Mia Lane
Cooked too much pasta? Then you can simply freeze the noodles – without any loss of taste. Here are the top 5 tips and tricks for freezing pasta.
Can you freeze pasta?
Is it really easy to freeze pasta? The answer is yes. However, the most important thing here is the way it is prepared. There are a few things to keep in mind so that the leftovers don’t turn into disgusting pasta porridge the next day.
Freezing Homemade Pasta: Can raw pasta dough be frozen?
Fresh, homemade pasta that has not yet been cooked is less suitable for freezing. Because the noodle dough sticks together due to the moisture and the noodles lose their shape. Here, the pre-freezing process of rolling the pasta dough and drying the pasta would be a waste of time. Therefore, homemade noodles should always be cooked first and only then find their way into the freezer after they have cooled down.
The situation is different with raw pasta dough. Since this is only processed into noodles afterwards anyway, pasta dough can be frozen without any problems. Best in cling film.
Freezing cooked pasta: these are the advantages
Who doesn’t know this: the big pot of spaghetti hasn’t been emptied yet again and so you’re left with a huge portion of pasta. Of course, it makes sense to put the cooked pasta in the freezer. Freezing the pasta even has a few benefits – both practical and health-related:
Anyone who freezes pasta does not have to throw it away and thus avoids food waste.
Frozen noodles are quickly thawed again and you save a lot of time if you have to hurry with lunch.
Pasta usually doesn’t take up much space in the freezer. A little tip: If you portion the noodles in advance of the freezing process, you save even more work afterwards.
The health benefit of freezing pasta lies in the so-called “resistant starch”. This forms with starchy foods such as pasta if you reheat them again. Compared to the normal starch in pasta, the resistant starch does not cause the blood sugar level to spike, the insulin level remains constantly low and you don’t have as much appetite.
Freeze pasta: the 5 best tips
Before freezing the noodles, the first thing to do is to cook the noodles. It makes no difference whether you cook homemade, fresh pasta or dried pasta. With these five tips it will definitely work:
- Avoid cooking the noodles for too long, otherwise they will get mushy when they freeze.
- It is best to drizzle the pasta with some oil after they have been cooked. This prevents the noodles from sticking together when freezing.
- The pasta should be completely cool before freezing.
- It is best if you fill the noodles in portions in a freezer bag or a freezer-safe, airtight container. If you already pay attention to the right size of the portions, you will save time later on in the preparation.
- To prevent the pasta from becoming mushy when reheated, it should be frozen separately from the pasta sauce.
How long does frozen pasta last?
Once the noodles are frozen, they can be kept for about three months in the freezer. It’s a good idea to write the date the pasta was frozen on the freezer container.
Thaw frozen pasta: This keeps pre-cooked pasta from becoming sticky
There are two ways to thaw frozen pasta without it sticking together into a single lump.
Thaw frozen pasta in the refrigerator:
If you plan your meals early enough, this defrosting option is probably the easiest. All you have to do is get the frozen noodles out of the freezer and put them in a bowl. Leave a bit of space in the fridge and let it thaw overnight. The cool temperatures prevent microbes from building up on the pasta. Once the noodles are thawed, they can be processed further the next day.
To defrost pasta in the microwave:
If you have a microwave, you can quickly heat up the frozen pasta. The right temperature is crucial here. Because if the microwave is set to a high level, the pasta can quickly stick together. On a medium setting, the noodles can be defrosted over a period of two to three minutes. Important: Moisten the deep-frozen pasta with a little water beforehand and place in a fireproof bowl.
Tip: The pasta sauce should be heated separately, otherwise the pasta will become mushy.
To thaw frozen pasta in the pan:
The frozen pasta can also be thawed in the pan. A little bit of oil or butter is usually enough to prevent the pasta from burning. If you want to fry the noodles but don’t want to use oil, you can also use a roasting foil. Put the foil in the pan before frying. The noodles are fried wonderfully crispy without oil or butter.
Frozen pasta: Thawing frozen pasta in the pot:
Noodles are cooked in a pot – including deep-frozen noodles. For this purpose, some salt water should be brought to the boil in a saucepan beforehand. Then add the frozen noodles and simmer briefly on a low flame. But please not for too long! Otherwise the frozen noodles will still be mushy.
Freeze pasta dishes: be careful with pasta sauce or pesto!
Many pasta dishes from the deep-freeze are often offered as a complete meal with a sauce and side dish and are completely thawed during preparation. However, that’s not a good idea for the frozen noodles to take home. If you freeze the pasta dishes with the pasta sauce or plenty of pesto, they usually become mushy and sticky when they thaw. However, that doesn’t change the taste much. If you are willing to compromise on consistency, you can choose the frozen version of spaghetti bolognese or spirelli with pesto.
Freezing fresh pasta: what do I do with the pasta leftovers?
Frozen noodles have a decisive advantage: They can be prepared quickly and go well with almost any dish. However, there are also recipes that are particularly suitable for this. How about a delicious pasta salad, for example? Once the noodles have been thawed, they can be processed cold immediately. In addition, pasta dishes are even suitable for losing weight. These 7 pasta dishes not only taste good, they are also easy to prepare.
If you consider the shelf life and a few tips and tricks, freezing pasta is not only super easy, but also very healthy.
