Meal Care Guide

Potora Meal Care Guide

We want every Potora meal to taste just as good at home as it does fresh from our kitchen. Please read the guidance below carefully and if you have any doubts, don't hesitate to get in touch before eating.

⚠️ Important: All food-safety statements on this page reflect Potora's preparation and packaging process. Diana (our CEO) has reviewed this guidance - if anything seems inconsistent with how your specific meal was packaged, please contact us before consuming.

🧊 Fridge Storage After Delivery

  • Transfer your meals to the fridge as soon as possible after delivery - ideally within 30 minutes of receiving them.
  • Keep meals at or below 5 °C (the UK Food Standards Agency recommended safe chilled temperature).
  • Consume refrigerated meals within 4 days of delivery unless a shorter use-by date is printed on the packaging.
  • Always follow the use-by date on your meal label - do not eat meals past that date.
  • Keep meals in their original sealed packaging until you are ready to reheat them.

🔥 Safe Reheating

Proper reheating is the most important step in enjoying your Potora meals safely.

General rules (all meals)

  • Reheat meals until they are piping hot throughout - the UK FSA recommends reaching a core temperature of at least 75 °C.
  • Only reheat once. Do not reheat a meal that has already been reheated.
  • Stir or turn food halfway through reheating to ensure even heat distribution, especially in a microwave.
  • Check the temperature in the thickest part of the meal before eating.

Microwave reheating

  • Lift the lid slightly before microwaving to allow steam to escape.
  • Follow the heating time for 3 -4 minutes - times vary by portion size and microwave performance
  • Allow the meal to stand for 1–2 minutes after microwaving before eating.

Oven reheating

  • Preheat your oven to 180 °C / 160 °C fan / Gas Mark 4.
  • Transfer the meal to an oven-safe dish and cover with foil.
  • Reheat until piping hot throughout.

❄️ Freezing Your Meals

All our Potora meals are Suitable for Home Freezing.

They can be frozen as follows:

  • Freeze on the day of delivery, before the use-by date.
  • Freeze in the original sealed packaging or transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container.
  • Consume within 1 month of freezing for best quality.
  • Defrost thoroughly in the fridge overnight before reheating - do not defrost at room temperature.
  • Once defrosted, consume within 24 hours and do not refreeze.

 

🌿 Allergen & Ingredient Questions

We take allergens seriously. Here is how to get the information you need:

  • Check your meal label first. Every Potora meal is labelled with the 14 major allergens as required by UK food law.
  • Check the product page for your specific meal - allergen information is listed in the product description.
  • Contact us before ordering if you have a severe allergy or intolerance. We can advise on cross-contamination risks in our kitchen.
  • Do not rely solely on this guide if you have a life-threatening allergy,  always verify directly with us.

To ask about ingredients or allergens for a specific dish, email us at diana@potora.co.uk.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat my meal cold?

Some meals (such as salads or cold sides) are intended to be eaten cold and will be labelled accordingly. All hot meals should be reheated thoroughly before eating.

My meal arrived warm - is it safe?

If a chilled meal arrives noticeably warm, do not eat it. Contact us immediately at potoramealswigan@gmail.com so we can help.

The packaging was damaged on arrival - what should I do?

Do not eat a meal with damaged or broken packaging. Contact us straight away and we will arrange a replacement or refund.

How do I know if my meal has gone off?

Always follow the use-by date. If a meal smells unusual, has visible mould, or the packaging has swollen, do not eat it.

I have a question not answered here

Email diana@potora.co.uk.

This guide is based on UK Food Standards Agency recommendations. For more information visit food.gov.uk.