much of a difference (quality wise) either way.

Regards,

[Vinda looo]

Just been thinking more regards the cooling down and re heating. Here goes an example of what can happen.

boil your base sauce till its done
let it cool to blend
re heat/boil to cook through again
let it cool to put in freezer
de frost
then re heat again when ready for a curry
let curry cool if you want to freeze again
when ready to eat
let thaw out
then re heat again
and finally eat.


It seems to me that you must lose an awful lot of taste if doing this procedure which I have done myself, but it just goes to show how many times you could re heat, thaw, cool, freeze. It must have some effect on the final dish.

[haldi]

I don't know if it's true
but Pat Chapman's chinese cook book mentions a stock that has been going for about fifty years
Imagine the responsibility of that!

[Mark J]

And didnt it get flown over from China to England when the family moved?

Great story, whether you like PC's recipes or not the books are a good read.