Are you searching for a side dish to prepare ahead of time for your family dinner? Potatoes scalded are a great choice! You may make and freeze this recipe, then bake it when you need it. Scalloped potatoes can they be frozen? Scalloped potatoes can really be frozen for up to two months and then quickly reheated in the microwave or oven. To achieve the greatest results, ensure that the scalloped potatoes are undercooked before freezing so that they won’t overcook when reheated. Learn how to freeze scalloped potatoes and reheat them when you need a quick but delectable side dish by reading on.
How Long Do Scalloped Potatoes Last?
Potatoes au gratin, often known as scalloped potatoes, are a quick and easy side dish for your family dinner. You may use ham, bacon, onions, or even bread crumbs to make it a golden-brown, cheesy, potato-filled dish that’s crispy on the exterior and creamy on the inside. Scalloped potatoes are simple to prepare and much easier to store for later enjoyment. Baked scalloped potatoes can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days if stored in an airtight container. Here’s a great video from YouTube’s Sam The Cooking Guy showing how to prepare some tasty scalloped potatoes!
Can You Freeze Scalloped Potatoes?
Scalloped potatoes that are prepared in advance and frozen can be consumed two months after freezing. In order to maintain track of your frozen batches, it is recommended to constantly label your freezer-ready containers. Although the texture of the potatoes may vary in the freezer, the longer the dish is in the freezer, the more the flavors and texture will alter. Your freezer can keep scalloped potatoes fresh for up to two months.
For the greatest outcome, we advise undercooking the scalloped potatoes so that they will be perfectly done and retain their crispy quality when reheated. The following section has more information on how to freeze scalloped potatoes effectively.
How To Freeze Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes are best frozen in airtight, freezer-safe containers. First, prepare your scalloped potatoes according to the recipe’s directions, then bake them for roughly 10 minutes less than the recipe’s time. When the potatoes are undercooked and a light brown color, remove them from the oven. Scalloped potatoes that have been cooked will be crispy and golden brown in color. Remember, we’re preparing ahead of time, not cooking tonight’s dinner!
After removing the baking pan from the oven, allow it to cool for about an hour at room temperature. This will increase the efficiency of freezing the scalloped potatoes and prevent moisture from gathering on the lid of your freezer container. After that, place your scalloped potatoes in a freezer-safe container.
If you wish to pack numerous small parts, split them into small containers because you won’t be able to separate the small portions after they’re frozen and sticking together. If you want to freeze the complete dish, you may also freeze the potatoes on their baking tray.
To avoid freezer burn, wrap the potatoes in parchment paper first, then wrap the entire dish in aluminum foil to create another airtight covering. To ensure that you always complete within the allotted time, label the containers with the date using masking tape. Finish by placing your container(s) in the freezer.
How To Thaw Frozen Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes shouldn’t ever be thawed from frozen at room temperature. This method might be speedier, but the potatoes could become soggy since the cold container can absorb moisture from the air. The refrigerator is the ideal place to thaw frozen scalloped potatoes. The ice will progressively thaw due to the chilly temperature without affecting the texture of the potatoes.
Place the frozen container of scalloped potatoes in the refrigerator overnight to thaw them before reheating. You can add a tiny bit of milk to the scalloped potatoes to revive the juices before baking them if they appear a little dense.
How To Reheat Scalloped Potatoes
There are various methods for reheating scalloped potatoes, each of which may alter the texture of the scalloped potatoes. Let’s have a look at each method individually below!
1. Using The Oven
Using the oven is the greatest method for reheating scalloped potatoes! Your oven should spend roughly 30 minutes at 325°F. Scalloped potatoes that have already been thawed can be left on the counter to reach room temperature during this time, which can speed up baking. Scalloped potatoes should be moved to an oven-safe baking dish, which should then be completely covered in aluminum foil. In order to bake the potatoes evenly, the foil helps to disperse heat across the baking dish.
To ensure that the potatoes are properly cooked, bake them for around 20 minutes. By inserting a fork into the potatoes, you can determine their texture. The potatoes are fully cooked if they are tender and the fork is warm. To give the potatoes a crispy, golden-brown crust, take off the aluminum foil and re-bake the dish for five more minutes. The food is then prepared for serving!
It is also possible to reheat frozen scalloped potatoes in the oven, but it will take a lot longer for the potatoes to become cooked from frozen. You must line the entire baking sheet with aluminum foil and bake it for about an hour at 350°F. To ensure that the dish is uniformly warmed, check on it every 20 minutes. To give the potatoes a golden-brown and crispy crust, bake them for about 5 minutes after removing the aluminum foil.
2. Using The Microwave
Microwaving your scalloped potatoes is far more efficient, especially if you’re only reheating little amounts of the dish. Because the microwave tends to dry out the dish, you’ll need to cover it with a damp paper towel to keep the moisture in. Furthermore, the microwave will not be able to achieve the crispy texture of the crust that the oven can. Before reheating, defrost your frozen scalloped potatoes in the refrigerator for about 24 hours. After that, place the piece in a microwave-safe container.
Add a few drops of milk to the container to avoid the dish from drying out. The potatoes should then be covered with a damp paper towel. Then, microwave the container in 30-second bursts for a few seconds at a time, using a medium-high heat setting. This will keep the potatoes from becoming overcooked and the sauce from separating. After about 3 minutes, examine the potatoes with a fork to verify if they are evenly cooked and hot.
3. In A Pan
If you want a nice crust on the potatoes’ outer layer, you may alternatively reheat your scalloped potatoes in a pan. When heating individual servings, this method is both quicker and more appropriate than using the oven. Before reheating your scalloped potatoes in a skillet, let them defrost in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Melt a small amount of butter in your pan by heating it to medium-low. The butter can aid in giving the potatoes’ outer layer a crispy quality and preventing them from sticking to the pan.
Scalloped potatoes should be added to the pan once the butter has melted. To prevent the sauce from drying out, you can also add a few drops of milk or water to the pan. After that, place a lid on the pan and let it heat for around three minutes. You can flip the slice over to heat the other side after three minutes and then cover the lid to continue cooking the potatoes for another three minutes.
When baking in the oven, the side that touches the pan will develop a gorgeous crust. The sauce won’t dry out and the potatoes will steam evenly if the pan is covered to assist retain moisture.
4. In The Air Fryer
You may also use an air fryer to reheat individual servings of scalloped potatoes. Air fryers are simply convection ovens that can heat your food fast and form a crust around the potatoes in much less time than an oven. However, because the air fryer separates fat from your food, the sauce may separate after cooking. As with the other procedures, the potatoes must be thawed in the refrigerator before using this approach.
Preheat the air fryer to 300°F first. Place the scalloped potatoes in a heat-safe container. You may alternatively line the air fryer with aluminum foil and heat the scalloped potatoes directly on it. Then, in the air fryer, heat the scalloped potatoes for around 5 minutes. When you take the potatoes out of the air fryer, you’ll see a gorgeous golden-brown coating, similar to what you’d get from baking in the oven.