Canned tuna is quite possibly one of the easiest foods you can work with. It has so many uses as well. You can add it to salads, and you can also mix it with some pasta.
There are millions of recipes out there when it comes to making meals with tuna, but at the end of the day, you have to remember that it is not the same as fresh tuna. It has to undergo some kind of processing in order to be canned, and that raises the question, can you reheat canned tuna as well as normal tuna?
The truth is Yes you absolutely can microwave tuna if you follow a few simple steps.
How to Microwave Tuna:
Microwaving your tuna doesn’t take long at all. You’re simply warming it through.
Place it in a bowl and then cover it up with a paper towel. The great thing about doing this is that it will help to retain any natural moisture in the canned tuna and it will also keep any tuna steaks nice and moist too. Just make sure that you warm it up for 30 seconds at a time, before stirring and then blasting it again.
If you are heating your tuna via the microwave, then use a lower power. You also need to avoid boiling it and searing it.
Microwaving is the best way to heat it through. If you are microwaving a tuna steak, then microwave it on high for around 8 minutes for every 1lb of steak you have. This is for microwaves up to 800 watts.
Risks when Microwaving Tuna:
There are a few risks when it comes to microwaving tuna. You should know that canned tuna is cooked to the point where it’s almost overdone. It’s heavily boiled before the canning process and this is a crucial step because the goal is to try and eliminate any microorganisms that may well lead to unwanted side effects.
If you microwave the tuna too much, then you run the risk of ruining both the texture and the flavor. Heating tuna, whether it is canned or not, does not cause any kind of health concern either. The only risk you would face is if the can was left out in the open for any amount of time. This would cultivate bacteria, and this is a risk that you run with any type of fish, including cooked steaks, canned or raw.
Of course, it does help to make sure that the tuna is warm when you have heated it through. Unlike fresh seafood such as salmon, canned tuna is already cooked, so you don’t need to worry as much when compared to fresh tuna steaks.
If you heat your tuna properly, you can also rest assured knowing that any harmful pathogens will have been killed, so you can enjoy your meal as you would.
Conclusion:
So, you can easily reheat tuna, and you would be surprised at how versatile this can make your meals. You may find that you are able to cook much better meals and that you are able to get a new level of flavor as well.
As with anything, just make sure that you only reheat it once and that you also do so according to your microwave power settings. The last thing you want is dry, rubbery tuna!
Sources:
https://thekitchencommunity.org/can-you-heat-canned-tuna/
https://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5686353_cook-tuna-steaks-microwave.html
