Have you ever wondered if you could freeze cooked lasagna? If so, this blog post is for you!
It’s a question that many people ask and I am here to give the answer.
So, can you freeze cooked lasagna? Yes, you can freeze cooked lasagna. You can freeze cooked lasagna for up to 1 year, but I suggest that you freeze it within 2-3 months.
The shelf life of cooked lasagna in the freezer is dependent on how it is stored. If you want to know how to freeze cooked lasagna correctly, continue reading.
How to freeze cooked lasagna?
Freezing cooked lasagna is quite easy! The first thing you need to do is let it cool completely.
Once, it’s cooled, wrap the lasagna in parchment paper and place it in a freezer-safe container or bag.
Then, label the container with cooked lasagna with ‘cooked’ and the date that you put it in there and then pop it into the freezer.
The lasagna will last in the freezer for about one year, but I suggest that you use it within 3-4 months.
When you want to use the lasagna, remove it from the freezer and refrigerate it overnight.
Then heat up and serve!
Does lasagna freeze well?
Yes, lasagna freezes well. It is one of those meals that can be frozen and then reheated very easily.
The main reason why people are skeptical about freezing lasagna is that it gets soggy or mushy when they thaw it, but proper storage will prevent this from happening.
I’ve also heard that lasagna without ricotta cheese doesn’t freeze well. But in my experience, if you wrap it up and stick it in the freezer correctly, cooked lasagna will freeze beautifully.
How long does cooked lasagna last?
If stored properly, cooked lasagna lasts 3-4 months in the freezer without any loss of flavor or texture.
However, after that, its taste deteriorates so if you’re making a big batch of this pasta dish make sure to freeze some of it immediately because homemade frozen dinners are great especially during busy days.
How long does cooked lasagna last in the refrigerator?
If you are storing cooked lasagna in the fridge, make sure to wrap it well with plastic wrap and put it in a sealable container or bag.
Even when you do that, cooked lasagna will only stay good for up to 5 days after being frozen.
So, if you are not going to eat it in a few days, it’s best that you freeze it.
How to store cooked lasagna In the fridge?
When storing cooked lasagna in the fridge, wrap well with parchment paper or plastic wrap and place in a sealable container or bag.
I prefer containers but bags will also work fine. It is important that you store your lasagna this way so that no air gets into contact with the food.
Then, place it in the fridge where it will last for 5-6 days after being frozen.
Can you defrost lasagna at room temperature?
Nope! Do not leave your lasagna out at room temperature to defrost.
The best way to defrost cooked lasagna is by putting it in the fridge overnight or running it under cool water for a few seconds then set it aside for an hour or so.
Can you freeze cooked lasagna noodles?
Yes, you can freeze cooked lasagna noodles too. This is something I did recently and I was very happy with how easy and convenient this was.
Lasagna noodles are one of those things that get frozen really nicely, but be careful because if you try freezing them when they’re still hot, they might stick together in large clumps.
However, after a couple of hours in the freezer, the noodles cool down completely and you can easily separate them.
Can you freeze lasagna with bechamel sauce?
Yes, but not in the same container. If you freeze your lasagna with bechamel sauce, make sure that you put it in a separate bag or container so it doesn’t leak into the other lasagna and ruin it.
If you’re going to freeze bechamel sauce, then make sure it doesn’t have any egg in it because that will be a total disaster.
Can you freeze lasagna with ricotta?
Yes, however, I recommend freezing the lasagna without ricotta first, and when it’s well-frozen place the slices of lasagna on top of the cheese and wrap them all up together.
This is how you can prevent your pasta from getting soggy and gooey when thawing.
I do this every time I store cooked lasagna in the freezer and have never had a problem so far!
Conclusion
I hope I answered your question about whether or not cooked lasagna can be frozen.
The answer is yes, cooked lasagna can be frozen. Not just the leftovers, but you can freeze a whole batch too.
It is one of those meals that are easy to freeze and very convenient to have around when you don’t have time to cook or simply run out of fresh ingredients for your pasta casserole recipes!
The best way to freeze cooked lasagna is by layering it with plastic wrap and parchment paper then put it in a container or bag.
This will keep all the air away from the food so you don’t end up freezing soggy lasagna slices.
What’s great about homemade frozen meals is that you know exactly what went into making them which makes this Italian dish a treat for you and your family!
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. If so, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family.
Thanks for reading!