How to warm glass jars of store-bought gravy before taking to school?

[Anonymous]

My high schooler is participating in a pre-Thanksgiving potluck at school. Among other things he volunteered to bring a couple of jars of gravy. We bought a couple of glass jars with metal lids.

The school has asked that they be pre-warmed to reduce microwaving needs. I'm thinking of placing them in hot water in the kitchen sink, or on top of a radiator. Because of the metal I don't want to microwave. I thought about removing the lids and microwaving, but as some jars might be unused and stored, I would not want them to spoil from opening. Is there a better way to warm these up before taking them?

[Anonymous]

You should have bought a thermos. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Can you microwave at home and then place in a thermos to keep warm?

[Anonymous]

Or warm them outside the jars and pour it back in.

[Anonymous]

We're specifically asked to bring the jars, not gravy put in something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or warm them outside the jars and pour it back in.

As I wrote, I thought of that but as one of the jars might go unused and stored, I don't want to risk having it spoil by opening it.

[Anonymous]

Fill the jars with hot water and let them sit for 5 minutes.

Put hot gravy in the jars.

Wrap the jars in a small kitchen towel and then carry in an insulated lunch bag. You could add a couple of those pocket handwarmers in with the towel, too. Will stay warm for 2-3 hours, I'd think.

[Anonymous]

If you don't want to open the jars, warm them like you would a baby bottle (in a hot water bath) then wrap them in a towel and store in an insulate lunch bag like PP suggested. I agree that this will keep them warm for quite a while.

[Anonymous]

Oh, this is store-bought gravy? Gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't want to open the jars, warm them like you would a baby bottle (in a hot water bath) then wrap them in a towel and store in an insulate lunch bag like PP suggested. I agree that this will keep them warm for quite a while.

I'll do that. Thank you for your help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or warm them outside the jars and pour it back in.

As I wrote, I thought of that but as one of the jars might go unused and stored, I don't want to risk having it spoil by opening it.

Don't worry too much about wasting gravy on a pot luck. It might all get used or it might not. That's why they want it in disposable containers. It will likely be dumped in the trash during cleanup at the end of the party. Go ahead and open the jars, heat it up, and put it back in the jars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or warm them outside the jars and pour it back in.

As I wrote, I thought of that but as one of the jars might go unused and stored, I don't want to risk having it spoil by opening it.

Don't worry too much about wasting gravy on a pot luck. It might all get used or it might not. That's why they want it in disposable containers. It will likely be dumped in the trash during cleanup at the end of the party. Go ahead and open the jars, heat it up, and put it back in the jars.

Another good idea. Thanks. I'll reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Why can't you take the lids off the jars, microwave the glass jar at 50% for a minute, stir and microwave for another minute (or whatever). The main thing is you want to watch it and make sure that it isn't going to spill out of the jar. Then place the lids back on, wrap in a clean dish towel and stick in an insulated lunch bag.

[Anonymous]

If the school is looking for air tight jars, then warming in a water bath would be the way to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the school is looking for air tight jars, then warming in a water bath would be the way to do it.

By "air tight" I mean unopened/still vacuum sealed.