Baked Scalloped Potatoes: A Make-Ahead Side Dish For Any Occasion

By: VidJovanovic
Date: January 19, 2023
Time to read: 6 min.

Yes, you can bake scalloped potatoes ahead of time. Just bake them for half the time they need in the recipe. Then, when you’re ready to serve them, put them back in the oven to finish baking.

So if you’re short on time or want a head start on your holiday meal prep, read on for our tips on making perfect scalloped potatoes ahead of time.

Key Takeaways

Scalloped potatoes can be made and stored in the fridge for up to three days.
When reheating, add milk or cream to the potatoes to keep them from drying.
Potatoes can also be frozen for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To avoid soggy potatoes, make sure to cook them until they are just tender and not overcooked.
Add cheese on top of the potatoes before reheating if desired.

Table of Contents

Here’s The Answer To Can You Bake Scalloped Potatoes Ahead Of Time

Yes, you can bake scalloped potatoes ahead of time. The best way to make sure they cook evenly and come out of the oven piping hot may be to bake them ahead of time.

Here are a few tips for making ahead scalloped potatoes:

Slice the potatoes thinly, no more than 1/4 inch thick. This will help them cook evenly.
Parboil the potato slices for 3-4 minutes before layering them in the dish. This will also help them cook evenly.
Assemble the dish, but do not bake it. Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Once the oven is ready, bake the potatoes for 30-35 minutes or until they are tender and golden brown.

Yes, You Can Bake Scalloped Potatoes Ahead Of Time

You can bake scalloped potatoes ahead of time. The answer is yes, and you can bake the potatoes in advance.

That’s right, no matter how many people come to your Thanksgiving dinner. If they are staying at a hotel or driving in from across the country, you can still make these delicious treats and then let them sit in the fridge until it’s time to eat them.

So what do we mean by “bake ahead?” Well, there are several different ways that this can be accomplished:

You could bake them just before serving (which is perfect if you’re making them for a family dinner), or you could bake them beforehand and then reheat them when needed (perfect for those who don’t want extra dishes on their stovetop).

You Will Need To Reheat Them Before Serving

Prior to serving, they must be reheated. The potatoes can be reheated in the oven, microwave, or stovetop. They should be heated until they are hot throughout and no longer cool at all.

Any of these methods will work just fine for this purpose:

Reheat with foil on top: Place them in an ovenproof dish, cover them with foil and bake for about 20 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
Reheat with foil off: Cover your casserole dish with aluminum foil, but leave one side open so steam can come out as it heats up inside; then place it directly under a low broiler until the top is browned.
Reheat from frozen: If you have already baked your potatoes ahead of time. They have cooled down completely to room temperature or below—which some recipes call for—you can freeze them safely by wrapping each one individually in plastic wrap first, then return them to their original baking dish together before storing them in freezer bags or containers with the appropriate labels (e.g., “Potato Casserole – Frozen”).

To Reheat, Place The Potatoes In A Baking Dish And Cover Them With Foil

If you want to reheat the potatoes, place them in a baking dish and cover them with foil. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until thoroughly heated, at 350 degrees.

Bake At 350 Degrees For About 20 Minutes, Or Until Heated Through

You can bake your scalloped potatoes ahead of time. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. If you’re baking the potatoes in advance and they’re cold, wrap them tightly in foil and place them on a baking sheet or in an ovenproof dish.

Cook for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. If you want to serve the potatoes immediately but have baked them in advance, make sure they are chilled before serving so that the flavors won’t be watered down when reheated later.

Also, if you plan on storing leftover scalloped potatoes in the refrigerator (or freezer), let them cool completely first so that they don’t separate when reheating.

Place The Potatoes In A Microwave Safe Dish And Heat For 2-3 Minutes

This is the easiest way to reheat your potatoes if you have a microwave oven. Put them on a plate, cover them with plastic wrap or a lid, and heat them for 2-3 minutes.

They should be hot and ready to eat.

Microwave ovens are great because they’re quick and convenient. Suppose you want to do something else while the potatoes are being reheated. In that case, it’s easy to put them in the microwave while you prepare other ingredients or set up your table.
If time is of the essence (and let’s face it: when isn’t it?), using a microwave can make all the difference in how quickly you can enjoy your meal.

How Do You Store Leftover Scalloped Potatoes?

If you wish to eat the scalloped potatoes later, you may store them in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to three days.

Simply place them in a 325° oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until heated, to reheat. They can be frozen for up to three months if you don’t have the time to reheat them.

Reheat from frozen by placing them on a baking sheet and covering them with foil before heating them at 400 degrees for 30 minutes in an oven-preheated convection mode turned on (if available).

What Is The Best Way To Reheat Scalloped Potatoes?

I like to reheat them in a 350-degree oven. This method is better than the microwave because it allows the scalloped potatoes to stay hot and bubbly without drying them out.

If you don’t have an oven available, however, you can also use your microwave for this purpose.

Reheating scalloped potatoes in a covered baking dish with foil on top will help keep them warm for longer than just keeping them in the fridge or on your kitchen table overnight.

Are There Any Other Tips For Making Ahead Scalloped Potatoes?

Put cheese on the potatoes, bake them until golden brown, and then store them in the fridge if you want to prepare the potatoes ahead of time while maintaining a crunchy topping. Then, pop them back into the oven at 350 degrees F when you’re ready to serve.
For best results, store your scalloped potatoes in an airtight container or ziplock bag, so they don’t dry out while they sit. If you’d like, you can cover the dish with plastic wrap to keep it moist while it chills in the refrigerator. It should last for up to five days this way.
By putting any leftovers from this dish in a baking dish and covering them with foil, you can reheat them for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.

In Conclusion

Scalloped potatoes can be baked in advance, but storage must be handled carefully. If you don’t store them properly, they can become mushy.

To avoid this, allow the potatoes to cool completely before storing them in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake them, preheat the oven and add a bit of butter to the dish before popping it in.

For more tips on how to cook scalloped potatoes, check out our other articles or ask questions on our social media channels.

Author

I’m Vid Jovanovic and I’m 36 years old. I’m a teacher by profession and my passion lies in baking. I have been baking since my early teens, when my grandmother taught me how to make a simple cake that you can find in any supermarket. My passion for baking grew as I got older and I started experimenting with different ingredients and recipes.