make ahead/freeze enchiladas, baked ziti, etc

[Anonymous]

In advance of an upcoming surgery, I’d like to make ahead and freeze chicken enchiladas, ground beef baked ziti, dishes like these that included chicken/meat, cheeses and sauces.

Do I simply tightly wrap up the dishes in aluminum foil once fully cooked and cooled down, and place in freezer?

Or is it better to freeze the dishes fully prepared but UNcooked?

In either event, will the cheese reheat well after being frozen? That isn’t a food I usually store in the freezer.

Thanks for your tips.

[Anonymous]

Americas test kitchen has a good “make ahead” cookbook!

[Anonymous]

First of all, kudos to you for preparing your own food and not having all your coworkers donate $50 so that you can doordash with abandon!

I've found that you might as well freeze unbaked. The longest time is to get the casserole up from frozen, and then bake time is always that 25 minutes, with 10 minutes or so at a higher temp at the end to really brown your cheese!

Don't waste the time baking now UNLESS you want to do small portions. You can bake, separate and freeze and re-warm in the air fryer. otherwise, just do as the first suggestion. Give yourself lots of time for dinner....

[Anonymous]

See if your library has americas test kitchen “make ahead” or “cover and bake” cookbooks. I used to do this all the time. It depends on the recipe whether you cook halfway or completely etc.

[Anonymous]

Door dash is so gross anyway. I would be making and freezing chicken soup.

[Anonymous]

I like to put parchment paper on things that are likely to stick to foil (like cheese) between the food and the foil.

[Anonymous]

Buy Rao’s frozen food. Yum.