Heating & Serving Instructions
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MICHELS MEALS
For your health and safety, please make sure you are always thawing and heating your meals correctly before consuming.
General Guidelines
Thawing: Always thaw frozen meals in the refrigerator overnight. Do not thaw on the kitchen bench or in the sun.
Reheating temperature: Meals should be reheated to a minimum of 65°C before eating. If you don’t have a food thermometer, check that the food is steaming hot in the centre.
Food safety: Once heated, consume immediately. Do not refreeze previously thawed items.
Individual Meals
Crack the lid and place meal in the microwave.
From thawed: 2–3 minutes.
From frozen: 6–8 minutes.
Heat for an extra 30 seconds if needed.
Let meal sit for 1–2 minutes before serving to allow heat to spread evenly.
Meals for 2
Microwave:
Remove meal from foil tray (foil is not microwave-safe).
Place in microwave-safe dish and heat for 8 minutes, depending on size.
Oven:
Remove plastic lid.
Cover with foil.
Bake at 170°C for 20 minutes or until hot through.
Oven Trays
Remove plastic lid and cover tray with foil.
Follow the specific instructions printed on the lid for best results.
MEAL POUCHES
Best Practice: Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Boiling water method
Place pouch in simmering water.
From thawed: 10 minutes.
From frozen: 20 minutes.
Microwave method
Open pouch slightly and heat until hot.
From thawed: 5–10 minutes, stirring halfway.
From frozen: 10–15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
Stovetop method
Empty pouch into a saucepan.
Heat on medium–low, stirring until hot.
How to Enjoy Your Pouches!
Curry Sauces
Pair with steamed rice, naan, flatbreads, papadums, or your favourite Asian condiments. For a quick option, microwavable rice packs are perfect.
Pasta Sauces
Cook fresh or dried pasta (short pasta like penne, spirals, or elbows work best as they hold more sauce). Top with any cheese you love, not just parmesan, and don’t forget the garlic bread!
Casseroles
Serve with mashed potatoes, creamy polenta, pasta, or rice. Add grilled or steamed veggies to stretch the dish, or enjoy simply on hot buttered toast for comfort food at its best.
Slow Cooked Meats
Perfect for family-style eating. Serve in burgers, tacos, or nachos, or pair with roast vegetables, salads, or bread rolls for a hearty meal.
MICHELS FAMILY MEAL TRAYS
Our chef-prepared family trays are designed to make mealtimes easy. Follow the instructions below to enjoy them at their best.
Defrosting First
If frozen, defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Do not defrost on the bench as this can encourage bacteria to grow.
Once defrosted, cook within 24 hours.
Heating Instructions from Defrosted
Preparation
Remove the plastic lid.
Cover the tray with a layer of baking paper, then aluminium foil.
Stage One
Place the covered tray into a moderate oven (170 °C).
Heat for approximately 20–30 minutes.
Stage Two
Remove foil and baking paper.
Increase oven to 180–190 °C.
Heat for a further 15 minutes uncovered, until hot and lightly browned.
Food Safety
Always check the meal is piping hot in the centre before serving.
The internal temperature should reach 75 °C or above.
For roasted meats and fish, check earlier to prevent drying out.
Do not reheat more than once.
Refrigerate any leftovers within 2 hours.
Best Practice – Serving Suggestions
Family style: Serve directly from the tray or transfer into a warmed serving dish for presentation.
Finishing touches: Garnish with fresh herbs, lemon wedges, or a drizzle of olive oil.
Pairings:
Roast meals: add fresh salad or steamed vegetables.
Pasta & casseroles: pair with garlic bread or a green salad.
Fish: serve with citrus and light sides.
Please Note
These instructions are a guide only. Ovens vary, so heating times may need adjustment. Always follow safe food handling practices.