If you are stockpiling casseroles such as lasagne, it can be hard to judge just how long it takes to defrost them before cooking.

For food safety reasons, you should always defrost frozen food in the refridgerator, unless the recipe specifies otherwise. For a dish such as lasagne, a full 24 hours defrost time is needed. Fortunately, if you take it out the night before, it should be fine to bake the following evening for dinner, just pay attention to the center to ensure it is fully cooked.