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Lasagna being layered in a glass baking dish

Home The Ark Kitchen Casserole Planner

Free kitchen tool

Casserole Planner

Tell me how many people you're feeding and when you want to eat. I'll suggest a dish size, how many portions to expect and the timings for baking tonight, making ahead or freezing.

Photo: alleksana / Pexels

When do you want to eat it?

Your plan

Use an 8x8 inch dish (20x20 cm). It holds about 2 quarts or 1.9 litres and serves about 4 to 6. You need about 6 portions.

  1. Bake at around 180°C / 350°F, following your recipe.
  2. Check the centre is bubbling and hot all the way through: 74°C / 165°F for dishes with meat, eggs or leftovers.

Timings are general guidance for home cooks. Always follow your recipe and check food is piping hot in the middle.

Casseroles to try

How the Casserole Planner works

Choose how many people you’re feeding, how hungry they are and whether you’d like leftovers. The planner estimates how many portions you need and suggests a dish that fits, using typical capacities: an 8×8 inch dish holds about 2 quarts and serves 4 to 6, and a 9×13 inch dish holds about 3.5 quarts and serves 10 to 12.

Then pick when you want to eat. You’ll get simple steps for baking tonight, making it a day ahead or freezing it for later, with reheating times that match my guide on how to freeze and reheat a casserole. For the full chart of dish sizes, see casserole pan sizes and servings.

Good to know: these are general estimates for home cooks. Always follow your recipe, and make sure food is piping hot in the middle before serving.

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