[mumto1boy]

Next week DS will be getting baptised in the morning and in the afternoon we are having his baptism/birthday party where we'll be serving a BBQ lunch. I am making 2 lots of potato bakes. As its going to be crazily busy that day, I would like to prepare the potato bakes fully in advance the night before (i.e. put the cream and cheese in as well) and refrigerate. Then after the baptism I can just take them straight out of the fridge into the oven as we have about 1.5 hr gap in between the two events.

Will the potato bakes be ok like this? Do the potatoes go brown overnight or anything?

This post has been edited by mumto1boy: 25/01/2013, 12:45 PM

[~Supernova~]

Just make sure the potatoes are fully covered in cream and you will be good to go.

[elmo_mum]

i would cook it the day before, and heat up the next day

[mmuc83]

i would cook it the day before, and heat up the next day

If you do this ensure that the cream is piping hot and served immediately once heated through ...

[K+M+A+P]

Last time I prepared potato back in advance the potatos went brown/orange and then went black when I cooked it. And I only prepared it about 1.5 hours in advance. So no way would I do it the day before.

[mumto1boy]

Thanks it looks like I should be cooking it the night before then and then reheating in the oven the next day before the party.

Does anyone then know the best way to reheat the potato bake in the oven? Should I cover with foil or not, and what temp/how long to reheat? Thanks in advance

[Ehill]

To cook in advance and reheat, I would cook it the day before in foil so it doesnt brown on top. Then the next day cook it nice and hot and crisp the top up. Just only 3/4 cook it the day before.

You could do the peeling and slicing the day before, put it in water and then put it in the fridge. Drain well the next day, layer and cook. Might work better. The majority of time in potato bake is the peeling and slicing.

[credence]

I would set the oven to about 180 and cover in foil and reheat for at least 1 hour, taking off the foil for the last 15 minutes.

You would be surprised how long it takes to reheat, especially if it's still cold from the fridge.

[Luci]

I take a big potato bake to my MIL's every year at Christmas and I always cook it the day before and re-heat on Christmas Day.

I usually re heat it in the microwave. It does take a while to re-heat right through, I normally give it about 10 mins in the microwave. To re heat in the oven would take at least 30 - 40 mins at 180.

Good luck, hope you have a nice day.

Luci

[TherophosaBlondi]

Cook the potatoes the day before and put in an airtight container. Then on the day cover them in the cream and cheese and bake. The key is cooking the potatoes first.