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OT: Others use sous vide for reheating leftovers? :OT

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RRP
RRP Posts: 25,888
in Off Topic
Don't think I've seen this discussed before, but here goes. With just the two of us then oftentime my egged meals mean leftovers which I actually call make aheads. Since these extra meals are refrigerated for a few days before having them again they need to be reheated. It used to rile me to then overcook these trying to re-warm them on the stove, microwave or oven.That's when I put my sous vide unit into play to warm them gently without cooking. For instance we had left over spare ribs from Saturday so tonight I warmed them for 2 hours at 137. Actually this temperature was my settled on level after past attempts at lower levels. 

Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    I have discovered the same great use of SV. Proteins and vegetables. Great way to re-up. 
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 30,943
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    Yep.  We do this all the time with pulled pork.  It almost comes out better than it is when it's fresh.  
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
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  • Gym
    Gym Posts: 366
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    Agreed. We use this method also. Prevents
    Leftovers from drying out when reheating
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  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
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    I'm in this camp, if I have the time to do so, this is my go to.  Especially the protein.  
    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    tarheelmatt said:
    I'm in this camp, if I have the time to do so, this is my go to.  Especially the protein.  
    Available time does matter but minimal planning. 
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • blasting
    blasting Posts: 6,262
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    I actually got the SV specifically for reheating.  I didn't plan on cooking with it.

     Now it's the only way I'll cook chicken breasts or chops.

    Phoenix 
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,888
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    blasting said:

    I actually got the SV specifically for reheating.  I didn't plan on cooking with it.

     Now it's the only way I'll cook chicken breasts or chops.

    Good for you...but if chicken breasts and chops are your only other uses you really are missing the boat on the MANY other GREAT cooks/meals the sous vide will deliver into perfection levels for you! 
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    Thanks man!
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,791
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    Ron, I just wanted to pop in and say hello. Haven't been on the forum much at all the past 3 months due to work. Glad to see that you are still around. Have a good one brother.  

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • Toxarch
    Toxarch Posts: 1,900
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    I put leftover pulled pork and brisket into smaller servings vac bags and freeze them. Then I sous vide to warm them. Cones out great every time.
    Aledo, Texas
    Large BGE
    KJ Jr.

    Exodus 12:9 KJV
    Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

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  • enderw30
    enderw30 Posts: 58
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    I just got a SV yesterday and was wondering the same thing. What temp do you guys usually bring leftover pulled pork up to? My first SV cook was a success using Serious eats SV bacon method. I'm doing salmon tomorrow and steak Sat/Sun.
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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
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    I think foodsafe hold temp is 140ºF, so that's where I started when using the SV to reheat. Things like pulled pork, chili, or ribs can stand a bit more heat on the reheat mode, IMO. I cook ribs in the sous vide at 147º-150ºF, so reheating at 150º does no harm. Prime rib is excellent when sliced a little thinner than normal and warmed to 132º or so for even 30-40 minutes, still has that nice prime rib flavour. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • enderw30
    enderw30 Posts: 58
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    Skiddymarker said:
    I think foodsafe hold temp is 140ºF, so that's where I started when using the SV to reheat. Things like pulled pork, chili, or ribs can stand a bit more heat on the reheat mode, IMO. I cook ribs in the sous vide at 147º-150ºF, so reheating at 150º does no harm. Prime rib is excellent when sliced a little thinner than normal and warmed to 132º or so for even 30-40 minutes, still has that nice prime rib flavour. 

    Thanks for the help! How long do you find it takes to reheat the food? 1-2 hours?
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  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 30,943
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    enderw30 said:
    Skiddymarker said:
    I think foodsafe hold temp is 140ºF, so that's where I started when using the SV to reheat. Things like pulled pork, chili, or ribs can stand a bit more heat on the reheat mode, IMO. I cook ribs in the sous vide at 147º-150ºF, so reheating at 150º does no harm. Prime rib is excellent when sliced a little thinner than normal and warmed to 132º or so for even 30-40 minutes, still has that nice prime rib flavour. 

    Thanks for the help! How long do you find it takes to reheat the food? 1-2 hours?
    An hour from frozen works just fine for me.  If you freeze something thick you might need longer.
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
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  • Hans61
    Hans61 Posts: 3,901
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    Yes it's a great way to reheat leftovers!
    “There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body.”
    Coach Finstock Teen Wolf
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,888
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    Skiddymarker said:
    I think foodsafe hold temp is 140ºF, so that's where I started when using the SV to reheat. Things like pulled pork, chili, or ribs can stand a bit more heat on the reheat mode, IMO. I cook ribs in the sous vide at 147º-150ºF, so reheating at 150º does no harm. Prime rib is excellent when sliced a little thinner than normal and warmed to 132º or so for even 30-40 minutes, still has that nice prime rib flavour. 
    Guess our still being alive tonight makes me question the 140 rule concerning already cooked and then re-frigerated left overs for several days. As I said in my post last night these ribs went from being in our refrigerator (37 degrees) into a 137 degree sous vide bath for 2 hours. Obviously they never got to any 140. I really thought the 140 rule pertained to raw meat - not already cooked meat.

    I can't tell you how often I reheat lesser left overs such as taco meat quite often which I know none of those reach any 140 degrees again. Am I missing something or just been lucky all these years? 
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
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    RRP said:
    Skiddymarker said:
    I think foodsafe hold temp is 140ºF, so that's where I started when using the SV to reheat. Things like pulled pork, chili, or ribs can stand a bit more heat on the reheat mode, IMO. I cook ribs in the sous vide at 147º-150ºF, so reheating at 150º does no harm. Prime rib is excellent when sliced a little thinner than normal and warmed to 132º or so for even 30-40 minutes, still has that nice prime rib flavour. 
    Guess our still being alive tonight makes me question the 140 rule concerning already cooked and then re-frigerated left overs for several days. As I said in my post last night these ribs went from being in our refrigerator (37 degrees) into a 137 degree sous vide bath for 2 hours. Obviously they never got to any 140. I really thought the 140 rule pertained to raw meat - not already cooked meat.

    I can't tell you how often I reheat lesser left overs such as taco meat quite often which I know none of those reach any 140 degrees again. Am I missing something or just been lucky all these years? 
    He said hold temp Ron. The rule of thumb until recently had always been to hold food over 140 degrees. The danger zone used to be 40-140. Up to 2 hours fine to refrigerate, 2-4 hours eat or throw out, over 4 hours throw out. I have read the upper end of that has been lowered to around 130 in recent years.
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  • FearlessTheEggNoob
    FearlessTheEggNoob Posts: 888
    edited September 2017
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    I tried my Instant Pot Ultra to reheat about 3-4lbs of brisket at work and it did really well. I McGuyvered a container using a foil covered aluminum pie that i shaped to fit inside, added a cup or two of water (to the stainless liner, not the food), set it on 2hrs @ low slow cooker mode with keep warm feature enabled...and walked away. Came back 4hrs later and everything was spot on.

    I've used my SV Demi to do the same thing and it worked fine, but I liked this way better. less messy, and also a great result. Of course this was a potluck scenario instead of home, and I didn't bother to vac pack anything in advance.

    I did some research and found some stainless stackable containers made for using inside the instant pot.


    Gittin' there...
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  • NorthPilot06
    NorthPilot06 Posts: 1,179
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    Echoing what @Lit said, it's generally not adviseable to hold something at < 140 for over four hours (now edging closer to 130). 

    But then again, we wouldn't have SV chuck roasts :)
    DFW - 1 LGBE & Happy to Adopt More...
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