How to freeze and reheat casseroles, from Christy Jordan’s Come Home to Supper
Whenever I decide to make a casserole, I always buy enough extra ingredients to double the recipe. Then after all the ingredients are mixed, I divide it into two portions. One I put into my casserole dish to cook for supper and the other I place in a gallon-size ziplock freezer bag. I just squeeze out as much air as possible, then label the bag and freeze it flat. Once they’re frozen, I stand the casseroles up in my freezer like books so they take up less space.
If the casserole calls for cheese or a topping of any kind, I like to go ahead and assemble that in its own quart-size bag and tape it to the casserole bag so that I know I’ll have everything I need when the time comes to cook it. Mixing up two casseroles takes hardly any extra time since you already have all the ingredients out, but it is a lifesaver on the nights when you are running behind. Frozen casseroles will keep in the freezer for about three months.
If freezer space isn’t a problem, you can freeze unbaked casseroles right in the baking dish. Simply line the baking dish with heavy duty aluminum foil, layer the casserole into it, cover tightly, and freeze. Once frozen, remove the foil-wrapped casserole from the dish and wrap the entire thing once more in foil; store the casserole in the freezer and return your now empty baking dish to its cabinet. When you’re ready to thaw and bake the casserole, simply pull it from the freezer, remove the foil, and place it back in the dish it was frozen in.
When you plan to bake a frozen casserole, place it in the refrigerator the night before to thaw. Then put it in the casserole dish and bake according to the original directions.
Remember, the freezer is your friend.
TRY THESE TIPS NOW WITH TACO CASSEROLE FROM CHRISTY JORDAN’S COME HOME TO SUPPER!
Come Home to Supper
by Christy Jordan
Conceived and written to reflect the reality of today’s hectic schedules—and the need to gather around the dinner table—Come Home to Supper offers more than 200 deeply satisfying dishes that are budget-minded, kid-friendly, and quick. These are the everyday meals that Christy Jordan most loves to cook, and her family most loves to eat, and she serves them up with generous helpings of her folksy wisdom, gratitude, and lively stories.
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