Depends on the Ingredients

• You can freeze a bread-based casserole, depending on the other ingredients. The problem is that most bread-based casseroles contain ingredients that don't freeze particularly well. Eggs, cream cheese, sour cream and some vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, separate or become soggy when frozen. So, a savory breakfast casserole made from sour cream and eggs, for example, may become grainy or watery if you freeze it. You'll face similar challenges with a French toast casserole.

Casseroles That Work

• Although your favorite breakfast casserole may not freeze well, you'll find plenty of other bread-based casseroles that freeze beautifully. Freeze stuffing made from dried bread, sausage, pecans or dried nuts and seasonings. You an also freeze a casserole that contains dried bread crumbs. Another option is to freeze some components of a casserole, but combine the ingredients immediately before baking. For example, bread cubes and cooked chicken freeze beautifully, but creamy sauces don't. Freeze the bread and chicken, but don't mix them with the sauce until later. Don't limit yourself to just bread. You can freeze many grain-based casseroles, such as lasagna, baked ziti, macaroni and cheese or wild rice pilaf. You can even freeze cereal grains, such as cooked steel-cut oats.

Into the Freezer

• When you're freezing bread-based casseroles, combined ingredients tend to hold up better than single ingredients. For example, you can freeze a lasagna that contains a ricotta and egg filling because the noodles, meat and sauce make it more stable. Pack the casserole into heavy-duty freezer bags or freezer containers. Seal the containers tightly and label them with the date. Freeze to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Use frozen casseroles within two months for the best quality. They'll stay safe indefinitely, but quality begins to decline after a few weeks.

Dinner's Ready

• When it's time to reheat the casserole, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. You can also bake a casserole frozen, but increase the baking time by 50 percent. Add moisture if the casserole seems dry. For example, add a bit of chicken broth or water to stuffing or milk or cream to a creamy casserole. Bake the casserole covered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until it's completely heated through and a thermometer inserted in the center of the casserole registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also microwave small portions for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir the casserole before serving and make sure it's heated through.