Overnight Egg Strata Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to refrigerate strata overnight? ›

Does a strata have to sit overnight? No – this is a quick dish that can be made the morning of serving it. However, I do recommend letting it sit in the fridge overnight before eating. The flavors mend nicely and the egg has time to soak into the croutons.

(Just don't skip the sautéing. It's crucial because it cooks out excess liquid, which prevents the strata from becoming soggy.)

MAKE AHEAD: Strata improves when there is plenty of time for the bread to soak up the custard. Make this up to 12 hours ahead of baking. The strata will emerge from the oven puffed and gorgeous, then deflate. It can be served piping hot or at room temperature.

The casserole is covered and refrigerated overnight to allow the liquid ingredients to be absorbed into the bread. This is a perishable mixture and should be cooked the morning or day after assembly. Bake in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. Most recipes suggest 350 °F.

Do I have to let the egg strata sit overnight, or can I bake it straight away? Letting it rest overnight isn't necessary, but to ensure that all the liquid egg mixture soaked into the bread for the best texture, allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes, but an hour would be better.

Whisk the eggs, salt, pepper, milk, and cheese together. Evenly pour over sausage/vegetable mixture. Add another sprinkle of salt and pepper on top. Cover casserole with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.

This Strata Recipe makes a marvelous leftover meal! Once baked, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also wrap and freeze this overnight breakfast casserole for up to 3 months. Then thaw and reheat.

Cook or bake until a thermometer inserted at the center shows 160° F or a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. You may find it difficult to tell if a knife shows uncooked egg or melted cheese in some casseroles and other combination dishes that are thick or heavy and contain cheese – lasagna, for example.

Strata is otherwise known as “the breakfast casserole that your overnight guests will think you toiled away on all morning when in reality, you simply whipped it up the night before and just popped in the oven.” “Strata” is much shorter. Stratas are egg casseroles made with bread—lots of it.

Assemble your Strata, and Let it Sit

If you're not going to bake it right away (and you crisped up your bread pieces in the oven), cover it with foil and store it in the fridge overnight, then let it sit on the counter at least half an hour before baking so it's not so chilled.

What are the cons of strata? ›

The cons of strata titles

Owning a strata title property means that your neighbours are very close by. This isn't such a bad thing if they're nice and quiet, but if you get a loud bunch you may have to look into some sound proofing.

Can you make a casserole with raw egg and leave it uncooked overnight in the fridge? Yes, you can cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake uncovered the next day for 45 minutes or until the eggs are set. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover with foil.

Unfortunately as the strata contains what is effectively a savoury egg custard it does not freeze well either before or after baking. However you could probably assemble it up to 48 hours before it is needed, if this helps with your planning a little.

The USDA recommends that cooked eggs and egg dishes should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking and consumed within 3-4 days. Leaving cooked eggs out overnight at room temperature increases the risk of bacteria growth, which can lead to food poisoning.

Cover the casserole and store it (unbaked) in the refrigerator overnight or up to one day. Bake in the morning, according to recipe instructions. To freeze breakfast casserole prepare the recipe and add to your pan. Cover well with plastic wrap and then tinfoil and freeze for 2-3 months.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food and safety basics states cooked food can be left at room temperature up to two hours. If the temperature outside (or inside your house) is 90°F or above, you should cut that time in half.

Never leave cooked eggs or egg dishes out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours or for more than 1 hour when temperatures are above 90° F. Bacteria that can cause illness grow quickly at warm temperatures (between 40° F and 140° F).