If you have ever made lasagna and found that you had leftover noodles you may have wondered, can you freeze cooked lasagna noodles?
If you are trying to stay within your food budget, or you just hate wasting food, the good news is yes, you can freeze lasagna noodles that have already been cooked.
How to Freeze Cooked Lasagna Noodles
There are several ways you can preserve your cooked lasagna noodles.
It just depends on what stage they are in – cooked, partially cooked, or already in your lasagna.
Noodles Cooked in the Lasagna
If your noodles are already in your lasagna dish, you can freeze it whether the lasagna is already cooked or just put together to be baked at a later date.
To freeze lasagna cooked or uncooked just wrap the dish in a piece of parchment paper and then put it into a large freezer bag.
Uncooked Lasagna Noodles
If the lasagna noodles are already cooked but are leftover, you can put them in a plastic bag that is primarily for freezing food.
You can either add some tomato sauce to the bag (if they were from your lasagna casserole) or a little olive oil.
This will keep the noodles from sticking together and make them mushy when defrosting them later.
You may have some noodles that are leftover in your box of dried pasta.
The best way to save them for future use is to partially cook them and freeze them for future use.
Freeze them the same way as you would cook noodles.
Tip: If you are making several smaller lasagnas, you could use disposable foil pans from the store and freeze them the same way as do your own casserole dish.
How Long Will Cooked Lasagna or Cooked Noodles Last in the Freezer?
Lasagna and cooked noodles will last up to a year as long as you wrap them securely and keep them at 0 degrees Fahrenheit in your freezer.
Make sure you put the date on any of the containers that you are placing in the freezer.
There is usually a place on freezer bags where you can write the date with a marker.
You might have to put a piece of clear tape on a plastic container and write the date on it with a marker.
Also, make sure to write on the label if the lasagna is cooked or uncooked because it will be hard to tell when you remove it from the freezer.
You can do the same thing with the bag of noodles, label them cooked or partially cooked.
Note: Even though lasagna and lasagna noodles can last up to a year, they will taste their best if used within 3 months.
What Types of Noodles are Used in Lasagna?
Lasagna noodles are the most popular because they were designed to be the base of the Italian casserole dish.
The noodles are made simply with flour, eggs, and a pinch of salt. They are usually made by putting the dough through a pasta machine or they can be rolled out by hand.
When shaped, some of the noodles have a curly edge and some have a straight edge.
Neither one has any impact on the lasagna and both can be frozen the same way.
Can You Freeze Gluten-free Lasagna Noodles?
There are more types of lasagna noodles on the market today than ever before. One of the most popular types is gluten-free noodles.
More and more people have developed an allergic reaction to gluten but with these noodles, they can still enjoy lasagna.
Because of the lack of gluten in this type of lasagna noodle, they have to be frozen in a different way. Regular pasta that contains gluten is a little more sturdy.
Without gluten, lasagna noodles are a little more delicate.
You can freeze them this way:
- Place a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan.
- Spread out your noodles and make sure they are not touching each other.
- Put the sheet pan in the freezer and let the noodles freeze individually.
- Remove the sheet pan from the freezer then carefully fold up the parchment paper and gently put it in a freezer bag.
Note: Frozen gluten-free lasagna noodles will last in the freezer for about 3 months.
Can You Freeze Chickpea Lasagna Noodles?
This type of lasagna noodle is made entirely from chickpea flour. It has been recognized as being a good choice for those watching their carbs.
Yes, you can freeze chickpea lasagna noodles, just make sure they are covered in sauce.
Frozen chickpea lasagna noodles will last in the freezer for up to 4 months.
They are easy to defrost in the refrigerator and you can even reheat them in the microwave.
Can You Freeze Homemade Lasagna Noodles?
There is no doubt that homemade lasagna noodles will make your favorite recipe even more delicious. But can you freeze homemade lasagna noodles?
Yes, you can by following these easy steps:
Step #1. Dry the Noodles
After rolling out your homemade lasagna noodles or if you have put them through the pasta machine, make sure they are completely dry.
Spread them out on a piece of parchment paper to start off the drying process.
Step #2. Lay out Your Homemade Noodles
Take a cookie sheet and cover it with a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper.
Layout your homemade noodles on the cookie sheet. Make sure they do not touch each other so they don’t stick.
Step #3. Cover the Cookie Sheet
Use plastic wrap to tightly cover the cookie sheet. Make sure it completely covers the cookie sheet so wrap it around the edges so it is sealed all the way around.
Step #4. Put in Freezer
Put the cookie sheet in the freezer and let it stay there for four hours. Once frozen you can take the tray out of the freezer and remove the plastic wrap.
Carefully lift off the homemade noodles and lay them on top of each other creating stacks.
Wrap the stacks in plastic wrap tightly and they will last four months in the freezer.
Once you individually freeze your homemade noodles you will have them on hand anytime you want to make your next lasagna.
Tip: When you are making your homemade lasagna in your favorite casserole dish, put aluminum foil in the casserole so you can build your lasagna right on top.
Once frozen, you can lift out your lasagna and put it in a freezer bag so you can reuse your casserole dish.
How Freezing Cooked Lasagna Noodles Will Save You Time and Money
Being able to freeze some of your favorite foods gives you the opportunity to shop the sales, make foods in advance, and be able to have dinner at your fingertips if the company shows up for dinner unexpectedly.
Now that you have the answer to the question, can you freeze cooked lasagna noodles? You won’t have to worry about wasting leftovers.
Cooked lasagna noodles can last indefinitely when you store them properly in the freezer.
The process of freezing makes it possible to be able to keep food on hand and ready to use knowing that it will taste just as good once it is thawed out as it did the day you made it.
Next time you are making your homemade lasagna you can make an extra one and store it in the freezer.
And now that you know how to freeze cooked lasagna noodles you can use them to make lasagna anytime you want to
Cooking Your Frozen Lasagna or Noodles
When you are ready to use any of the items you have frozen, whether it is cooked or uncooked lasagna, or fully or partially cooked noodles, it is as easy as one-two-three.
Take the bag or container out of the freezer, put it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw, then bake it in the oven the next day.
If you don’t have enough time to thaw it overnight in the fridge, or you forgot, you can put it on a microwave-safe plate and defrost it for 3 to 5 minutes.
Cook your lasagna covered at 350 degrees for about 75 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees.
Conclusion
Just by packaging up your lasagna noodles with a little extra care you can relax knowing your freezer is brimming with dinner for the family, last-minute guests, or a head start on your next party anytime you want it.