Freezing a Casserole

[alison]

I'm an idiot -- I've prepared the ingredients for two noodle casseroles. I made one to freeze and the other for dinner tonight. Now, do I bake the casserole that I intend to freeze? For how long? Part or the entire amount of the usual time (so that when we actually want to eat it, we bake it for the regular amount of time)?

TIA.

Kind of depends on what it is. Usually I'll kind of par-bake it (maybe 2/3rds of the regular time), and then finish the baking when I defrost it.

[BonBon]

I think you're supposed to freeze it unbaked, and then when you want to eat it bake it for something like double the time(assuming it's frozen when you put it in the oven). It's been a looong time since I made a freezer casserole.

Good for you for thinking ahead!!

[SuzySunshine]

I always freeze mine unbaked then let them thaw in the fridge before I bake them per usual instructions. You're smart to be doing it now though - frozen food saved us when A was an infant. Do you have any of those prepared food places near you? They're healthier then take out and usually can go straight from the freezer to the oven.

[alison]

Thanks! I'll put it in the freezer without baking it. The apartment is so hot already from baking the one we ate for dinner that I can't imagine the oven being on for another hour!

I'll make another casserole this weekend and try it Jenn's way.

I guess the worst thing that can happen to a casserole is that the noodles are mushy.

This is not "thinking ahead.". It's "panicking ahead!" and this also gives something for my mom to cook for us when she's here.

[Deebs]

I've done it both ways, and I don't really think it makes a difference. If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, I would go there and pick up some easy almost ready to go meals.

This is not "thinking ahead.". It's "panicking ahead!"

Pro-active panicking, I love it.

[MrsK]

Today I was proactively panicking about having a second child. You never can worry enough!

[Meenah]

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/rachaels-chicken-tips/

If you like chicken this 3 minute video is wonderful. I did both versions and froze 25 of each for Amy after Oliver was born. I have a Freezer in my garage and I was able to take them to her when her supply was low. I also did casseroles, tomato sauce and chili. I think I fed them for the first 6 months! I also got the bags of salad prewashed weekly and all she had to do was thaw something from the freezer and open a bag of salad.

Prewashed and packaged vegetables are expensive, so I washed them myself and put them in ziplock bags for the freezer. This is a project you could give your mother. It helps that I love to cook and since it is just DH and I (and he could care less about food) I find it fun and relaxing to cook for her. I don't think Jory even looks at what he is eating. When I went to Prague I bought 4 boxes of cereal, two gallons of milk, grapes and bananas! He was set. I spent more energy on the food for the cats & dogs.

[Vishenka69]

Luanne, you're awesome. I wish I lived closer and could outsource you. Your girls have no idea how lucky they are.

[Thirteen]

Luanne, you're awesome. I wish I lived closer and could outsource you. Your girls have no idea how lucky they are.

Amen to that

[alison]

I'm going to have to watch those videos when I'm on the computer. My phone won't play them.

Luanne--you are awesome! Your girls and dh are so lucky! I honestly don't think my mom can handle preparing freezer meals for us, but trimming lettuce and veggies for us shouldn't be a problem unless she uses our table as a

[alison]

cutting board again...

I'll ask her to do this for us. That would be extremely helpful, as I can see us eating all sorts of really bad freezer meals with preservatives galore if we don't have the energy to wash and prepare salads.

Thanks for the tips!!!