Do I freeze stuffed shells before baking them or after?

Question

Yesterday, I prepared 2 pans of stuffed shells (cooked and stuffed the shells, and put sauce and cheese on top), with the anticipation that we were having company last night and then again for this weekend. The plan was to bake one last night and the other when the other company was coming, but I found out after I put them together and in the fridge, that the other company isn't coming. So, I need to know if it's better to freeze the stuffed shells as they are now, or should I bake them first? Easy 10 points to the person who gives a thorough answer, and sites their source.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

If they already have the sauce and cheese, I would say bake them first. If they were just stffed with no sauce and cheese you could freeze before baking.

Answer 2

I would frozen them without the sauce and cheese, I would have added those right before baking if you were going to freeze.  

Answer 3

I recommend them as is...If you bake them now the shells will be over cooked when you reheat them.  Another approach is to put them on a sheet pan in the freezer so they do not touch. Freeze the sauce separately.  Once shells are frozen portion into individual servings so you can pull ot exactly what you need next time.

Answer 4

I freeze things such as lasagna or cabbage rolls unbaked.  Fully prepared, double wrapped (plastic wrap & tin foil), then partially thaw and fully bake before serving.  Because I don't fully thaw the food, I do add baking time (usually about a half hour).

I've done this many times but have included a website for reference, in case it helps you at all.  

Answer 5

freeze now, bake later...if u bake first they'll be soggy when u thaw them