Tips for Making Delicious Casseroles

Casseroles have been around much longer than people think. The popular meal style can trace its roots back to ancient China and its mud-encrusted Beggar's Chicken. Casseroles today are common for chefs looking to save time by cooking all the ingredients at once and significantly reducing the amount of dishes that will need to be cleaned later. To make the most of your adventures into cooking casseroles, keep in mind a few essential tips.

Many of the casserole recipes you will come across will ask for some sort of canned soup. These prepared sauces are not always very nutritious. If you are concerned about caloric or fat intake, you can substitute with a low-fat version on the canned soup; if there is not one available, you can make a white sauce to use instead.

Meat Casseroles

If you plan to freeze your casserole, line the pan with tin foil, leaving an extra amount on the side to cover the dish later. You have two options with freezing a casserole: you can put it straight in the freezer uncooked or you can bake it first. If you decide to cook it, be sure to let it cool completely before putting it in the freezer. When you are ready to eat it, thaw it in the fridge overnight or simply bake it in a 350 degree oven for twice as long as you normally would. The dish is done when a skewer poked into the middle feels hot to the touch. A frozen casserole will stay good about two months.

If the recipe you are using calls for herbs, the decision on whether to use fresh or dried really depends on the length of time the casserole needs to be cooked. If it is more than an hour, you should used dried herbs; fresh herbs lose flavor with long exposure to heat. If you want to get the top nicely browned, do not cover it during baking.

You may run into recipes that require a certain pan that you do not have. This is an easy problem to fix. If you have a dish near the same size, use that. If not, keep this rule in mind: when substituting a shallower pan, take 25 percent off the cooking time; when substituting a deeper pan, add 25 percent.

Tips for Making Delicious Casseroles

Casseroles are true comfort food. We have put together a collection of delicious casserole recipes that will satisfy the hearty appetite; and that can be served for holidays, special occasions and everyday dining. Find the perfect casserole recipe from our growing selection of appetizers, side dishes, and entrees.

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