Got some of those Thanksgiving leftovers refrigerated and waiting to be enjoyed again? Wondering how to reheat green bean casserole without ruining its texture and flavor? I've got you covered!
Let's admit it -some foods are meant to be finished up when they're fresh and even the most effortful storage and reheating techniques can't preserve the flavor and texture of those foods- your leftover green bean casserole is one of those foods.
PinAnd believe it or not, I'm actually on a mission to experiment with and discover the best method to store and reheat some of these foods. Quite recently, I tried out different ways to reheat edamame and chalked it down to one 'perfect' method.
That said, let's get down and dirty into figuring out about that casserole shall we?
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Can You Make Green Bean Casserole Ahead of Time and Cook it?
You can! Like most casserole dishes, you can actually prep the green bean casserole up to 2 months in advance and freeze it until you're ready to bake it!
I like to use a freezer safe container to assemble the casserole, and then cover it up with some aluminum foil. I've discover this is the best way to keep the casserole from getting freezer burn.
After that, it is pretty much all about getting the frozen casserole out, allowing it to thaw and then cooking it the way you want to.
Does Reheating the Casserole Overcook it?
Well, it depends. Not only on how you store green bean casserole leftovers, but also on the kind of state it is in before you decide to reheat this rather tasteful side dish.
If you're attempting to reheat a casserole that is already in a very sad, soggy state, it is bound to get mushy and overcooked regardless of what reheating method you use.
If your casserole has been stored correctly and seems to be nice and firm, reheating it will not overcooking it.
PinCan I Reheat a Frozen Green Bean Casserole?
You sure can! Even if you have leftovers of a cooked green bean casserole, you can freeze them for later.
Simply cover them up in some aluminum foil or plastic wrap before you freeze them and you should be good.
Is it Safe to Reheat Green Bean Casserole?
Regardless of what heating methods you're employing, it is completely safe to reheat and enjoy a leftover green bean casserole.
That said, you'll need to make sure that the casserole hasn't been out at room temperature for more than an hour.
How to Reheat Green Bean Casserole
Based on my personal experiments, I've chalked it down to 3 simple ways to reheat green bean casserole.
In a Microwave
Reheating your leftover green bean casserole in the microwave may seem like the easiest way to get it done, and quite frankly, it is.
I would, however, recommend opting for this method only when you're in a hurry, or are just feeling lazy or have a small portion in an airtight container that you want to reheat.
- Transfer the green bean casserole in a microwave-safe bowl or dish, and cover it with cling wrap, leaving just a bit of space for the steam to escape.
- Pop the green bean casserole in microwave and use the reheat setting. The reheating time can vary depending on the amount of contents in the bowl.
- Remember to stir the contents of the bowl occasionally and allow it to sit for a minute before you enjoy it.
- You may also want to sprinkle some crispy onions on the top of the casserole before you serve it!
You can also choose to use this method to reheat small portions of food, not just your casseroles.
If you have frozen casserole, you might want to thaw the casserole first before you reheat in the microwave.
PinIn an Oven
Using an oven to reheat the green bean casserole is your best bet, especially if you have a large portion that you want to reheat. This one's also my favorite reheating method for most foods, particularly those that need that bit of texture too.
Using an oven will give you the best results for many reasons.
It will not only reheat the dish, but will also keep it from drying out or turning too chewy. Plus, it is a super quick and straightforward method to get the casserole to reheat evenly.
- To do this, you'll need to preheat the oven to 350°F and cover the whole casserole with aluminum foil.
- Then, all you need to do is place the green bean casserole in the oven and let it reheat in there for 15-20 minutes, depending on how large of a portion you need to reheat.
- You can also choose to throw in some additional toppings like fried onions and pop it in again for 5 minutes.
Remember that if you had your casserole in the fridge or freezer, and are trying to reheat it in the oven, you'll need to get the casserole to reach room temperature before you pop it in the oven.
On the Stovetop
This one may sound strange, but yes, it is actually possible to reheat your green bean casserole leftovers on the stovetop too.
To do this, you'll just need to use a cast iron skillet or a non stick pan with a lid.
I always turn to this method when I have a very small portion that I need to reheat, and using a microwave or an oven just doesn't make sense.
A big plus with this method, in calorie tracker from betterme building up a my opinion, is the fact that you'll actually be able to monitor the leftovers easily, and there's practically no chance the casserole will end up burning.
- Start by heating your skillet or non stick pan and drizzle a bit of olive oil or any other cooking oil of your choice to lightly grease the surface.
- Now add the leftover casserole, some of your favorite toppings and cover the pan with a lid, allowing the casserole to reheat on low to medium heat.
- The casserole should take anywhere between 5-15 minutes to reheat.
Before reheating the casserole on the stove, remember to thaw it if you had your casserole in the freezer, or just get it out at room temperature if you had it in the fridge.
PinWhat is the Best Way to Reheat Green Bean Casserole?
Honestly, there's no one size fits all answer to this one. The best method to reheat your leftover green bean casserole depends on whether you've refrigerated or frozen your leftovers, and the amount of leftovers you actually have.
Another great reheating process you can consider trying out is air frying.
If you have an Air Fryer, you can simply shape a sheet of aluminum foil into a dish and transfer your casserole into it. This can then be topped with French fried onions and air fried until it is nice and hot.
This process can be exceptionally helpful in reheating a runny green bean casserole, since air frying as a process typically tends to dry out the dish.
As opposed to the oven method and the microwave method of reheating, air frying is much quicker too!
