Overnight Egg Strata Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does strata have to sit overnight? ›

Letting the strata sit in the fridge overnight saturates the flavor and means less dirty dishes in the morning!

Use cooking oil spray to grease the underside of the aluminum foil you will use to cover the strata, then crimp it tightly around the edges. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, and up to 12 hours before baking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

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

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.

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.

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.

As a general rule, you should allow the Strata to rest for at least one hour before baking. But, of course, it can rest for up to 18 hours, so it's the perfect overnight breakfast casserole to make the night before a big family event!

The rule of thumb? You can leave eggs on the counter about two hours at room temperature or one hour if the temperature is 90 degrees F or hotter before you start to worry, per the Egg Safety Center. After two hours, you'd be safer to throw those eggs out and get a fresh dozen rather than chance it.

Yes, you can make this breakfast casserole a day ahead, or freeze it to bake another day! To make one day ahead of time, prepare everything as directed, up until baking. Cover the casserole and store it (unbaked) in the refrigerator overnight or up to one day. Bake in the morning, according to recipe instructions.

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.

What is the difference between a frittata and a strata? ›

A frittata is similar to a quiche without the crust, and is often described as a thick omelette packed with ingredients like vegetables, cheese or ham. A strata is a breakfast casserole made with eggs and bread and is often described as an easy-to-make, savoury bread pudding.

High heat cooks the outside faster than the inside, leaving the middle uncooked. Reducing the temperature distributes heat more evenly, allowing the middle to cook through. If uncooked in the center then cover at the same temperature and ad 15 minutes before checking again.

Yes! You can assemble this casserole the night before, wrap it tightly and then refrigerate until the next morning. Then, bake according to recipe directions.

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.

In addition to the safety concerns posed by Salmonella and other bacteria, keeping eggs at room temperature can have negative effects on their protein content. "Eggs stored at room temperature dry out and lose protein quality, even when they remain microbiologically safe to eat.

Pro-Tip: The strata can be prepared and baked up to two days in advance and reheated the morning of. To reheat the Make Ahead Breakfast Strata, remove it from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature while the oven preheats to 375 F.

Strata levies paid by apartment owners are up by 15 to 20 per cent on average over the past year as the costs of insurance, utilities and repairs and maintenance outstrip even the rapid rise in general inflation. Apartment owners are facing an increase in strata fees on top of rises in mortgage repayments.

What is strata? A strata scheme is a building or group of buildings that has been divided into 'lots' such as an apartment, townhouse or villa. When you buy a lot, you also share ownership of common property with other lot owners. This may include shared gardens, external walls, roofs, driveways and stairwells.

The pros of strata investing

High demand from renters If the complex you're buying into has all the mod cons, such as a pool and gym, you shouldn't have any trouble securing renters. If you buy in a popular area you might also expect good capital growth over time.