I know that it might seem silly for me to post how to freeze pasta but it can really help you save time in the kitchen. When we cook pasta we like to make double or triple the amount we need. Then we freeze the left overs to use at other meals.
Can you Freeze Leftover Pasta?
Yes, you can freeze cooked pasta, with or without sauce. Cook it just short of al dente, let it cool, toss it with a little olive so it doesn’t stick, then freeze it flat in freezer bags for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to eat, you can reheat it straight from frozen.
I’ve made it a habit to always cook extra pasta so I can freeze it for other meals. It saves time and dishes, since you don’t have to wait for water to boil and noodles to cook, which can easily take another 8-10 minutes. Plus, having pasta in the freezer is perfect for crockpot meals and those crazy busy evenings.
What Type of Pasta can you Freeze
Technically you can freeze any type of pasta. I usually just cook the pasta to al dente time listed on the box so that the pasta doesn’t turn to mush when it’s defrosted and reheated through.
Also, you can freeze pasta plain or freeze in a sauce (like a casserole) and we’ll go through how to freeze each of these. It’s easier than you think!
I find that smaller, thicker pasta (like rotini) freezes better by itself; whereas, when I freeze long noodles (like spaghetti noodles or angel hair pasta), I generally place the pasta in a casserole form to freeze so that I can reheat it in the oven to prevent the pasta from turning to mush.
How to Freeze Pasta
1. Cook the pasta according to the directions al dente (you want the pasta to still be slightly firm).
2. After cooking the noodles, drain and then drizzle the pasta with either olive oil, butter, or butter spray. I do this so that the pasta does not stick together.
3. Then allow the pasta to cool completely at room temperature. This can take between 30 minutes to 1 hour so definitely be patient. I usually just let my leftover pasta sit out on the counter while I clean the kitchen and then it’s ready when I’m done.
You can run cold water over the cooked pasta to help cool it down faster as well. You don’t want to freeze the pasta when it’s warm or it might cause condensation in your freezer bag which could cause freezer burn.
4. Then place the pasta in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze by placing this sheet in the freezer for at least 1 hour. I recommend flash freezing so that the pasta does not freeze together.
5. After this time, place the pasta in the quart size freezer bags (or gallon size if you have a big family). I recommend freezing the pasta in the quantities that you would use for a meal for your family so it’s easy to defrost out and use at one time.
6. Make sure that you label your freezer bag with the date and then freeze. Note: Ensure that you use freezer bags and not storage bags so that your pasta will last longer in the freezer. Also, freezing food in storage bags can cause freezer burn as well.
How to Freeze Pasta with Sauce (or in a Casserole)
Pasta can also be frozen in casseroles too. I love delicious freezer casseroles that I can cook in just a few minutes in my oven and my family loves these too!
To freeze the pasta in a meat sauce or in a casserole, make sure that the pasta is al dente, then layer the pasta in an aluminum foil freezer pan.
Make sure that the sauce in your casserole is completely covering the pasta. This will make sure that this pasta doesn’t get over cooked later when cooking it in the oven.
Then cover the pan and you’re good to freeze. To cook, make sure that you defrost the casserole out overnight in your refrigerator before baking it according to your recipe.
How long is pasta good for in the freezer?
Frozen pasta and frozen casseroles with pasta are good in the freezer for 2-3 months depending on how you store them and your freezer.
Here are a few tips to make sure that the pasta lasts as long as possible in your freezer.
- Get as much air out of your freezer bag before freezing.
- Use containers and bags designed to be frozen not storage containers.
- Make sure that your freezer is maintaining a good consistent temperature.
How to Defrost Frozen Pasta
In the fridge: Move the pasta from the freezer to the fridge the night before. It will be ready to use by dinnertime the next day.
In warm water: For plain pasta, place the frozen pasta in a bowl or pan of warm (not boiling) water for a few minutes until it separates, then drain.
In the microwave: Use the defrost setting in short bursts, stirring in between, until the pasta is thawed.
Skip it: Plain frozen pasta can go straight into boiling water, a skillet, or a hot sauce without thawing first.
How to Reheat Frozen Pasta
You can reheat frozen pasta straight from the freezer or after thawing it overnight in the fridge. Either way, heat it until it’s steaming hot all the way through.
Microwave: Place the pasta in a covered microwave-safe dish with a splash of water or sauce. Heat for 1-2 minutes, stir, then continue in 30-second bursts until hot.
Stovetop (plain pasta): Drop the frozen pasta into boiling water for 30-60 seconds, just until heated through, then drain.
Stovetop (pasta with sauce): Add the pasta and a splash of water or broth to a skillet over medium-low heat. Cover and stir occasionally until hot.
Oven (casseroles): Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake covered with foil at 350 degrees until hot in the center, about 20 minutes. Baking from frozen works too, but plan on roughly twice as long.
How to Freeze Pasta
Equipment
- 1 gallon freezer bag
Ingredients
- Pasta
- Olive Oil
Instructions
- HOW TO FREEZE PASTA:
- Cook the pasta to al dented based on the package instructions.
- Drain the pasta and toss the pasta in a small amount of olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking together.
- Allow the pasta to cool completely at room temperature.
- Flash freeze the pasta by placing the pasta on a baking sheet in a single layer making sure that the pasta does not clump together.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least 1 hour and then move the pasta to freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible out of the bag, seal and freeze.
- HOW TO THAW PASTA:
- Thaw the pasta overnight in the fridge. Then place in a microwave safe dish topped with a small amount of butter. Cook on medium for 3-5 minutes until the pasta is heated through.
This is great help for single people too, I always end up with way too much pasta and/or sauce. I tried this freezing both the pasta and sauce separately, so much better, now I have really fast meals without using a bunch of dishes each time, plus it’s so much cheaper and healthier than those TV Dinners
I do this with spaghetti so I can make a fast meal, will probably try with other kinds for summer ease. I recently saw frozen individual portions at the grocery store. over 3 bucks for the bag….
Really neat idea
Thanks Valery!