Should casseroles be baked covered or uncovered?
Recipes should tell you whether to bake a casserole covered or uncovered, but many don’t. There’s no set rule, but knowing what covering and uncovering does to food may help you decide.
Covering foods prevents them from browning and crisping, but it does trap in moisture. Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it’s ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.