Can sweet potato casserole be made ahead of time and frozen?
To freeze: Prepare the sweet potato casserole completely, but do not cook it. Cover with a double layer of foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes on the counter before cooking.
Is it possible to overcook a sweet potato casserole?
What is it? If you are boiling sweet potatoes for your casserole, be careful not to overcook them. They absorb water, which can result in a watery topping. This is another reason to make sure they are cut to the same size so that you cook your pan long enough to soften everything at once without overcooking.
Why do you put eggs in a sweet potato casserole?
Eggs are the essential binder in a sweet potato casserole: they enrich and stiffen the mixture without weighing it down. Be sure to cool the mashed potatoes slightly before adding the egg so that it doesn’t scramble, and stir well so that there are no traces of cooked egg white in the finished dish.
How do I keep the mashed sweet potatoes from being stringy?
When sweet potatoes are cooked, they may contain fibrous strands that need to be removed by a blending process. If left intact, the strings will spoil the creamy texture of the cooked potatoes. Boil the sweet potatoes until they are fork-tender. Drain in a colander and let cool.
What is sweet potato casserole?
A southern-style casserole that is a dessert-like side dish. It is made of cooked and mashed sweet potatoes with sugar, butter, vanilla, milk and eggs. In this recipe, the sweet potato mixture is then topped with a buttery pecan crumble topping and baked until golden brown. This is a traditional Southern recipe, popular for Thanksgiving and other family meals and holidays.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups sweet potatoes
- 1⁄2 cup sugar
- 1⁄2 cup butter
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1⁄3 cup milk
Topping - 1⁄3 cup melted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1⁄2 cup flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
Boil and mash potatoes.
Mix in sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and milk.
Put in a 13×9 inch baking dish.
For the topping melt butter and mix in remaining ingredients.
Sprinkle on top of the potato mixture.
Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees..
Tips:
How do I know if the sweet potato casserole is ready?
You’ll know the casserole is ready when the filling is golden brown and the center of the casserole is set.
How do I keep my sweet potato casserole from sinking?
Be sure to bake the pan in the middle of the oven at the right temperature. Bake until the top is browned and the center of the pan is set. Then let cool, uncovered, so that the pan does not fog up under the lid.
Can the sweet potato casserole be made ahead of time?
Yes, it freezes and keeps very well. I give the details in my “How to prepare and store this recipe ahead of time” section and in the recipe notes.