Q: What makes Bon Appétit® meals different from other frozen bagged meals?
Many of the other bagged meals available require a "stir fry" preparation where you use a skillet and mix and break up the frozen pieces. Bon Appétit® Steam-Baked Meals allow you to go from freezer to oven to plate with little effort and virtually no clean up. With Bon Appétit® Steam-Baked Meals, each meal made from high quality ingredients steam-bakes in its own parchment pouch to lock in the natural flavors and allows for plating straight from the pouch.
Q: I have baked and plated the meal, but it does not seem hot enough. What should I do?
Our cooking instructions are designed to heat the meals to over 165 degrees (internal temperature), for both food safety and quality reasons. Ovens and microwaves do vary. If a hotter meal is desired after plating, place meal on an oven safe or microwave safe plate and reheat the meal using appropriate time increments.
Q: I would like to bake four meals in my oven, but the instructions only show how to prepare two. Is it possible to bake four at the same time?
Yes, but bake times should be increased by 5 minutes for each additional meal beyond two.
To give you more choices, we designed Bon Appétit® meals as a pair of single-serve meals, allowing you the choice to serve different varieties at the same meal time.
Q: Why are oven directions preferred?
Oven directions are preferred because the meals steam-bake, producing thick, rich sauces, moist meals, and somewhat "roasted" vegetables. It also lets you cook two or more meals at one time.
Q: How do I ensure perfect plating every time?
Plating Bon Appétit® Steam-Baked Meals is easy. Simply cut each parchment pouch with scissors along the dashed line to completely remove the end of the pouch. Then slide the pouch contents directly onto a plate.
- Be sure to place the meal seam up on a baking sheet in the oven (or microwave).
- After the meal has finished cooking, be sure to keep the seam up and the meal flat while removing from the oven.
Q: What is meant by ‘uncured’ bacon in the Smoked Apple & Uncured Bacon Chicken variety?
Bon Appétit® Steam-Baked Meals have been crafted without preservatives to give you the best quality dining experience possible. Uncured bacon is cured naturally and does not contain nitrites often found in processed cured meats.
Q: Can I prepare Bon Appétit® Steam-Baked Meals in a toaster oven?
No, but Bon Appétit® meals can be prepared in a microwave oven, in addition to a conventional oven.
Q: Can I microwave 2 pouched meals at the same time?
Yes. Add approximately 50% more time when heating two meals in the microwave. For example, if the packages suggests a 5 minute heating time for one meal, add 2 minutes and 30 seconds for heating 2 meals at the same time. Microwaves do vary, so adjust times accordingly to reach the proper temperature.