Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Casserole?

5 minutes

Rich and creamy, with a hit of butter, a dash of brown sugar, and topped with pecans, Sweet Potato Casserole is divine. But now you’re wondering…can I freeze it?

Looking for a full list of Thanksgiving foods you can freeze? Here it is!

How to Freeze Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole is a classic staple at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. What better than to enjoy this wonderful holiday side dish at a moment’s notice than by freezing it for later.

Unbaked (Make-Ahead) Casserole:

1. Prepare the casserole as normal: Prepare the casserole recipe ahead of time as you normally would; just stop just before you bake it. We highly recommend using a disposable aluminum pan. (If you usually add marshmallows on top, don’t do this step yet as it’s better to add them just prior to baking.)
2. Ensure the top is smooth and packed: Ensure the top surface of the casserole is as smooth and tightly packed as possible. This will ensure the casserole doesn’t get water in the top layer, which would freeze, expand, and damage the structure of the dish.
3. Wrap tightly: Wrap the entire casserole (aluminum dish and all) in two layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Ensure the foil forms complete layers and that it’s as sealed as you can manage. While they don’t have to be airtight, having the foil pressed against the casserole and the dish is the best way to ensure the dish doesn’t get freezer burn….so fill that pan to the top!
4. Freeze: Store the casserole at the center of your freezer, where it’ll be as far as possible from the “frost front” at the edge of your freezer. This will ensure a more evenly-frozen casserole, which will thaw and cook better.

Baked (Leftovers):

1. Transfer to an airtight container: Transferring the leftovers to an appropriately sized, airtight container will reduce the amount of surface area that the casserole has exposed to air. In turn, this will reduce the chance of the surface getting freezer burn.
2. Remove air pockets: Tap the container on the counter, and press down gently on the top of the casserole to press out air pockets. These pockets will condense to water, which freezes to ice, and leads to freezer burn. Therefore, they should be avoided.
3. Seal tightly: Seal the sweet potato casserole tightly to prevent air flowing over and around it. Scrape off any marshmallow topping prior to freezing your leftovers.  Add fresh ones back on prior to reheating.
4. Freeze: Freeze the casserole at the center of your freezer. If you happened to have left the marshmallows on, freezing near the center leads to less degradation in the marshmallow topping of the casserole.

3 Tips for Freezing Sweet Potato Casserole

Here are our Top 3 Tips, which we strongly recommend following, to give you the best results when freezing your sweet potato casserole:

Do NOT Use Cling Wrap
Using plastic cling will trap moisture in, which will cause your marshmallows to dissolve, leading to a poorer top crust when you thaw and rebake the casserole. Technically, a single layer of cling wrap on the uncooked version is fine. Just be sure to remove the cling wrap prior to cooking. (Hint: Lots of people forget, which is why we recommend not using it.)

Avoid Marshmallows
A flat and compacted surface (no marshmallows or nuts) will create a more efficient barrier against frost and freezer burn. Marshmallows usually turn into a soggy mess when thawed which is why it’s best to put them on just prior to baking, and scrape them off if freezing leftovers.

Ensure the Double Wrapping is Tight
Double wrapping as tight as possible will ensure the casserole remains as undamaged as possible during the freezing process. Press it down against the potatoes (hums…”No Air” song) for best results. 

How Long Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Casserole?

You can freeze sweet potato casserole for around three months before noticing any significant degradation. The fibrous nature of sweet potatoes limits the damage, which will most likely occur to the top crust if not properly sealed.

The marshmallows and nuts, for instance, will typically degrade in the freezer – both will take on moisture, leading to melted marshmallows and soft nuts.

How Do You Defrost Sweet Potato Casserole?

Unbaked (Make-Ahead) Casserole

The simplest way to thaw unbaked sweet potato casserole is to remove the two layers of foil, place it directly in the oven, and bake it as you normally would. There’s no need to defrost it, it’s ready to bake as is. It’ll just take 10-15 extra minutes in the oven to ensure it’s properly warmed all the way through.

Follow your normal instructions for when to add the topping ingredients during the baking process – we’re going for golden brown marshmallows (not black) if you’re using them.

Baked (Leftovers)

Leftover sweet potato casserole is easily thawed by transferring it to the refrigerator overnight. Once it’s thawed to fridge temperature, you can bake it in the oven as though it were entirely fresh (don’t forget to add a few new marshmallows and nuts), or if you aren’t as particular about the crispy, crunchy topping, you can microwave it until piping hot.

Alternatively, you can leave it on your counter for 2 hours and then bake it in the oven again, or reheat it in the microwave.

Can You Refreeze Sweet Potato Casserole?

Yes, you can thaw and refreeze sweet potato casserole only if it’s been kept at or below refrigerator temperatures during thawing.

It’s worth noting, with each repeated thaw and freeze, the texture of the casserole will become more and more damaged. Best practice is to only thaw as much as you’ll eat.

Does Sweet Potato Casserole Freeze Well?

Yes, sweet potato casserole does freeze well. The main reason for this is the ingredients are all fairly hardy, with the exception of the marshmallows and nuts. This is why, if you enjoy a crispy, crunchy top on your casserole, we recommend adding those just prior to baking.

Double-wrapping in foil is another critical step that ensures the casserole sustains itself well in the freezer.

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