Can I take this to a potluck?

[Country Girl]

I am supposed to go to a potluck tomorrow that is over an hour away and was planning on bringing my usual lasagna. The problem is that is will be approx. 2 hours from the time I take it out of my oven until I get there and we eat it. Is this too long? Is there anyway to keep it hot so it is good and more importantly, safe, to eat? Should I just scrap it and take something else?

Thanks!

[Leah]

I am supposed to go to a potluck tomorrow that is over an hour away and was planning on bringing my usual lasagna. The problem is that is will be approx. 2 hours from the time I take it out of my oven until I get there and we eat it. Is this too long? Is there anyway to keep it hot so it is good and more importantly, safe, to eat? Should I just scrap it and take something else?

Thanks!

Keeping anything hot for 2 hours would be tough. If you can make it in a crock pot and plug it in for an hour when you get there, then maybe it will be hot...? But I would have no concerns about it being safe to eat at that time. I don't mind cold lasagna!

If I really wanted to make sure my food tasted good for other people, I would probably make something cold instead just to be sure.

[OnTheBrink]

No, you may not. (I've always wanted to say that to someone in a thread) LOL

Seriously, unless you have a way to keep it hot, I'd take something else. Would you eat a lasagna that's been sitting out for 2 hours? You could, of course, get one of those insulated carriers for 9 x 13 dishes; I know those keep things hot for a while.

To me, though, I wouldn't want to chance it, so I'd opt for something else. :)

[Parrothead]

Put a bath towel, folded up, under it, and put one on top of it (hopefully it is a covered lasagna pan) and that should keep the heat in for quite some time.

[Julie in CA]

Here's the way.

Get a cooler that your lasagna pan will fit comfortably inside.
As your lasagna is baking, fill a stockpot with hot water and heat it on the stove just until it begins to boil.
Pour the hot water into the empty cooler and close the lid.
Right before you're about to take the lasagna out of the oven, (carefully) dump the hot water out of the cooler.
Put a layer of towels in the cooler, then your cooked lasagna, then another towel. Close the lid immediately.
The food will stay hot for a very long time as long as you keep the cooler lid closed.

I've done this for catering jobs where there was no on-site kitchen. The food stayed hot for hours.

Let us know how it goes if you try it!

[Country Girl]

I don't have time to respond properly but just wanted to say thanks to all for the suggestions. I think I'm going to try Julie's suggestions with the cooler. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks!

[Julie in CA]

I don't have time to respond properly but just wanted to say thanks to all for the suggestions. I think I'm going to try Julie's suggestions with the cooler. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks!

How did it go?

[Country Girl]

Julie,

It worked really well. It actually stayed hot, not just warm. Thanks for the tip, I will definitely do it again if I have a similar situation.

[JudoMom]

Julie,

It worked really well. I actually stayed hot, not just warm. Thanks for the tip, I will definitely do it again if I have a similar situation.

Wow! Thanks for letting us know, and thanks for the tip, Julie!

[Julie in CA]

Julie,

It worked really well. I actually stayed hot, not just warm. Thanks for the tip, I will definitely do it again if I have a similar situation.

I'm so SO glad!
I get so much help from this board, and I love it when I can actually help someone else! :)