What does "leave film on product" mean in reference to cooking?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to preheat a frozen meal from Stouffers. And it says ''leave film on product'', so what does it refer to while cooking?

[lanternhill]

An aluminum pan should be ok - it's just a differently shaped baking sheet, right? You're talking about a baking pan?

And you mean the oven right? Not on the stovetop?

I agree about poking holes in the plastic.

[UberTroll]

It means to leave the plastic covering on it when you cook it. Make sure you're reading the oven directions though. Usually they have you take it off for the oven and leave it on for the microwave.

[douride2]

It appears you have the correct answer already. Hope it was good?

[evenlift]

It means you should keep the plastic covering on it while microwaving it.

[Asker]

Well I don't have a microwave. So should I take the plastic off and put the tray in the stove? It says that I should put the tray on a baking sheet but I don't have it so should I put it in an aluminum pan?

[evenlift]

No. I would take it out of the packaging, put it in a pot and heat it on the kitchen stove.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

There's a piece of clear plastic covering the tray. That's the "film".

[Asker]

Could I put the Stouffers tray on an aluminum pan like this: www.stewartspackaging.com/...eepaluminumpan50.aspx
It says I need to put it on a baking sheet but I don't have it.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

Yeah, that'll be fine.

[Asker]

Should I take the plastic off since I'm going to be putting it in the stove?

[yaddayaddayadda02]

Dude, read the instructions, it's a stouffer's meal - not rocket surgery. Can't you just nuke it?

[OlderAndWiser]

It means that you should not remove the clear plastic wrap that seals the product in the package until you have finished cooking it.

[Lliam]

I eat Stouffer's meals sometimes. I make them in a toaster oven, not in a microwave.

I always remove that clear plastic film before baking, but I lay a piece of tin foil on top with holes poked in it. Then I cook it at the temp and time recommended on the package.

If the product isn't heated thoroughly after baking for the recommended time (because aluminum foil is a great insulator), I remove the foil and bake for another five minutes.

I assume that a standard oven would work the same way as my toaster oven. It heats up inside the appliance, as opposed to microwave.

Per Harvard Medical School, "Studies have found that certain chemicals in plastic can leach out of the plastic and into the food and beverages we eat. Some of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such as metabolic disorders (including obesity) and reduced fertility. This leaching can occur even faster and to a greater degree when plastic is exposed to heat."

So I don't trust plastic. Even though the package, itself, is probably lined with plastic, I want to minimize the amount that gets into the food.

[musicbrain5]

It means you leave the plastic covering on it, so it doesn't spray all over the microwave. Maybe poke some holes in it with a fork first.

[TrueConfection]

Why is this 1+ yo question popping up in my feed?

[NostalgiaSenpi]

Keep the plastic on the food when heating it up.