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24-Hour “Omelet”

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 3, 2009

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

24-Hour “Omelet”

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for the baking dish10 slices high-quality white sandwich bread 12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)8 large eggs 3 cups whole milk 1 small onion, grated over the large holes of a box grater1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dry mustard ½ teaspoon hot sauce

Before You Begin

Be sure to use a hearty white sandwich bread; our favorite is Pepperidge Farm Hearty White bread. The omelet needs to sit in the refrigerator, well covered, for at least 8 hours in order to achieve the desired consistency, and it can be made up to 24 hours in advance.

Instructions

  1. Butter the bottom and sides of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish (or shallow casserole dish of similar size). Spread the butter evenly over 1 side of each bread slice. Cut the bread into 1-inch pieces. Scatter half of the bread evenly in the prepared dish and sprinkle with half of the cheddar. Repeat with the remaining bread and cheese.
  2. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until combined, then whisk in the milk, onion, salt, pepper, mustard, and hot sauce. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and press lightly on the bread to submerge.
  3. to store

  4. Wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.
  5. to serve

  6. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap the casserole and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 1 hour. Serve immediately.
24-Hour “Omelet”
Photography by Keller + Keller. Styling by Kendra McKnight.

24-Hour “Omelet”

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for the baking dish
10 slices high-quality white sandwich bread
12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
8 large eggs
3 cups whole milk
1 small onion, grated over the large holes of a box grater
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon hot sauce

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for the baking dish
10 slices high-quality white sandwich bread
12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
8 large eggs
3 cups whole milk
1 small onion, grated over the large holes of a box grater
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon hot sauce

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for the baking dish
10 slices high-quality white sandwich bread
12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
8 large eggs
3 cups whole milk
1 small onion, grated over the large holes of a box grater
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon hot sauce

Why This Recipe Works

For an egg-based strata recipe, we wanted the bread to virtually melt into the custard, so we ruled out rustic loaves with heavy crusts and anything that was very chewy. Hearty white sandwich breads were the most promising and Pepperidge Farm Hearty White bread proved to be the best of the bunch, as it possesses a deeply wheaty, slightly yeasty flavor and just enough texture to not completely dissolve in the custard overnight. Considering the dish is called an “omelet,” we wanted to make sure it had a potently eggy flavor, so we experimented with different ratios of eggs to dairy until we found what delivered the best texture.

Before You Begin

Be sure to use a hearty white sandwich bread; our favorite is Pepperidge Farm Hearty White bread. The omelet needs to sit in the refrigerator, well covered, for at least 8 hours in order to achieve the desired consistency, and it can be made up to 24 hours in advance.

Instructions

  1. Butter the bottom and sides of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish (or shallow casserole dish of similar size). Spread the butter evenly over 1 side of each bread slice. Cut the bread into 1-inch pieces. Scatter half of the bread evenly in the prepared dish and sprinkle with half of the cheddar. Repeat with the remaining bread and cheese.
  2. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until combined, then whisk in the milk, onion, salt, pepper, mustard, and hot sauce. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and press lightly on the bread to submerge.
  3. to store

  4. Wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.
  5. to serve

  6. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap the casserole and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 1 hour. Serve immediately.

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