Casserole is a scrumptious one-pot dish that is typically baked with three major components. First comes the layering with the pieces of freshly minced meat or fish, chopped vegetables and a starchy binder such as potatoes, flour and pasta. Once all the ingredients are assembled and layered well over each other, they are topped off with cheese or a crunchy topping before baking. Casseroles usually take an ample amount of time to cook but the final result is worth the wait and effort. The idea of casserole cooking as a one-dish meal emerged during the mid-19th century in the United States, when the new forms of lightweight metal and glass cookware appeared in the market. Casseroles finally became popular in the 20th century and have been loved by most people around the world ever since. There are a few common mistakes that most people make while making a casserole at home. Here are three hacks that can make you an expert at cooking and ace your homemade casserole.
1. Never forget to use a starchy binder
To prevent your dish from turning out to soggy and mushy after baking, it is recommended that you always make sure to use a starchy binder that can thicken the dish and prevent it from getting too watery. Usually liquid is released from the vegetables, so you can use cornstarch that acts as the perfect binder to any dish.
2. Always grease your baking dish evenly from all sides
This point is important to consider when it comes down to baking any dish. Always grease your baking dish well from all the sides using butter or oil. The choice is yours whether what you prefer to grease your dish with.
3. Never overfill the casserole
The next thing you must make sure is to never overfill your casserole. Add your ingredients in such a way that it doesn’t overfill the baking dish. Overfilling can sometimes ruin the dish so if you have a perfectly baked casserole dish then this is the ultimate tip to consider.
4. Remember to cover your casserole
You can bake a casserole either by covering it or leaving it uncovered. We suggest you to cover it with either a cellophane sheet or with an aluminum foil. What happens when you cover it with an aluminum foil is that it slows the cooking time which is good in the case of a casserole. Since casserole is a slow-cooked dish, covering it can help all the flavors to absorb well with each other and ultimately bring out the rich taste.
Check out this recipe if you are ready to make a casserole at home.