Quick meal guide

Heating Instructions

Enjoy your Zone Healthy meals hot and ready when you are. Use the general guidelines below when specific heating instructions are not provided with your meal. Heating times may vary depending on the meal, portion size, appliance, and starting temperature. If your meal includes specific heating instructions, follow those instructions first.

Microwave

General Heating Guideline

Keep the meal refrigerated until you are ready to heat it.
Remove the outer sleeve and any sauce, dressing, garnish, salad, or other component intended to remain cold.
Use only microwave-safe packaging. If the container is not identified as microwave-safe, transfer the food to a microwave-safe dish.
If appropriate, peel back a corner of the film or vent the cover to allow steam to escape.
Microwave for approximately 2–3 minutes to start.
Stir or rotate the food when practical and continue heating in 30-second increments as needed.
Allow the meal to stand briefly after heating, then check that it has reached 165°F throughout before eating.

Microwave wattage and meal composition vary, so additional or reduced heating time may be needed. Follow meal-specific instructions when provided.

Oven / Toaster Oven

General Heating Guideline

Preheat oven or toaster oven to 350°F.
Keep the meal refrigerated until you are ready to heat it.
Remove the sleeve, film, and any sauce, dressing, garnish, salad, or other component intended to remain cold.
Transfer the meal to an oven-safe dish unless the packaging is specifically identified as oven-safe.
Cover when appropriate to help retain moisture.
Heat for approximately 10–15 minutes to start.
Continue heating as needed until the meal reaches 165°F throughout before eating.

Ovens, portion sizes, and meals vary. These times are general starting guidelines. Follow meal-specific instructions when provided.

Important Food Safety Note

For food safety, reheat meals to an internal temperature of 165°F throughout. Use a food thermometer and check thicker or multiple components in more than one location when appropriate. A meal is not ready simply because a suggested heating time has elapsed.