Food - Drink
What Happens If You Freeze Cooked Pasta?
By LAUREN ROTHMAN
For those who love to cook in bulk, the freezer is a lifesaver that can preserve everything from casseroles to soups and stews to pot pies. However, pasta dishes are a little trickier to freeze without a noticeable drop in quality once they're defrosted; here's the best way to freeze pasta.
Plain cooked pasta without sauce generally freezes better than sauced pasta, maintaining its texture better after it's thawed. Not all pasta sauces freeze very well, but tomato-based sauces do, so go ahead and stick them in the freezer in a separate container alongside your pasta.
To prepare pasta specifically for the freezer, cook it slightly firmer than al dente, toss it with a bit of olive oil, then spread it out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze; transfer it to a zip-top bag and store for up to two months. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop mixed with a little sauce.
