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baking cheesy potatoes in a large electric roaster
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sandra
06/13/07
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We are holding a supper for our town that will be serving around 200 people. I need the amounts of ingredients needed for cheesy potatoes for this many people and how long to cook in a large electric roaster and if more than one is needed. thank you
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ellen
06/13/07
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Yes you will need 4 or at least 3 roasters to do these potatoes. Do you want the recipe with frozen hash browns/tater tots (easy), or the one that is sort of like scalloped potatoes with fresh potatoes in a cheesy sauce (cheap)?
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sandra
06/13/07
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I will be using the recipe for hash brown potatoes---could I get the amounts needed for this recipe---for 200 people,using the hash browns,soup,etc.
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ellen
06/13/07
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Well, I have held off posting this recipe because there are so many variations available on the web, but I am working on electric roaster recipes now, so will post one.
This recipe has quite a few variations. Most folks agree that without the sour cream it is pretty dry, or they double up the canned soup. I often use home made thick white sauce, made with 1/2 beef or chicken broth and 1/2 milk, in place of the soup- or at least I use the low fat, low sodium family size cream of mushroom in plce of regular.
It really matters how cold the mix is to start. If you mixed and refrigerated the night before, it takes about 3 1/2 hours to cook. If the soup/sauce etc is room temp, at least 2 hours.
Electric Roaster Hash Brown Potato Casserole
One roaster (serves 60)
* 5 (2 pound) packages frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed overnight in the refrigerator
* 1-1/2 cups melted butter
* 5 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom, celery or chicken soup
* 5 (8 ounce) containers sour cream
* 2-1/2 cups chopped onions, sauteed in butter until tender but not brown
OPTIONAL, chopped celery or bell pepper cooked with the onions
* 2 1/2 pounds (10 cups) shredded Cheddar cheese, Colby cheese or blends (see note above)
* 1 tablespoon salt
* 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
OPTIONAL, 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
OPTIONAL, crushed garlic or garlic powder to taste
OPTIONAL, 5 small cans green chilies
* 5 cups French fried onion bits for topping
1. Spray the inside of the roaster with a heavy coating of non-stick spray. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine hash browns, 1/2 cup melted butter. Make sure hash browns are thawed as per recipe instructions. Pour melted butter/margarine over the potatoes and mix. Then add the cheese and mix. Lastly add the rest of the ingredients.
3. Pour into the roaster, holding back the topping till later.
4. Bake in the electric roaster covered for at least 1 hour, 40 minutes, up to 3 hours if the mix was cold/refrigerated to start with. Sprinkle on the onions,cover, bake 20 minutes longer.
Here are more Variations:
Add some chopped or minced green pepper, or some cooked and crumbled bacon.
About halfway through baking, place more cheese on top and finish baking until the cheese is nicely browned.
***White Sauce***
1 gallon whole milk, warmed but not boiling (or use 1/2 beef stock)
10 ounces flour, may need a little more
1 pound unsalted butter or margarine
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 1/2 tablespoon salt
White pepper (optional)*
Topping with the French fried onion bits is my preference, as the electric roaster does not give a crisp finish to the top. But you MUST wait till about 20 minutes before serving, or they will get limp.
Cracker Barrel uses Colby cheese. My current favorite blend is the Kraft Mexican blend and Italian blend, 1/2 and 1/2. No spices in this, just many creamy, flavorful cheeses.
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sandra
06/13/07
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thank you for your quick response and break down of ingredients---will certainly make my job alot easier on that day!!!!!!!!
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Sandra
06/28/07
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just making sure,are the ingredients listed above the amount needed for one roaster? thank you
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ellen
06/28/07
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Yes, that is the list for 1 roaster.
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Rita
07/07/08
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Hello,
Do you think one recipe of this size will be enough for a graduation party of approx. 100 ppl where lasagna, chicken breasts, taco salad, ham, fruits, veggies and desserts will also be served?
Thank you and I love this site!!
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ellen
07/07/08
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Yes, as long as there is plenty of lasagna.
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brenda
07/31/08
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Can you use the cube potatoes for this recipe?
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ellen
08/01/08
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The really tiny ones that are basically diced are OK, but most people use shredded.
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brenda
08/02/08
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Would the cooking time be the same for the small cubes as the shredded?
I am not sure that you can get the real small cubes, would I be better off with the shredded?
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ellen
08/02/08
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Yes, shredded. Same time. It is preferred by most (just ask the folks at Cracker barral how many tons they sell)>
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Joel
08/04/08
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The cubed do not cook as well.
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brenda
08/11/08
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I found diced potatoes, do these work better than the cubed?
Can you use different soups or should you use all one kind?
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ellen
08/11/08
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Neither diced nor cubed works as well as shredded, but diced is smaller than cubed. You can mix soups. I think some mushroom improves the dish.
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Karrie
08/22/08
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I always use the cubed and it always turns out great! I never use the shredded but my recipe is just slightly different. If I did a double batch of these how long would it take in a roaster? What is the degree that you cook these on 350 or less?
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ellen
08/23/08
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karrie, how is the recipe different and how many pounds of potatoes in a double batch? If it is quite similar, use the cooking times in the recipe posted above. It makes 1 roaster full using 10 pounds of potatoes. If you doubled you would need two roasters.
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Jody
09/05/08
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I've never made cheesey potatoes in a roaster. I need to make to feed 35-50 people. Please help.
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ellen
09/05/08
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This is too big a range to do accurately. I would make one roaster full- the recipe above that uses 10 pounds shredded frozen potatoes would be fine.
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Jody
09/06/08
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Thanks for the response.
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Carol Mitchell
09/06/08
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making au gratin potaoes for fify in electic roast
How do I prepare au gratin potatoes (not hash browns) and what temp. and how long in an electric roaster
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ellen
09/06/08
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The roaster holds 4-5 times the amount of 1 9x13 dish, or about 12 quarts.
Use the cookwell (the removeable pan). Spray it well with nonstick, or use your preferred pan-greasing method.
Sprinkle it with grated Parmesan cheese to add to the coating, set aside.
Use baking potatoes if you want creamy, new potatoes if you want chunky. Most peope prefer baking-type. Cut into very uniform slices or chunks. The only way I know to shorten the cooking time is to partially precook the potatoes and be sure the sauce /milk is heated when you popur it on, see below.
Make/layer the recipe in the cookwell, thew depth should be 4 inches , not much more.
Have the sauce or milk hot. If it is cold, or you make the dish in advance and refrigerate it before cooking, you add several hours (at least 2) to the cooking time!
Preheat the oven for 20 minutes to 325/350 degrees. Hotter than this, the edges will dry/burn before the middle cooks.
Allow 3 hours cooking time, more if cold. Cook covered. Use a quick read thermometer, if it gets to 180 in the middle before you are ready to serve, turn down to 200 and keep warm.
COOKING TIME VARIES. Depends on the type of potato, the size of the chunks, slices, etc.
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Colleen Burkholtz
11/26/08
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10 large potatoes equals approx. how many pounds?
I just need to know approx. how many large potatoes are in a 5 pound bag?
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ellen
11/26/08
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Usually, they don't pack large potatoes in bags. A large potato is about 8-10 ounces (though they come as big as a pound), so 10 is 5-6 pounds. Bag potatoes usually have more, smaller, potatoes.
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Laurie
01/22/09
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How much onion powder would you add if you didn't want to use onions?
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ellen
01/23/09
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I am not the person to ask. I don't like onion powder and never use it. Frozen diced onions would be a much better choice in this dish.
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yvonne
02/07/09
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So,When you bake these are you baking them in a regular oven and then transferring them to the roaster to keep them warm or baking them in the electric roaster?
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ellen
02/07/09
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These large recipes are baked directly in the cookwell of the roaster. Of course you can also cook a 9x13 pan on the rack in the roaster.
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Bert Meyer
02/28/09
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Thank you! I knew how to make them, just did not know how much per roaster.
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Linda
03/02/09
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Hello,
Thank you for the cheesy potatoe recipe for the roaster. I have always made them in a 9 x 13 pan and in the oven, so this information is very helpful. The only question that I have is instead of using frozen hashbrowns, I was going to use fresh pototoes and shred them myself. The pototoes usually get brown as you are shredding them. Do you know what I can do to the potatoes to avoid the potatoes browning? Thanks for your help.
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ellen
03/02/09
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Yes. This is caused by oxidation of the raw enzymes, Grate into ice water, then blanch in boiling water and you can do them ahead. The blanching will also help the texture of the finished dish. I would be SURE to drain very well as the frozen potatoes give off quite a bit less liquid than fresh.
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Kaye
03/24/09
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baking cheesy potatoes in a 9 x 13 pan
Hi, Im serving lunch for about 40-50 people, how many 9x 13 pans of cheesy potatoes will I need?
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ellen
03/25/09
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About 5 depending on the rest of the menu and how hungry they are.
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Laura
03/25/09
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Hi Ellen,
I am noticing your recipe is very similar to Geri's but yours uses 5 less cans of soup (hers has 5 chicken and 5 mushroom). Your has the cup and a half of butter, hers doesn't. Everything else is pretty much the same. Would hers be more liquidy? I am getting ready to make this Saturday and wondering which way to go.
thanksS!
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ellen
03/25/09
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About the same- up to you.
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marcia
04/09/09
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I've got people coming over on consecutive days. Does anyone know what happens if I mix up the recipe ahead of time. I might want to make both batches at the same time. So, if I mix it up two days ahead of time will it affect the recipe when I bake it?
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ellen
04/09/09
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It will add to the cooking time because it has been in the refrigerator. You might also have a little trouble with the potatoes darkening, especially if you try to use fresh.
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Bethany Vaughn
04/27/09
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Making mashed potatoes for 50-60
We are planning on cooking a meal at the homeless shelter and one thing on the menu is mashed potatoes. How many pounds would I need to feed 50-60 people?
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ellen
04/28/09
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I use 35 to 40 pounds of potatoes to make for 100, so assuming 60, about 26 pounds.
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Darlene
05/12/09
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I use crushed corn flakes mixed with melted butter for the topping of the cheesy potatoes.Would I add that the last 40 minutes also?
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ellen
05/13/09
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If doing in the roaster, add only the last 15 minutes and put a clean, cotton dishtowel right on top. Roasters cook very moist and that topping can get soggy.
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ruth
06/26/09
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do you have a recipe for making home made hash brown potatoes, and freezing them
thanks ruth
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ellen
06/27/09
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Did you see this recipe for freeezer hashbrowns? But do read the intro at the top of the page, it has useful additional hints.
www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/oamc/potatoes.html#hashbrowns
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Debbie Pope
09/16/09
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Here are some helpful hints!!
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Shirley Free
10/21/09
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How to bake potatoes in 18 qt. GE Roaster Oven
How do you bake potatoes in a large roaster oven without burning up granite.
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ellen
10/21/09
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I am a little unclear about this question. I bake them just as I do in a regular oven, with the rack on the bottom and normal temps.
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Sally Starko
10/26/09
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would you please e-mail me how many ingredients (quanity) for 30-50 people for cheesy potatoe casserole made in electric roaster or in how many crockpots with directions on how to prepare.
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ellen
10/26/09
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I will not email, as you can get this recipe on site at the bottom of the festive family brunch article.
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kristi
12/14/09
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what is the recipe if I am feeding 20 people? I am in charge of the side dish...
Thanks!
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ellen
12/14/09
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One recipe (2 pounds potatoes) makes a full 9x13 pan, I would make 2 for 20 people if it was the main side dish. The recipe is on the brunch for 100 page, at the bottom.
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Jean
12/26/09
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I am making these potatoes as we speak for a party tomorrow. I am planning on reheating them in the morning. Will this be a problem? How long at at what temp should I reheat them.
Thanks so much. This site was very helpful
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ellen
12/26/09
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Well, I would not have cooked these ahead, as they are tastier if not reheated. The time depends on how big a pan- 9x13 or cookwell? Make sure they are tightly covered, cook anywhere from 325-400, temp in the middle 180 before serving.
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mary t
02/26/10
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Do you have any other recipes posted that I can cook in the electric roaster? Can I basically take any recipe and multiply it until it fits into the roaster?
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ellen
02/27/10
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Almost anything that can be cooked in an oven or crock pot can be cooked in a roaster. Did you have something in particular in mind?
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jana
03/10/10
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I am looking for recipes for cooking a in turkey roaster for large groups (170-200). Can I do something like fill the roaster with whole potatos, stacked on top of each other? How many would fit and how long at what temp?
Can I do taco meat.. Bacon... Sausage.. in big bulk in a roaster? How about large amounts of corn on the cob?
I tried a different recipe for hash brown casserole and must have made every rookie mistake in the book. Started frozen, temp too high, not enough cooking time. Soupy looking.Now I have to figure out what to do with 4 9x13 pans of edible/not delectable potatoes! Thanks for being on the web as I may have given up by now if not for you.
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jana
03/10/10
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Oops, one more question...do you have a seperate section for recipes that are tailor made for turkey roasters? That would probably answer most of my questions.
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ellen
03/10/10
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Hi, Jana,
One roaster only does about 50-60 people's worth of a food (except soup, where you can get 90-100), so you are talking several, probably 4 for that size group. 20 pounds of food/meat/whatever is about the limit, and you need to fill no more that 2/3 full if you are using as giant crock pots. That's about 13 gallons.
I don't have a turkey roaster section, probably need one...
As to those potatoes:
I would chop up and sizzle up a BUNCH of celery and onions, cook out all the "wet"; crush up a pound or two of ritz crackers or equivalent; shred and sizzle some carrots or bell pepper for color and thaw 2 pounds of sweet corn and a pound of peas. Mix this all up, mix with the potatoes and serve as a veggie casserole.
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Kathy Walker
03/23/10
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I am using Betty Crocker (8)boxed mixes to make cheesy (augratin) potaotes for 60 in an electric roaster. Could you provide some hints. I liked spaying the liner and using parmesian cheese. I was wondering how long should I plan to bake them in the roaster? In addition, should I add more liquids in case them cook down? Thanks for your assistance
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ellen
03/23/10
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I have never used these. They should bake about as a pan this size would in a regular oven, which is to say, lower the heat 25 and cook longer so the edges don't burn before the middle gets done. Allow at least 1/2 hour extra. Check the temp in the middle with a quick read thermometer, you want 180. Then turn down the roaster to 180. DO stir occasionally, especially until they thicken up; roasters heat differently than ovens and you want to move the stuff in the middle to the edges and the bottom to the top. Do NOT add extra liquid unless you check them and they are getting dry.
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Jan
03/28/10
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I need a recipe for cheesy hashbrowns in an electric roaster for 35 people. Can you help me?
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Tricia
03/29/10
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I am looking to make scalloped/cheesy potatoes in a large roaster for 35 people. Do you have any recipes? We are looking for a tasty side dish with ham for Easter. Thanks!
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ellen
03/29/10
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This recipe is the last one on the festive family brunch page:
www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/brunch100.html
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Tam
04/05/10
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For Roaster Oven Hashbrown Casserole, is there any way to shorten the cooking time? Could you pre-cook the hashbrowns so the are starting to brown, cool, then combine ingredients when ready to place in roaster? Would like to be able to cook this in 90 minutes if possible.
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ellen
04/06/10
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I have not done this. If I were trying to do it, I would heat all the sauce ingredients together on the top of the stove till bubbly and stir in the cheese, also saute the mushrooms or other added veggie bit (bell pepper, onion, etc) until tender, then add the meat bits, so they are all hot. Meanwhile, letting the potatoes heat in the oven, then pour the sauce on as soon as bubbly hot and stir in the veggies and meats. This should get your cooking time down sufficiently.
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Tam
04/07/10
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Thanks for the tips. Doing this outside for a scout campout breakfast. Limited in my ability to heat up, etc. Plan B is dutch oven cooking of the casserole. Do love this website. Very helpful.
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Tam
05/18/10
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im making the frozen potatoes for a grad party, planning for 300 peoole, was planning on making 3 crockpots with your recipe would that be enough?
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Tam
05/19/10
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Sorry I meant 3 roasters that Im going to cook them in
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ellen
05/19/10
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The roaster only holds enough for about 60- so you need more than three- or if it is a come and go type party, you can refill the cookwell with a fresh pan full that has been held in the regular oven.
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KElly
05/21/10
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Hi Ellen, I think I want to try to triple the recipe as suggested and do the potatoes in 2 roasters. This would be 18 quart roasters correct?
Also since it will probably be more than 4 inches deep in the pan do I need to stir and if so, how often would you reccommend?
IF I coat the pans with pam and the parm cheese when I stir do I need to be careful to not touch the sides of the pan?
Many Thanks for all of your help~ KElly
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ellen
05/21/10
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This looks about right and you are correct that not scraping the sides is desirable. Start stirring after about 1/2 hour, sideds to middle, bottom to top. Stir only about each 1/2 hour. Allow at least 2 hours for the cooking- the stirring make it take longer.
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Tammy
05/31/10
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I am needing to make party potatoes for a wedding for around 450 people... do you think that I could use the roasters for this
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ellen
05/31/10
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Yes. You can do about 60 people's worth in one full cookwell.
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ellen
05/31/10
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Be SURE the potatoes are thawed in the fridge, or it will take forever to cook.
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Debbie
06/08/10
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My father turns 70 this weekend and I am cooking the food for the party. I have decided to cook "Cheesy Hash browns." I have large aluminum removeable pans for the roasters. I plan on cooking them in the oven first and using the roasters to keep them warm. I doubt the potatoes will be at room temp but instead just coming out of the refrigerator. How long will I have to cook them? How often should I stir the potatoes? If I use a thermometer, what temp should the middle be to be considered done?
Thanks
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ellen
06/09/10
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To hold, set the roasters at 180 and preheat covered 20 minutes.
To cook the potatoes in the oven, they are very forgiving, anywhere from 325 to 425, ti9me depends on temp and how thick the poatoes are in the pan. Covered for the first 3/4 of the time. Temp in the middle, 180, then turn down to 180 to hold. In the oven, covered, they do not have to be stirred.
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chris
06/09/10
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Hi, We are supposed to bring cheesy potatos for 50-60 people to a family reunion this weekend. We would like to use baking potatos. (No frozen items) We want to cook these in large aluminum roasting pans in the oven. What ingredients (cheese, onions, soup, etc) do we need, how much and what are the directions for cooking them this way? Thanks
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jane
06/15/10
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I will be doing 5 batches of cheesy potatoes in my electric roster this coming weekend. It is a fairly new roster but when I cook in it, the sides tend to burn while the food in the middle isn't all the way cooked yet. I am afraid of the constant stirring (to stop the burning) will make the potatoes mushy. Any tips?
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ellen
06/15/10
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Chris, I'm sorry I did not find this in time for the weekend- you can use grated fresh potatoes.
Jane, how about cooking them in the oven and then serving in the roaster? Stirring does not make the potatoes mushy unless you keep stirring after they are cooked- use a large paddle or spatula and do a scrape and lift motion from the walls to the center. Also, PREHEAT the roaster at least 20 minutes with the lid on, or the sides stay too hot while they try to reach the temperature., or the
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Jana
06/17/10
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Thanks for the helpful info. I need to bake potatoes for 160 people at a campout (for a potato bar) and was wondering if I could do them in an electric Roaster (like a nesco). I've heard it's been done before but can't find any info on it. Obviously, I'd need several roasters but I was wondering if I could stack them on on top of the other and just cook at a low temp?
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ellen
06/17/10
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Read the potato bar page for sure.
You can do only about 15 pounds per roaster. Preheat. Put a rack in the bottom. Don't forget to stick each one with a fork.
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Janet
06/21/10
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I am making cheese potatoes for a grad party
I want to know if I make my cheese potatoes in the oven the night before and put them in a crock pot the next day will they hold up? I am having an open house from 2 - 7 and don't want them to be ice cold and spoiled by the end of the event.
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ellen
06/22/10
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If you are only making one crock-worth, why not just make in the crock pot that day? If the question is, can you use the crock as a sort of chafing dish, the answer is yes, but the potato casserole must be HOT (over 160) when it goes into the pot, which you should preheat with hot water in the crock before adding potatoes.
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Jessica
06/28/10
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Hi,
I am having a grad party for my son and i wanted to make cheesy potatoes I was wondering what a good recipe was for 80 people??
Thanks
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ellen
06/28/10
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The one at the bottom of my festive family brunch page.
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carrie
07/07/10
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I've been reading these post and not sure bout cooking.. When you cook the potatoes can you do it in the roaster all the time or do have to cook them in the oven? Also how many Lbs of potatoes do you need per roaster?
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ellen
07/10/10
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You can do it either way. You do about 15 pounds of potatoes per roaster, max; I like to stick to 10-12 if possible.
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Jana
07/19/10
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Just a follow up on my roaster experience. I made taco meat, and black beans ahead of time and froze them. The day before serving I put them in the fridge to thaw. I reheated the meat in the roaster adding the taco seasoning and water as per directions, on low heat...200-300 depending on the roaster. It was also no problem to reheat the black beans I'd made and frozen earlier. We used them for a Taco Bar along with Mexican Rice, tortillas, nacho chips and fixings. Was a big hit with our campers. For the taco meat I put the meat into the roaster and enough water to keep from burning the sides, about 1-2 inches below the meat surface. After it was cooked I just drained off the water and bagged into freezer bags and put in freezer. Easy! And campers loved it. I believe I had about 20 lbs of meat per roaster. Hope this helps someone else out there. We also used the roasters to warm up quiches, baked beans, ect to serving temperature. Thanks for all your help, this was our foodie adventure!
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ellen
07/19/10
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Congratulations and especially thanks for bring back the followup. This is very helpful to me, as well as our readers.
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