Make Ahead Baked Potatoes Food

MAKE-AHEAD BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Prick potatoes in several places. Microwave on HIGH 6 to 8 min. or until tender, turning over and rearranging after 3 min. Cool 5 min.
• Cut thin slice off top of each potato. Discard tops; scoop out centers into medium bowl, leaving 1/8-inch-thick shells. Mash potato flesh. Add cream cheese spread, milk, cheese and bacon; mix well. Spoon into potato shells; wrap individually in foil. Refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• Heat grill to medium heat. Unwrap potatoes; place on grill grate. Grill 15 min. or until heated through.

MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Lightly scrub the potatoes. Put them in a large stockpot, fill with cold water to cover by about 2 inches and season generously with salt. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to maintain a strong simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender in the center, 50 to 55 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes in a colander in the sink. Let cool enough so that you can handle them, about 10 minutes. It is important that the potatoes do not cool too much because they will mash more easily when hot.
• Meanwhile, add the butter to the same pot that you used to cook the potatoes (no need to clean it). Melt completely over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Heat 3/4 cup of the cream in a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl until steaming and set aside.
• Holding the potatoes in a clean kitchen towel, gently peel the skins off with a paring knife. Quarter the potatoes and put them in the pot along with 2 1/2 teaspoons salt. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until smooth and fluffy (see Cook's Note).
• Add the cream and stir until combined. Season with pepper and additional salt if needed. Allow to cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze up to 3 months.
• To reheat refrigerated mashed potatoes: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spoon the mashed potatoes into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Drizzle with the remaining 1/2 cup cream. Stir until combined, making sure there are no pools of cream at bottom of the baking dish.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently stir the mashed potatoes. Cover again and continue to bake until the potatoes are hot and steamy, 20 to 25 minutes more. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
• To reheat frozen mashed potatoes: Thaw the potatoes completely in the refrigerator and cook according to the same directions as refrigerated potatoes but do not add cream. The potatoes might seem watery at first but will thicken as they heat up.
• Transfer the hot mashed potatoes to a large bowl for serving.

MAKE-AHEAD POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a Dutch oven or large kettle; cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender. , Drain potatoes and place in a bowl; mash. Add sour cream, cream cheese, 4 tablespoons butter, onion and salt; stir until smooth and the cream cheese and butter are melted. Spread in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. , Melt the remaining butter; drizzle over the potatoes. Sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate or bake immediately, covered, at 350° for 40 minutes; uncover and bake 20 minutes longer. If potatoes are made ahead and refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.

MAKE-AHEAD BAKED STUFFED POTATOES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Scrub potatoes; pat dry. Preheat oven to 425 F.
• Pierce top of potatoes with a fork. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Remove a thin slice from the top of each potato and scoop out most of the potato into a bowl, leaving the skin intact.
• With an electric mixer on low speed, beat the potato with 5 tablespoons of the milk, along with the butter, salt, and pepper. Add a little more milk, as needed.
• Spoon potato mixture into the potato skins; sprinkle each with Parmesan cheese. Arrange the stuffed potatoes in a single layer in a baking dish; cover and refrigerate for up to one day.
• Preheat oven to 375 F. Bake potatoes for 20 to 30 minutes, or until potatoes are hot and tops are lightly browned. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
• Enjoy.

MAKE-AHEAD WHIPPED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Roast the potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet until soft and tender, about 1 hour. Let cool for a few minutes, then use paper towels or a kitchen towel to help remove the skins.
• Process the sweet potato meat, butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, cinnamon, allspice and cayenne in a food processor until smooth. Let cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight, microwave-safe container, label and date, and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve, reheat in the microwave, stirring often. Transfer to a serving dish, and top with the pecans and scallions.

MAKE-AHEAD TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Wash potatoes and pat dry.
• Place potatoes, not touching, on a large baking sheet.
• You may need two baking sheets.
• Spray potatoes generously with non-stick cooking spray.
• Sprinkle outside of potatoes with a little salt.
• Bake 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until potatoes "give" when gently squeezed, indicating they are done.
• In large mixing bowl, add butter, cream cheese, salt and pepper and mix well.
• With a serrated knife, cut baked potatoes in half lengthwise, being careful to leave skins unbroken.
• With large spoon, scoop out the inside of potatoes, leaving a thin layer of potato attached to the inside of the skin.
• Place potato skin shells, skin side down, on the baking sheet used to bake the potatoes.
• Put scooped out potato in mixing bowl as you remove it and mix to combine with butter mixture, adding skim milk as needed to make potatoes the consistency of slightly stiff mashed potatoes.
• You may need a little more or less milk to get the final desired consistency.
• Using the palm of your hand to support the potato shell while filling, spoon and press potato mixture into each half potato shell.
• Return filled shell to baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with shredded cheese and pat cheese to make it adhere to the potatoes.
• TO SERVE IMMEDIATELY: Return baking pan of potatoes to oven and bake about 15-25 minutes until potatoes are hot and cheese is melted.
• TO FREEZE FOR LATER USE: Cover potatoes with plastic wrap and place baking sheet in freezer, leaving several hours until potatoes are completely frozen.
• Remove potatoes from freezer and wrap each potato in a resealable plastic sandwich bag.
• Place wrapped potatoes into one or more gallon resealable freezer bags.
• Store in freezer for up to 3 months.
• TO COOK FROZEN POTATOES: Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place potatoes on baking sheet and loosely cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake about 45 minutes.
• Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or more until potatoes are hot.
• Do not over bake.
• This method keeps the potato skins firm and crisp.
• If time is short, place potatoes in microwave and cook on high about 10 minutes.
• Remove and then place in 350°F oven to finish cooking.
• IN A BIG HURRY: These potatoes can be completely heated from frozen state in the microwave, heating them just until they are hot.
• Potato skins will be softer than if cooked in the oven.
• OR, they can be defrosted in the microwave and reheated, uncovered, in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until hot.

TO DIE FOR MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Boil potatoes until tender.
• Beat softened cream cheese and sour cream in mixing bowl.
• Add hot potatoes and beat until smooth, adding small amounts of milk as needed.
• Add butter, chives, salt, pepper and onion powder and beat until well-mixed.
• Add garlic, green onions, and marjoram and beat until well-mixed.
• Pour into either casserole dish or crockpot.
• Dot with additional butter and sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake for 25 minutes in 350°F oven or cook on low in crockpot for 2-3 hours. If cooked in crockpot, add a few additional drops of butter and stir, just before serving.
• Sprinkle with Bacon Bits or crumpled bacon just before serving.
• NOTE: Can be refrigerated overnight in either casserole dish or crockpot.

MAKE-AHEAD SCALLOPED POTATOES

Steps:

• In two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes, layer potatoes and onions. Combine the flour, soup and milk until blended; pour over each baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and bake at 325° for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until potatoes are tender. Uncover; cool for 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before reheating. Bake at 325° for 30-40 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

MAKE AHEAD MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling water, cook potatoes for 20 minutes or until tender but not mushy.
• Drain and let cool slightly, peel.
• With a potato masher, mash until smooth, do not use an electric mixer, blend in cream cheese and butter until melted.
• Mix in onions, sour cream, parsley, marjoram, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer to 8 inch (2 L) baking dish, smooth top.
• Sprinkle with crumbs, (Casserole can be prepared to this point, covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 week. Let thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours. Add 10 minutes to baking time.) Bake in 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until heated through and top is lightly golden.

MAKE AHEAD POTATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook potatoes, cool until easy to handle and shred coarsely.
• Stir in all other ingredients, except paprika, blending gently.
• Place mix into a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle paprika on top.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight or wrap well and freeze.
• Bake at 350º for 30-40 minutes.