--- title: "Gratin: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "A gratin is a dish baked in a shallow pan until the top forms a golden crust, often of cheese or breadcrumbs. See how to get it tender and browned." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/gratin" --- # Gratin A gratin is a dish baked in a shallow pan until the top forms a golden crust, often of cheese or breadcrumbs. See how to get it tender and browned. Also called Au gratin, Potato gratin. A gratin is any dish baked in a wide, shallow dish until a browned crust forms on top. The crust may be cheese, breadcrumbs, butter, or just cream that has browned. The best-known is potato gratin, thinly sliced potatoes baked in cream or milk. "Gratin" is also the name of the shallow dish itself. ## How to do it 1. Heat the oven to 160 to 180°C (325 to 350°F). 2. Slice 1 kg (2 lb) of waxy or all-purpose potatoes about 3 mm (⅛ inch) thick. A [mandoline](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mandoline) gives even slices. Do not rinse them; the starch thickens the cream. 3. Rub a shallow dish with garlic and butter. 4. Layer the potatoes, seasoning each layer with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. 5. Pour in about 500 ml (2 cups) of cream, or a mix of cream and milk, warmed with garlic, until it nearly covers the top layer. 6. Bake for 1 to 1½ hours. 7. If the top is pale, [broil](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/broil) (grill in the UK) for 2 to 3 minutes. Rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting. ## How to tell it is done A knife slides through every layer with no resistance; the potatoes are [fork-tender](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/fork-tender). The top is [golden brown](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/golden-brown) with darker edges, and the cream has thickened around the slices instead of pooling. ## Common mistakes * Uneven slices. Thick ones stay hard while thin ones go to mush. * A deep dish. You get less crust and a longer, uneven bake. * Too hot an oven. Cream can split and the top burns before the middle cooks. * Cutting it right away. It needs to rest to firm up. ## In recipes "Au gratin" means a dish topped with cheese or breadcrumbs and browned, which is the method called [gratinating](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/gratinate). _Gratin dauphinois_ is the French classic: potatoes, cream and garlic, often without cheese. Many vegetable gratins, such as cauliflower, use a cheese [béchamel](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bechamel) as the sauce. Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. ## Gratin recipes 12 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Skinny-Scalloped-Potato-Gratin-12.jpg)Scalloped Potato Gratin Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 75 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-scalloped-potato-gratin/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Fennel-Gratin-010.jpg)Fennel Gratinwww.skinnytaste.com · 95 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/fennel-gratin/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/brusselssproutsgratin.jpg)Brussels Sprouts Gratinwww.skinnytaste.com · 50 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/brussels-sprouts-gratin/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/sweet-potato-parmesan-gratin-minimalist-baker-google.jpeg)Sweet Potato Parmesan Gratinminimalistbaker.com · 85 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/sweet-potato-parmesan-gratin/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Spiralized-Winter-Root-Veggie-Gratin-1-7.jpg)Spiralized Winter Veggie Gratinwww.skinnytaste.com · 70 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/spiralized-winter-veggie-gratin/) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2025/10/Cauliflower-Gratin-1.jpg)Cauliflower Gratinwww.onceuponachef.com · 55 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/cauliflower-gratin.html) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Vegan-Zucchini-Gratin-SQUARE.jpg)Vegan Zucchini Gratinminimalistbaker.com · 50 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-zucchini-gratin/) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2014/12/Potatoes-au-Gratin.jpg)Potatoes Au Gratinwww.onceuponachef.com · 75 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/potatoes-au-gratin.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2015/11/Brussels-Sprouts-Gratin4.jpg)Brussels Sprouts Gratinwww.onceuponachef.com · 60 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/brussels-sprouts-gratin.html) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Butternut-Squash-Gratin-5.jpg)Butternut Squash Gratinwww.skinnytaste.com · 60 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/butternut-squash-gratin/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Light-and-Easy-Cauliflower-Gratin.jpg)Light and Easy Cauliflower Gratinwww.skinnytaste.com · 49 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/light-and-easy-cauliflower-gratin/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Sweet-Potato-Gratin-5.jpg)Sweet Potato Gratin Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 65 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/sweet-potato-gratin/) ## Related terms * [GratinateTo gratinate is to brown the top of a dish under a hot broiler or in a hot oven, usually under cheese or breadcrumbs, until it forms a golden crust.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/gratinate) * [BéchamelBéchamel is a smooth white sauce of milk thickened with a butter and flour roux. It is the base for lasagna, mac and cheese, gratins and croque monsieur.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bechamel) * [BroilBroiling cooks food with strong, direct heat from the top element of the oven. It browns cheese, chars peppers and cooks thin cuts in a few minutes.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/broil) * [MandolineA mandoline is a flat slicer with a fixed blade that cuts vegetables into even, paper-thin slices. Here is how to use one safely.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mandoline) * [Fork-tenderFork-tender means cooked until a fork slides in and twists with almost no resistance. It is how you know braised meat and root vegetables are ready.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/fork-tender) * [Golden brownGolden brown is the deep, even gold color food turns as it browns in the oven or pan. It signals flavor from browning and that baked goods are cooked.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/golden-brown) [More in dishes](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/dishes)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)