Really dumb cooking question

[mommaU4]

This year Thanksgiving is at my house again but in the interest of saving time and my sanity I have decided to use some new recipes that you can actually make ahead of time and just heat and serve. (sweet potato and apple casserole, corn casserole, etc)

My question is if I make them a day or two before where do I store them? The fridge or freezer? And how do I heat them? Oven? Won't they dry out or even burn?

This may seem like I'm totally clueless but I usually wake up early and make everything that day so I'm not used to this heat and serve deal. Thanks for any advice!!

 

[JennInTN]

If it's only a day or 2, I store them in the frige. Longer, go to the freezer. I simply prepare the casserole and cook it when it's time. If they require a topping, leave it off. Put the topping on before cooking it.

I do this with most all of my casseroles and it makes my life so much easier. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[JennyMominRI]

This year Thanksgiving is at my house again but in the interest of saving time and my sanity I have decided to use some new recipes that you can actually make ahead of time and just heat and serve. (sweet potato and apple casserole, corn casserole, etc)

My question is if I make them a day or two before where do I store them? The fridge or freezer? And how do I heat them? Oven? Won't they dry out or even burn?

This may seem like I'm totally clueless but I usually wake up early and make everything that day so I'm not used to this heat and serve deal. Thanks for any advice!!

I start cooking on MOnday,LOL. The only things I wait to prepare are the Turkey,The stuffing and the potatoed..I will cook up all the stuff that goes in the stuffing the night before and then add to the bread the next AM.... I cook the giblets the day before for grary, Prepare,but don't cook the Yams..I do the cranberries the day before.. I used to sit and peel potatoes on the afternoone while others rested. I now peel them in the AM and keep them warm in the crock pot..Generally,after I get in the turkey and throw in the appetizers,I'm just watching the stuff that's already prepared..

 

[pumba]

my sister makes all her warm up things and puts them in crockpots.....like her veggies nad potatoes and sweetpotatoes and squashes.....this sounds to easy for me but I will try anything once.......so this turkey day the potatoes will be done in the am and get ready for dinner at four thirty pm......sounds like a plan to me......good luck on what you do too

 

[mommaU4]

If it's only a day or 2, I store them in the frige. Longer, go to the freezer. I simply prepare the casserole and cook it when it's time. If they require a topping, leave it off. Put the topping on before cooking it.

I do this with most all of my casseroles and it makes my life so much easier. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

OMG, I feel really dumb now!
So when it comes to casseroles you basically just do all the prep work but not the baking part. That part you do on turkey day. Right?

Okay if that's what you mean then that makes more sense. I thought you cooked it too and then had to re-heat it that day which is why I was wondering if it wouldn't get dried out or over-cooked. Ugh! Maybe I'll just hire a personal chef for the day! Thanks!!

 

[LoveWDW]

I cook the turkey the day ahead, remove a lot of it from the bones- the breast etc but not the legs-, and reheat in the microwave. I make these wonderful mashed potatoes with cream cheese and chives that can be made as much as a week ahead and baked the day of. Creamed corn works well being made ahead. If you use canned sweet potatoes they are fast the day of, the same goes if you make that green bean casserole. Don't make the dressing a day ahead- it becomes custardy, although you could prepare the bread cubes and chop the vegetables. By making the turkey early you can chill the juices and remove the fat the next day to make gravy making easier.

Edited to add: yes, prepare the ingredients and cook the day of the feast.

 

[denisem]

I've made these potatoes the day before, then baked in the oven Thanksgiving day - they don't dry out 'cos they have too much yummy stuff in them (cream cheese & sour cream)! Sinful, but really good...

Party Potatoes

I have a coupla crock-pot dressing recipes, but never got around to trying them.

 

[mommaU4]

I've made these potatoes the day before, then baked in the oven Thanksgiving day - they don't dry out 'cos they have too much yummy stuff in them (cream cheese & sour cream)! Sinful, but really good...

Party Potatoes

I have a coupla crock-pot dressing recipes, but never got around to trying them.

thanks for the recipe. I love the allrecipes website. I get alot of my recipes from there.

 

[JennInTN]

OMG, I feel really dumb now!
So when it comes to casseroles you basically just do all the prep work but not the baking part. That part you do on turkey day. Right?

Okay if that's what you mean then that makes more sense. I thought you cooked it too and then had to re-heat it that day which is why I was wondering if it wouldn't get dried out or over-cooked. Ugh! Maybe I'll just hire a personal chef for the day! Thanks!!

Yes, that's what I do. It takes a little planning as to timing, but it works out well.

 

[nwdisgal]

OMG, I feel really dumb now!
So when it comes to casseroles you basically just do all the prep work but not the baking part. That part you do on turkey day. Right?

Okay if that's what you mean then that makes more sense. I thought you cooked it too and then had to re-heat it that day which is why I was wondering if it wouldn't get dried out or over-cooked. Ugh! Maybe I'll just hire a personal chef for the day! Thanks!!

Yes, you can assemble all your wet ingredients ahead. If you have something that you want crisp, like a nut or crumb topping, make that separately and hold it in an air tight container, then sprinkle on your casserole, right before you bake.