How to Reheat Chicken Tikka Masala (5 Methods)

Chicken Tikka Masala is a popular Indian dish loved by many people around the world.

It is a spicy and creamy curry made with tender pieces of chicken, onion, garlic, ginger and aromatic spices.

Chicken Tikka Masala is a versatile dish that can be served with rice or naan bread.

If you have leftover chicken tikka masala from yesterday’s dinner, it’s important to know how to reheat it properly to avoid any health hazards and ensure its taste and texture are not compromised.

In this blog post, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to reheat chicken tikka masala using five methods.

Why Proper Reheating is Important

Proper reheating technique ensures that your food stays safe to eat as well as maintains its quality for consumption. If not reheated correctly, bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella can develop in the food causing various health issues.

Therefore, it’s important to reheat food thoroughly at the right temperature.

Additionally, incorrect reheating techniques can also cause loss of moisture resulting in dry meat or uneven heating which affects the taste of the dish. Below are five methods on how to reheat your leftover Chicken Tikka Masala:

1 – Reheating in the Microwave

Reheating chicken tikka masala in a microwave oven provides an easy and quick method for enjoying your leftovers within minutes without using much effort.

Instructions:

1. Place your leftover Chicken Tikka Masala into a microwave-safe container.
2. Cover the container with cling wrap/ plastic wrap or microwave-safe plate.
3. Heat on high power for 3-4 minutes.
4. Stir midway through heat cycles.
5. Remove from heat once hot enough (70°C)

Tips:

• Avoid overheating to prevent drying out.
• Covering during heating reduces moisture loss.
• Stirring midway during the heating process ensures even heating.

2 – Reheating on the Stovetop

Reheating chicken curry on a stovetop is an ideal method if you want to avoid using a microwave.

This method takes longer than microwaving but is a good option when you have enough time and need to reheat large quantities of Tikka Masala for several people at once.

Instructions:

1. Place your leftover Chicken Tikka Masala in a saucepan or pot.
2. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally until it reaches boiling point.
3. Cover with lid or aluminum foil and reduce heat to simmer for 10-15 minutes.
4. Keep checking that it doesn’t dry out or stick to the bottom of the pan.

Advantages:

• Prevents drying out or uneven reheating
• Safer than reheating in a microwave

3 – Reheating in the Oven

If you don’t want your Chicken Tikka Masala touching plastic wraps, then reheating it in an oven is an appealing method.

This method makes use of dry heat, ensuring that your curry is warmed evenly while retaining its moisture effectively.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
2. Transfer leftover Chicken Tikka Masala into an oven-safe baking dish or casserole dish.
3. Cover tightly with aluminum foil
4. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until temperature inside reaches above 70ºC/155ºF.)

Ideal Temperature Settings:

• Slow cook: baking at lower temperatures if you prefer evenly heated chicken chunks without any smell.
• High temperature: If you don’t mind strongly scented hot sauce after cooking, use High heat mode.

4 – Reheating using Sous Vide Technique

Sous vide is French cooking technique meaning ‘under vacuum,’ also known as low temperature long-time cooking, it involves heating foods like meats and vegetables in temperature-controlled water.

Instructions:

1. Seal the chicken tikka masala in a vacuum pouch using a vacuum sealer – this keeps the heat in and ensures uniform cooking.
2. Heat the water to 60C/140F
3. Add your packed Tikka Masala to the water bath carefully.
4. Wait for at least forty (40) minutes or until you reach your desired internal heat temperature.
5. Transfer Tikka masala from packets into any serving dish.

5 – Using a Slow Cooker to Reheat Chicken Tikka Masala

Slow cookers can be an excellent option for reheating large quantities of food such as leftovers.

It may take longer than other methods mentioned above, but it enables you to add additional ingredients according to your taste.

Instructions:

1. Place leftover Chicken Tikka Masala into slow cooker
2. Cook on high for 45-60 minutes or until hot enough.
3. Stir occasionally during cooking cycle
4. In case of extra-large chunks, slice/cut them before starting to reheating process,

Additional Tips:

• Add some stock to have a moisture effect that ensures soft meat chunks not dried out

Tips To Keep In Mind When Reheating Chicken Tikka Masala

When reheating chicken tikka masala:

• Always ensure that your food is reheated thoroughly around its core so that all parts are safe to eat.
• Temperature guidelines acceptable by USDA recommends not heating food above 165°F i.e. 75°C when attempting thawing or reheating leftover US guideline). However other countries follow temperature regulations based on their own food safety organization standards according to their regulations such as Australia Health Department suggests that cooked foods must be heated up either they were chilled quickly only at 75℃ without drop higher than two hours within storing away from freezer once it is cooled down.
• Leftovers usually do not go bad quickly; particularly, curry dishes that may stay good for up to four days after they’re cooked.

Conclusion

Chicken Tikka Masala is a delightful dish that can be enjoyed any time of the day. However, when reheating it, make sure you understand what temperature and method will work best for re-warming the food without losing its signature creamy texture or spicy flavour.

Although all these methods are ideal for reheating your chicken Tikka Masala, some methods require more attention and time than others.

You can choose whichever method suits your convenience and taste preferences best.

Ensure always to follow proper temperature guidelines when dealing with leftovers where possible feed chill food as frequently storing at 4F away from freezer side ensure deliciousness combined with utmost safety. Enjoy!