TL;DR, should I, and if so then how should I, warm it up?
I’m poor, been through a rough time.
Luckily, I have some very generous food banks in the area. One of which I’ve gone to for a while now. Some people know there know me, and things have been in a bit of an uptick in my life lately. And that hasn’t gone unnoticed either. I’ve been in a significantly better mood and more, approachable, I guess?
One of the funny little results of that, is that they’ve been giving me more. I give away a bunch of the stuff I get that I don’t need myself even in the hostel I’m staying at.
This foodbank closes for a few weeks for Christmas/New Years. They gave out a bit more than usual to all, but someone went a bit further.
They made individual fruit cakes. Only seven so I’m told. And the staff gave them away to their “favourites”. I’m not super big into favouritism but, well. They gave me one. Even declined it at first but gave in.
Now, the only time I’ve had fruit cake I’ve hated it. But it was the dry store-bought crap.
This cake? Looks amazing. Whole pecans and a dollop of caramel on the top. In this nice little hard-foil container and plastic-wrapped inside as well.
Given all the prep and thought and care that went into it, I have to try it. (And they made a point of wanting to know what I think of it since they know I was a bit hesitant in the first place.)
But for the life of me I am wondering the most inane question.
Should I warm it up?
Typically if I want a warm muffin/pastry I just put it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
If I really want to go out of my way I might wrap something in foil and throw it in an oven/toaster-oven. Or for pizza I’ll put it in frying pan and cover it on low if it’s really good pizza and I want to warm up the crust so it’s “just right” rather than microwaving it into a soggy mess. (Which I will happily do if time is an issue and it’s cheap pizza.)
But in this case, I feel like I should do it by the best method possible. If I even should?
Apparently I’m supposed to enjoy it with a cup of coffee as well. So it may turn into breakfast for a few days if I like it.
TLDR: Oven at 275, or microwave with a wet paper towel over it.
Reheating baked goods is tricky. If the item in question has a fair amount of sugar, and you heat it too long, it will caramelize and dehydrate it. Heating it at a low temp for a short amount of time generally avoids that, and makes it taste more fresh.
Microwaves are quick but work by jostling water and will evaporate it at a certain point. Putting a LIGHTLY dampened paper towel over an item (swipe it under a running faucet and squeeze the excess out so it’s uniformly covered) helps to gently “steam” whatever is under it in a microwave, circulating humidified air to replace some of what is lost.
If you generally microwave dry items, you want a wet paper towel or lid over it. Game changer for things like rice, baked goods, or cooked meats to make them not taste “microwave weird”.
or microwave with a wet paper towel over it.
While that worked for decades, it’s where air fryers really shine.
Outside will dry out and get crispy, but the inside retains moisture. I searched online first to make sure it was a thing, but there’s some math involved with how big it is because it’s so fast.
But I put off getting one for years because I didn’t see the use for it. But I can’t remember the last time I used my microwave now. Everything that needs reheated goes in the air fryer.
Just don’t put a liner in till it’s pre-heated or it turns into a flamethrower
I used to slice the drier style and toast them. Yum
Yeah this works well, we have a few variations of fruitcake in britain that are made by soaking all the ingredients in tea and we alwaya eat them by toasting slices of it.
Toasting…That reminds me I’m all out of marmalade
I personally just enjoy it room temp with some coffee or tea. Microwaving it is too much effort and real hard to get the timing right. I wouldn’t do more than 10 seconds.
It can be enjoyed either way but warm I think will bring out the flavor a little more. Depending on the type of fruit cake I think some are wrapped up and steamed to heat through but I’m sure microwaving a slice is perfectly fine. I’d suggest just heating it a slice at a time if microwaving and maybe on paper towel to avoid sogging
Since you mention it had dollops of caramel though, heating might cause issues there since those would melt?
Personally I’d try a bit both ways and also dipped in the coffee and just see if there’s a way you prefer.
Slice it. Pour some brandy on it. Light it on fire. It will be warm by the time the fire dies out. I don’t know. That’s just what I remember from the 18th century.
That’s just what I remember from the 18th century.
It’s usually impolite to ask a person their age but I have… concerns. (Vampirism? Dorian Gray-Portrait? Steampunk Cryo?)
That aside, pouring brandy on it and lighting it on fire does sound like a particularly good method of consumption… 🤔
Let’s just say that I was stoked when I was flipping through a book and found this 1903 advertisement.
That $100 is about $4500 today after inflation.
Reminded me, my grama had a cookbook from the early 1900s.
Flipped through it and got a bit of a surprise seeing legitimate recipes for 'coon and squirrel. (Different times but given grocery prices… they do say “every trend comes back 'round agen.”)
The Joy of Cooking didn’t fully remove recipes like that until the '80s. The 1980s.
A local guy recently got busted for for illegal hunting at raccoons and other animals and due to racism was immediately accused of serving these animals at a restaurant he wasn’t even associated with. I pointed out to other locals that there are proud Southern boys that would gladly brag about this preparing kind of meal.
Let’s just say the locals weren’t happy to have their racism pointed out to them.
I eat them cold/room temp
I just want to say I enjoy all the comments here
I’d say microwave for 10 seconds or maybe a little less. Kind of play it by ear but usually 10 or more is too much.
