Your Perfect Pasta Night
Pasta night is a convenient solution for feeding a whole family, hosting friends, or whipping up a quick solo dinner. Whether you opt for a celebrity chef-approved, store-bought brand or a basic marinara recipe, pasta is easy to prepare. However, if you end up cooking too much, how do you store those leftover cooked noodles effectively?
Freezing Cooked Pasta the Right Way
The key to freezing cooked pasta is to avoid mixing it with any sauce. Freezing noodles with sauce will oversaturate them, resulting in a gummy texture when reheated. Instead, ensure you cook the pasta al dente, as a lighter cooking job helps retain texture, preventing mushiness upon thawing.
For smaller pasta shapes, such as penne or rigatoni, let them cool and then store them in an airtight plastic bag. For longer noodles like spaghetti or fettuccine, cool the noodles and toss them in olive oil to keep them from drying out. Next, twirl them into little domes with a fork, freeze each dome flat on a baking pan or oiled plate, then transfer the frozen bundles to plastic bags or an airtight container. Properly prepared, frozen pasta can last up to two months!
Reheating and Other Tips
When it’s time to enjoy your frozen pasta, let it thaw slightly in the fridge before reheating. You can either drop it into boiling water or microwave it with some sauce. If you plan on consuming leftover pasta soon, storing it in the refrigerator is a great option—just toss it in olive oil to prevent clumping. In an airtight container, cooked pasta will last up to five days.
You can also transform leftovers into a delicious cold pasta salad by adding Italian dressing and chopped veggies. Alternatively, stir-frying leftover pasta with some hot oil and your favorite ingredients creates a quick and tasty meal. No matter how you choose to use your leftover pasta, when prepared correctly, it brings new life to mealtime!
