Did you know that the modern microwave was actually invented by American engineer Percy Spencer right after WWII--stemming from radar technology developed during the war? Interestingly, lots of things found in the kitchen are the products of developments from wars--the microwave being one of the very most important and widely used.

As much as we all love quickly reheating rice or soup for a leftover lunch, some things are better to reheat the old-fashioned way--in the oven or on the stove. Here are five things to never reheat in the microwave:

1. Casseroles. The right way to reheat: Add a splash of water to your casserole--this will help it have some steam while heating and not dry out. Cover it tightly with foil and bake it in at 325 degrees F until heated through (usually anywhere between 30-60 minutes). Make sure you check the temperature of the middle of the casserole where it takes the longest to warm up.

2. Fried Chicken. The right way to reheat: 

In the oven: Place chicken on a baking sheet and cover with foil. Crisp it back up at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes and then remove the foil. Continue to bake until the skin is crispy and the chicken is heated through. 

In the Air Fryer: I love reheating my fried chicken in the air fryer--so that is definitely something you could try if you’ve got one. It tastes exactly as delicious as it does the first night when I reheat it in the air fryer. The first step is taking your fried chicken out a few minutes before you cook it to let it come to room temperature. This will allow the chicken to get warm in the middle, while not burning out the outside. Set your air fryer to 400 degrees F and cook for 4 minutes, flipping halfway through.

3. Pizza. The right way to reheat: If you are heating up several slices, bake them in a 375 degree F oven until the cheese has melted and the crust is crisp. If you have just one or two slices, place the slices in a dry skillet (cast iron is best) and tent with foil. Heat it on the stove over medium heat until the cheese melts and the crust crisps.

4. Pasta. The right way to reheat: If you have “unsauced” noodles, they can be reheated in a pot of boiling water until just heated through, which only takes about 30-45 seconds, depending on the type of pasta.

Pasta in an oil or cream-based can be a little complicated to reheat because it can tend to separate when it gets too hot and can become very oily. The best way to reheat this pasta is to place it in a saucepan over medium-low heat and combine it with a small amount of the fat you used when you first cooked it (oil or cream). Watch it and stir frequently until heated through.

Pasta in a tomato-based sauce can easily be reheated in a saucepan over medium heat. If the pasta has soaked up too much of the sauce in the fridge and it appears too dry, add a splash of water, (or my mom’s trick with leftover spaghetti is to add a squirt of ketchup), and adjust the seasonings as needed.

5. Steak. The right way to reheat: First, thinly slice the leftovers for even reheating. Place slices of steak in a saute pan with a little oil over medium heat until the steak is brown on the edges and warmed through.

Do you have any other tips for reheating food in the microwave? Or any other items you would add to the “no” microwave list? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.