Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze sweet potato pecan casserole? ›

The answer is yes — though there are some guidelines to follow to ensure it freezes well. The absolute best way to freeze sweet potato casserole, to start, requires you to cook the sweet potatoes before freezing.

Storing raw sweet potatoes in the freezer will actually make them spoil faster, however it's best to keep baked sweet potatoes or cooked yams in the freezer. Because sweet potatoes are so popular in many recipes around Thanksgiving, it's recommended to store your cooked sweet potato leftovers in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Casseroles? Yes, you can freeze casseroles, but some ingredients hold up better in the freezer than others. And while some casseroles are better frozen uncooked, others should be frozen after cooking, but more on that below.

When the frozen tubers go into the oven, more water escapes from the flesh, concentrating the flavour, and sugary fluid caramelises on the outside. To maximise amylase activity, Chin suggests baking sweet potatoes at 150°C (300°F) for 2 hours, before increasing the heat to 230°C (450°F) for 40 minutes.

To Store: Store sweet potato casserole covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. To Freeze: Prepare the sweet potato casserole completely, but don't bake it. Cover with a double layer of aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

You can keep it in the same pan to go into the oven later, or put it into a freezer bag or airtight container. Be sure to label your casserole with the date and instructions for further baking.

Can you freeze raw sweet potatoes? It's not recommended to freeze raw sweet potato fries or cubes. They won't hold up well in the freezer and they won't cook correctly in recipes. Blanching or cooking sweet potatoes fully is the way to go.

You can freeze cooked sweet potatoes in three ways: whole, sliced, or mashed. No matter which way you choose, they'll last in the freezer for about one year.

Store them away from a heat source, too, per the U.S. Sweet Potato Council. And while you shouldn't put sweet potatoes in the refrigerator, you can, surprisingly, freeze sweet potatoes. Frozen sweet potatoes may be stored for up to 12 months. You must start with cooked sweet potatoes, which should be peeled and boiled.

There are definitely casseroles that don't freeze well

And dairy, in general, can get a bit grainy if it's frozen, then reheated. Likewise, eggs, starchy vegetables, and watery vegetables can make a thawed and reheated casserole a soggy mess.

Should I thaw frozen casserole before baking? ›

Thawing the casserole first can help to ensure even baking—no icy centers allowed. The biggest mistake in this process is not giving yourself enough time. It's not advisable to attempt to thaw your casserole in the oven or in the microwave.

If you use fully cooked ingredients in a casserole, they may turn mushy. Save yourself from a goopy mess, and stop the cooking process just a few minutes early. Meat is one exception to this rule. Thoroughly cook any meat for a casserole you intend to freeze before adding it to the other ingredients.

For the bakers, the freeze-then-bake method dries out excess water so the texture of the potato's flesh is super fluffy versus wet and dense. In turn, this will lend a lighter texture to the baked good you plan to incorporate sweet potato into.

Sweet potatoes have a high water content. If you freeze them without cooking them first, they're likely to get freezer burn and develop an unpleasant texture.

Cooking the sweet potato from frozen also likely allows it to spend more time in a critical temperature zone from 135° to 170°F (57° to 77°C), when an enzyme in the sweet potato called amylase becomes very active, converting the tuber's complex starches into the (very sweet) simple sugar maltose.

A batch of make-ahead and freeze, slow-cooker sweet potatoes tastes just as irresistibly good as if you made it on the same day! Prep early for Thanksgiving by cooking and freezing these slow-cooker sweet potatoes weeks beforehand.

You can freeze the hashbrown casserole, either before baking it or after it has been baked and cooled. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before baking or reheating in the oven.

You can freeze just about any vegetable, and sweet potatoes are no exception! In fact, you can freeze these tubers in multiple ways — from raw (as long as they're blanched first) or cooked. If you have a lot of sweet potatoes on hand or want to preserve sweet potatoes before they go rotten, this post is for you.

The Best Way to Freeze Pumpkin Pie

Transfer the pie to a pan made of metal or disposable aluminum. (A glass dish might break in your freezer.) If your pie was already baked in a metal or aluminum dish, skip to the next step. Wrap the pie pie in plastic, making it airtight.