Grandma's Cauliflower Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my cauliflower cheese go watery after? ›

Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if its in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery.

How long can you keep Cauliflower Cheese in the fridge? Once you've put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours. If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Cauliflower Cheese in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

Why is my cauliflower au gratin watery? Cauliflower is made up of mostly water and it's released when you cook them. It's important to remove as much moisture as possible from the cauliflower before mixing it with the cheese or your au gratin recipe will be water (no one wants that).

Cooked cauliflower florets keep their shape best when steamed (5-10 mins) – remember to place them upright in the steamer. It can also be boiled (takes 5-10 mins for florets; around 10 mins for a whole cauliflower). For both cooking methods, test regularly with the tip of a knife to make sure they don't overcook.

The trick with cauliflower is: Don't cook it till is too soft. just 4 or 5 minutes but taste to be sure. then drain into a colander, (sieve with big holes) and leave to drain for a few minutes, asking every minute. tap dry with a little kitchen paper or a clean tea towel.

Our top recommendation is cheese paper. Cheese paper is the waxy paper your cheese often comes in when you get it from your local cheesemonger. Coated in both wax and a porous layer of plastic on the inside, cheese paper allows your cheese to breathe without being totally exposed and losing its precious moisture.

It can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to cook. It is possible to freeze cauliflower cheese but unfortunately the sauce can sometimes turn thin and sligtly watery on defrosting, so we prefer not to freeze the dish if at all possible.

Cauliflower cheese is a dairy-based product, and in its unopened store-bought form, it's typically good for about a week past the 'sell by' or 'use by' date printed on the package.

Freezing cauliflower is a great way to avoid waste. It will also make the cooking time quicker when you come to cook it from frozen. Like most vegetables, if frozen raw, the texture, taste, colour and nutritional value deteriorates, so make sure you blanch it to preserve these elements.

Cook your cauliflower cheese at the right temperature, otherwise your cheese sauce can split. If your cheese sauce splits before that, it can be down to leaving it out too long, or you've boiled the sauce. If this happens, add a splash of milk or cream and whisk vigorously and it should come back to life.

How do you fix watery gratin? ›

Try letting the dish rest for 10 minutes or so to let the water get absorbed and let the sauce thicken. Try cooking your recipe longer. Try uncovering the dish in the oven for the last 10 minutes or so.

Fuzziness is caused by the lengthening of the leafy floral bracts of the bud or flower giving the surface of the curd a velvety or hairy appearance. It frequently develops around the edges of the curd before appearing on other portions.

Cauliflower heads should reach 6 to 8 inches in diameter before they are ready to harvest. The heads should be compact and firm. Heads may be smaller but already opening up and should therefore still be harvested. Course texture means the plant is over mature, and it should be pitched.

Season the florets with salt and pepper, and cover the pot. Let them steam until the tip of a knife or fork can be inserted easily without resistance, 8 to 10 minutes, depending on size. The ideal steamed cauliflower should read al dente, never mushy.

Oxidation is simply the natural change in the vegetable's color due to prolonged exposure to light and air. It's the same change that occurs when the flesh of sliced apples turns brown, and when ground meat turns gray.

Soggy cauliflower wings can result from excess batter or overcrowding on the baking sheet. Be sure to shake off excess batter before baking, and give each floret enough space to allow for proper air circulation. Baking on a wire rack can also help prevent sogginess.

Cauliflower that is overcooked will lose up to 50% of its vitamins and minerals. If you want a healthy meal, cook it for just a few minutes less.

For one, it doesn't absorb liquid like rice does, so riced cauliflower alongside stews and curries will be more watery.

The Secret to a Non-Soggy Crust

Once your cauliflower is tender and “riced” you'll need to squeeze out the moisture that cauliflower naturally contains. This is the secret to getting a dry crust that you can pick up with your hands.