Shepherd’s pie is a classic comfort food that is enjoyed by many. It consists of a ground meat filling, traditionally lamb, topped with mashed potatoes and baked until warm and bubbly. While it’s easy to make shepherd’s pie and serve it fresh, many people also enjoy leftovers of this dish. When reheating shepherd’s pie, one of the main questions is whether it should be covered or uncovered during the reheating process. There are pros and cons to both methods that are worth considering.
Reheating Covered
There are some benefits to reheating shepherd’s pie covered:
- Helps keep the top and edges from drying out – The mashed potato topping on shepherd’s pie can become dried out and crusty when reheated uncovered. Covering the dish helps trap moisture and keep the potatoes creamy and smooth.
- Prevents a skin from forming – An uncovered shepherd’s pie is more likely to develop a skin or film on top as it reheats. Covering prevents this.
- Keeps in flavor – With the dish covered, the flavorful aromas from the filling are less likely to escape.
Overall, covering the shepherd’s pie while reheating helps protect the texture and taste of the original dish.
Reheating Uncovered
On the other hand, there are also some advantages to reheating shepherd’s pie uncovered:
- Allows moisture to evaporate – Uncovered, excess moisture can evaporate rather than making the pie soggy.
- Makes a crispier top – The exposed mashed potatoes will dry out slightly, becoming crispy on top.
- Prevents condensation build up – Covering can trap steam and lead to condensation dripping back onto the pie.
- Allows you to brown the top – You can place the shepherd’s pie uncovered under a broiler for a few minutes to crisp and brown the potato crust.
Leaving the pie uncovered provides a crunchier, crispier top layer but can lead to slight drying throughout.
Tips for Reheating
No matter which method you choose, here are some tips for successfully reheating shepherd’s pie:
- Use the oven – Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes for best results. Microwaving can make the potatoes gummy.
- Cover loosely – If covering, use a loose piece of foil or lid to allow some steam to escape.
- Reheat fully – Check that the center of the filling reaches 165°F. Slice into the pie to check doneness if needed.
- Add moisture – If uncovered, you can brush the potatoes with milk or olive oil to combat any drying out.
- Adjust time as needed – The timing will vary based on how large and deep your shepherd’s pie is.
How the Pros Reheat Shepherd’s Pie
Professional chefs and cooks have shared some of their tips for the best way to reheat shepherd’s pie:
| Chef/Source | Recommended Reheating Method |
|---|---|
| Ina Garten | Cover with foil and reheat at 375°F for 30 minutes. |
| Gordon Ramsay | Reheat uncovered at 325°F for 18 minutes to crispen the top. |
| Jamie Oliver | Reheat uncovered in a hot oven around 380°F for 15 minutes. |
| The Pioneer Woman | Cover with foil and reheat at 300°F for 30-40 minutes until hot in center. |
| Paula Deen | Cover loosely with foil and reheat at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. |
The most common recommendation among professional chefs seems to be to loosely cover the shepherd’s pie with foil and reheat in a 300-375°F oven for around 20-30 minutes, or until fully hot. This allows the pie to reheat evenly while preventing the topping from drying out.
Should You Add Liquid When Reheating?
Some people add a splash of liquid like milk, cream or gravy when reheating shepherd’s pie to add moisture. Here are some pros and cons of adding liquid:
Pros:
- Prevents drying out
- Makes potatoes creamier
- Can add more flavor
- Moistens any browned or crispy edges
Cons:
- Can make the pie too soggy or wet
- Alters the original flavor and texture
- Not needed if using proper reheating methods
Overall, adding some liquid can benefit a leftover shepherd’s pie that seems dry, but too much liquid can make it mushy. Use sparingly, if needed.
Storage Time
Before reheating any shepherd’s pie, be sure it has been stored properly:
- Store leftovers in the fridge within 2 hours of cooking
- Only keep for 3-4 days maximum in the fridge
- Can be frozen for 2-3 months
- Do not reheat if shepherd’s pie has been left out for over 2 hours
Reheating and eating shepherd’s pie after too much time has passed can increase risk of food poisoning. Exercise proper food safety when storing and reheating.
Can You Reheat Shepherd’s Pie in the Microwave?
It’s possible but not ideal to reheat shepherd’s pie in the microwave. Here are some tips if reheating in the microwave:
- Cover loosely with paper towel or wax paper instead of plastic wrap
- Use 50% microwave power and reheat for short intervals, checking frequently
- Rearrange and stir between intervals to prevent hot spots
- Watch for dried out edges or potatoes and add moisture as needed
- Allow to rest 2-3 minutes after microwaving before serving
The microwave often leads to uneven heating and drying out more quickly. Oven reheating is preferred, but the microwave can work in a pinch.
Can You Freeze and Reheat Shepherd’s Pie?
Shepherd’s pie freezes extremely well. Here are some tips for freezing shepherd’s pie and reheating after freezing:
- Cool pie completely before freezing
- Double wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil
- Freeze for up to 2-3 months
- Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating
- Reheat frozen pie in oven fully until piping hot
- May take longer time, up to 1 hour, to reheat from frozen
Freezing allows you to prepare shepherd’s pie in advance and enjoy it later with almost freshly made results.
Common Reheating Mistakes
Some common mistakes people make when reheating shepherd’s pie include:
- Not reheating thoroughly – The filling should reach 165°F
- Using plastic wrap to cover – This creates condensation
- Reheating at too high temperature – Can cause burning or drying out
- Not covering edges with foil – Leads to burnt crispy edges
- Reheating in microwave only – Often uneven results
- Adding too much liquid – Can make the pie soggy
Be sure to reheat fully in the oven at a moderate temp and cover loosely with foil to get the best results.
Conclusion
Shepherd’s pie can be just as delicious reheated as when freshly made. The keys are using the oven to reheat gently at around 325-375°F, covering loosely to prevent drying out, and reheating thoroughly until the filling reaches safe serving temperature. Feel free to crisp up the potatoes by reheating uncovered for a portion of time if you prefer. With proper storage and reheating, you can enjoy leftover shepherd’s pie safely for 3-4 days after cooking.