Make Ahead Southwestern Shepherd's Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep shepherd's pie in the fridge before cooking? ›

You can prepare the entire shepherd's pie up to two days in advance, cover and refrigerate. Add 15 to 20 minutes to the baking time if the casserole goes straight from the refrigerator to the oven.

PREP, FREEZE AND BAKE:

Place prepared, unbaked pie in the refrigerator until completely cooled. Wrap cooled pie in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label with contents and date; place in freezer.

How do you keep shepherds pie from falling apart? The eggs in the mashed potatoes help keep the pie together. You should also make sure to spread the potatoes and press down a bit.

To properly reheat shepherd's pie in the oven, wrap the dish in foil, then place it in an oven at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. If you're reading this, chances are you have a delicious shepherd's pie stored in your freezer or fridge, and you're looking for the ideal method to heat it.

Freshly baked shepherd's pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge; refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. To freeze: wrap shepherd's pie tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place in heavy-duty freezer bag.

If you're making them a day in advance, you can put them in the fridge. When you're ready to serve the potatoes, heat the cream (or milk or stock, as the case may be in your recipe) in a saucepan until it comes to a boil. Add the premade mashed potatoes and fold them into the hot liquid.

A good shepherd's – or indeed cottage – pie, needs a solid, but fluffy top: too much milk or butter, and you'll end up with a sloppy puree instead.

Shepherd's pie not quite defrosted.... would you??

Have you got a microwave? Well you can just cook it (you can cook things from frozen!!!) . Cook it until it is piping hot throughout, so when steam comes out when you poke a spoon in the middle. If it's already cooked then there's no problem.

Schmidt tells us that, for best results, you can keep mashed potatoes in "a freezer set to 0°F or colder" for "up to one year." At this temperature and for this length of time, frozen mashed potatoes can be thawed and reheated without losing texture or flavor (and without risking the transmission of foodborne bacteria) ...

A large oven proof Le Creuset, metal handled frying pan or enamel coated cast iron pan works well. Or you can cook your meat in a frying pan and then transfer it to a ceramic or glass lasagna dish to bake. Alternatively you can make individual pies in ramekins or small ovenproof dishes.

How do you stop mashed potatoes from sinking shepherd's pie? ›

OUR TOP TIPS. To get really smooth, creamy mash, use a potato ricer or sieve. To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one.

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

Remove the baking dish from the oven, sprinkle a few extra herbs on top if you would like, then dish up your servings while the shepherd's pie is still nice and warm. Or store the pie in sealed containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Thicken the filling

The concentrated tomatoes disperse and lightly thicken the beef stock. The flour is stirred with the meat and then swells and reduces as the liquid simmers. These add body to the dish, so it's not runny when served.

How to Store Meat Pie. Store your leftover meat pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat thoroughly in the oven or in the microwave.

Factors that Affect the Shelf Life of Pie

Pies with cream, custard, or meat require refrigeration and typically last up to 3-4 days. Fruit pies, on the other hand, stay fresh at room temperature for a couple of days and can last about a week when refrigerated.

The BBC good food's home economist Steffi recommends keeping leftover mash in the fridge for up to three days.

You need to cool it relatively quickly though - hot food shouldn't sit around for more than a couple of hours. Place the dish in cool water (obviously not over the lip of the dish) and change the water a couple of times as the pie warms it, then cover and put in the fridge or freezer.