In short, yes, you can freeze sweet potato casserole, but it should be fresh and well-protected from moisture and air to prevent quality loss.
Although it can be eaten any time of the year, sweet potato casserole is undoubtedly a sign that the holidays are around.
There are a few other times when you can enjoy what tastes like dessert with your main meal since sweet potato casserole is a delicious mix of sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows for a soft and sticky perfect holiday side dish.
It would be tragic to see even a spoonful of of your casserole go to waste just because you can’t finish the entire batch before it starts to go bad.
Luckily, sweet potato casserole can be frozen to extend its shelf life and it can also be transformed into a new delicious dish.
Here is everything you need to know when freezing sweet potato casserole.
Can Sweet Potato Casserole Be Frozen?
Sweet potato casserole always seems to yield a large batch which means loads of leftovers. The great news is that sweet potato casserole can be frozen.
Whether it is a full dish made in advance or leftovers from your meal, sweet potato casserole is pretty easy to freeze and can be used in a variety of ways on defrosting.
Always protect the frozen food from contact with moisture and air as this will quickly lead to quality deterioration.
Only freeze casseroles that are still fresh and of good quality. Old sweet potato casserole will not freeze well and the quality will not improve on freezing.
Make Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole
Since holiday dinners can get a little crazy, you can make sweet potato casserole beforehand and freeze it to save time and stress. We suggest making the sweet potato filling to save prep time, and adding the topping ingredients on the day you are having your holiday meal.
This super easy sweet potato casserole recipe only requires five ingredients.
Fill a large bowl with water and wash six large sweet potatoes to remove any dirt. Using a clean cutting board, peel and slice (or chop) the sweet potatoes.
Place the peeled sweet potatoes in a large pot and boil for around 25 minutes or until fork tender. Drain them and place them in a large mixing bowl together with ½ a cup brown sugar, two tablespoons butter, and one teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin spice—whichever you prefer.
Using a potato masher, mash the sweet potatoes while still hot, folding in the other ingredients as you go.
If you prefer keeping it chunky, just ensure that the butter, sugar, and spice is well mixed throughout. The ingredients should melt together with the hot sweet potatoes. Now that the casserole filling is ready for baking, your prep for this Thanksgiving side dish is done.
You can either freeze it in the casserole dish you are going to bake it in or in freezer bags using the freezing instructions below.
How To Freeze Sweet Potato Casserole
If you are making your sweet potato casserole ahead of time with the intention of freezing it, preparing it in a disposable aluminum foil dish is highly recommended.
This way, the baking dish is suitable at both freezing temperatures and to go straight into the oven without having to worry about it cracking. You also won’t be stuck with a baking dish occupied in the freezer if needed for other cooking.
Step 1: Cool
Let the casserole cool completely to room temperature. To speed up the cooling process, place the casserole in the refrigerator.
It is not advisable to leave the dish out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours as there will be a high risk of harmful bacterial growth.
Step 2. Pack and Cover
If you are freezing an entire premade casserole, wrap the casserole dish with a double layer of plastic wrap. Make sure that all the corners and edges are completely sealed and that there are no gaps where air can enter.
Wrap the baking dish again fully in a layer of aluminum foil, again ensuring that there are no exposed gaps.
For leftovers, scoop the casserole into a freezer-friendly airtight container. Alternatively, you can scoop it into a freezer bag. Press out any excess air before sealing the bag.
Step 3: Label and Freeze
Label the containers with the date and contents and place it in the freezer.
How To Thaw Frozen Sweet Potato Casserole
When it’s almost time to bake your dish, let the sweet potato mixture thaw overnight or for a few hours in the fridge.
If you froze the sweet potato mixture in freezer bags, butter an oven-proof dish and transfer the thawed mixture into the dish in an even layer. Add two cups of mini marshmallows on top and bake for 20 minutes to 25 minutes at 375°F until you have a golden topping. Add chopped pecans if you prefer a crunchy topping.
Leftover sweet potato casserole can go straight from the freezer into the oven with no need to thaw. Simply warm it through. Alternatively, place the casserole overnight in the refrigerator to defrost safely and simply warm it through it in the microwave.
Types of Sweet Potato Casserole
Popularly enjoyed over Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, a sweet potato casserole recipe is made by cooking sweet potatoes until soft and fork tender, layered either sliced or mashed with brown sugar and butter. It is then topped with marshmallows before going into the oven to form a toasty caramelized coating.
Variations on the dish include the addition of pecan nuts, vanilla, or taking on a more savory approach and replacing the sweet marshmallows with a breadcrumb topping instead.
You can store sweet potato casserole for up to 5 days in the refrigerator if kept covered. For the best quality, it is best to use sweet potato casserole within 4 months of freezing, although it will last beyond this time.
What can you do with frozen leftover sweet potato casserole?
To avoid having to eat the same leftover sweet potato casserole dish over and over, you can always transform it into a new dish easily, especially since it has already been cooked.
Remove the marshmallows for savory transformations. Combine the sweet potato into batters for muffins, hotcakes, waffles, and cake, turn it into soup, add it to oatmeal, or hash.
Can you freeze sweet potato casserole with a marshmallow topping?
Yes, you can freeze sweet potato casserole with marshmallows or a pecan topping.
Can you freeze an already cooked potato casserole?
Yes, you can freeze an already cooked sweet potato casserole to extend its shelf life. It is important to properly wrap and store the casserole to maintain its flavor and texture upon thawing.
Conclusion
The holidays are a great time for the taste buds with homemade stuffing, green bean casserole, side dishes, and delicious desserts to enjoy. If you are feeling overwhelmed with all the holiday catering coming up, get ahead of schedule and freeze ready-made sweet potato casserole to save you time when chaos strikes.
Whether you are freezing holiday leftovers or doing pre-holiday prep, remember to use an oven safe container when reheating the frozen dish. Always wrap it well when freezing to keep it protected from air and moisture.
Save money, time, and food waste with this simple solution.
As a qualified Holistic Nutritionist, Helga has also combined her passion for good food and healthy living in wellness coaching. After years practicing in the catering and hospitality industries, Helga now focuses on sharing her knowledge and experience with others through writing about food tips, cooking advice, wellness, global food trends, and travel.
