Can I make a cheese sauce in advance?

[makemineacherrybrandy]

I am having friends over for dinner tonight and am just working out the timings and not sure how I'm going to do it. Can I make the sauce for the cauliflower cheese in advance and then rewarm it when it goes in the oven? We're doing a murder party so my timings are crucial!

Yes, just put some greaseproof paper over the surface to stop a skin forming.

Thank you Lougle. Do I need to heat it again before pouring it over the cauliflower and it going in the oven or can I put on cold?

I'd gently reheat it, as it is likely to have thickened up while cold (and thus difficult to spread over cauli), but you shouldn't need to add any more milk as reheating it should make it runnier again (but you can add a little milk if it seems too thick after reheating)....hope that makes sense!

Can you freeze cheese sauce and re-heat it? I just couldn't be arsed trying to do it on Xmas Day, but c cheese is a definite fave.

Yes, you can freeze cheese sauce. DH always makes way too much and I shove the extra in the freezer.

I have made the whole dish early ie the cauli as well then just added some crumbs and dotted butter and popped under grill to brown and heat through when needed.

Ah thank you.

I would think that you just need to be a little careful when reheating it, not to overheat it, or it can curdle. I famously did this one Christmas day, and got sent round to the milkman in the next road to ask for another pint of milk. Made a lasting impression on me!