Having difficulty cooking Marie Calendar pot pie

[QueBert]

Oven only, if you can't stand the long cooking time of an oven and must have one. KFC's Chicken Pot Pie is D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S, only thing that sucks is it only has crust on the top. But it's fucking awesome and can be had a mere minute or 2 after you order it. I don't know what kind of witchcraft voodoo they use to have it ready so damn quick, but good god so tasty and so fast...

 

[MtnMan]

Are you nuking it in the box?

 

[WelshBloke]

Confirmation that it tastes good. it must suck to have terrible genes that cannot tolerate good tasting food.

This is a cheap frozen microwave insta pie we're talking about?

Nothing against quick crap food but it's still crap food even if it is convenient.

 

[zinfamous]

I've found that changing the microwave's power setting helps get an even cook.

this. Microwave ovens are pretty awesome devices but nearly 99.6% of people have no idea how to actually use them. If you think cooking on "high" is the only way to do things, then you might as well sell the thing because you aren't really using it.

 

[zinfamous]

Until today I would have believed that a man being stymied by frozen food would be something you only read about on The Onion.

OP weighs in:

 

[Herr Kutz]

Today is the last day of the sale at Costco so I bought 2 more 8-packs. We're going to figure this out together.

 

[snoopy7548]

You should try boiling one of them to see how it turns out. That might be better than microwaving because the crust won't get burnt.

 

[sactoking]

Sous vide, perhaps?

 

[snoopy7548]

Sous vide, perhaps?

Now there's an idea! Sous vide then a quick sear in a frying pan.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Here is the control. 50 minutes in an oven set at 400F.

 

[ponyo]

Today is the last day of the sale at Costco so I bought 2 more 8-packs. We're going to figure this out together.

I saw it on sale but didn't buy any because I didn't know if the pies were any good. Going by the replies in thread, I think I made the right decision in not buying any.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I used to eat those a lot. After my mom died. They were like $0.69 on sale, and money was tight.

If I never eat another one, I will die a happy man.

 

[mindless1]

1. Turn on your full sized or (large) toaster oven now to preheat, but start cooking at full microwave power for 50% of directions time.

2. 50% microwave power for remaining 50% of directions time

3. Unbox, put on a drip tray, and bake in the 400F preheated oven until crust is golden brown, about 15 minutes.

A similar strategy can be used for *most* convenience foods, though step #3 minutes would be reduced with thinner items. This gets you most of the way to oven cooked quality, but is best reserved for when you just want to cut the cooking time in half.

One reason it works so efficiently is in this span of time you can put a pot of veggies on to steam, make a salad, etc., get the rest of the meal ready to eat at the same time with no waiting and coming back.

 

[snoopy7548]

Here is the control. 50 minutes in an oven set at 400F.

Your tinfoil reminded me of how I used to cook these. With the old-ass electric oven in the apartment I used to live in, I would have to wrap the entire pot pie in tinfoil, right up to the outer exposed crust (crimped part). I would keep the middle area open to cook, and this would result in a bottom crust that was sort of firmly-soft but not burnt at all. Maybe try that.

 

[bradly1101]

It must be your microwave. I occasionally eat those, and follow the directions including making slits in the crust. They recommend to only cook them in microwaves 1100W and higher. I use an old Kenmore microwave, and they come out great, a crispy crust on top, and tender below.

 

[Chaotic42]

Bye Bye Miss Calendar Pot Pie...