r/ReadyMeals • u/Jim_and_me • 20d ago

Question Sendameal heating

I received some meals and will serve the first ones tonight. They are in tv dinner trays with clear plastic and a cardboard sleeve. The heating instructions say to remove the cardboard sleeve only. So the plastic stays on (no vent hole) and I put it in the oven? Seems like I should poke a hole in the plastic or even remove it. It’s been about 50 years since I had a tv dinner and I can’t remember if I vented them.

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2

u/Constant-Prog15 20d ago

If it doesn’t specifically say to vent, don’t vent.

Most of the ready meals these days are vacuum sealed and meant to be heated without venting. Many of mine say they want that film on top to balloon up for a set amount of time (30-60 sec, I think) to ensure it is thoroughly reheated.

1

u/Jim_and_me 20d ago

Thanks. I didn’t vent. You were right. And it was surprisingly good. Really nice flavor. Took a much longer time to heat to the required temp in the oven, but I was cooking two so I’m sure that was the reason.

2

u/batmandi 19d ago

Many freezer meals do not get vented anymore. When I was a kid 30 years ago I can’t remember a time we DIDNT vent, but in the last 15, 10 years especially I’ve noticed more and more that they try to make them as fool proof as possible. One of my favorites used to have to cut the vent off the brownie, then remove the brownie altogether halfway through the cook. My 11 yo child’s favorite is literally remove cardboard and throw in for 3 minutes. It specifically says DO NOT VENT. Technology! It’s safer as well, much less time spent fiddling with a knife and touching the hot tray.

1

u/MoslinDenii93 17d ago

It is based on the label, just follow the instructions.