1. Slightly undercook the pasta. Cook pasta al dente, which is slightly undercooked.

2. Rinse cooked pasta under running cold water to stop the cooking process.

3. Toss the fresh pasta with olive oil to prevent sticking.

4. Place the pasta on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for at least one hour.

5. Move the pasta to an airtight container for storage.

REHEATING FROZEN PASTA

Method 1: Remove the noodles from the storage container and place them directly in a pan of WARM (not hot) water. The goal is to bring the noodles to room temperature, not cook them.

Method 2: Carefully stir frozen pasta directly into the dish. This will defrost the pasta and cool the dish slightly, so make sure the pasta is heated through again before serving. Also, try not to over-stir the noodles so they don’t get mushy.

Method 3: Place the frozen pasta directly into a pot of boiling water and cook for ONE minute. Use a kitchen timer. This will very, very quickly thaw the noodles, but don’t walk away or you run the risk of over-cooking the noodles.

FAQS TO FREEZE COOKED PASTA

What is the best way to freeze cooked pasta?

For small and/or short pasta, the best way to freeze pasta is to place it in a single layer on a baking sheet until the individual noodles are frozen through. This prevents clumping of noodles later when you go to use the frozen noodles.

Can you freeze spaghetti?

Yes! When freezing long noodles like spaghetti, be sure to make “nests” instead of freezing in a single layer. Just use a fork to twirl the tossed pasta in about ½ cup size nests, then carefully move the pasta nest directly to the cookie sheet. Leave a couple of inches between nests. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for at least one full hour, or up to 8 hours.

Can you freeze cooked pasta with sauce?

You can freeze the pasta together with non-dairy sauces like Meat Sauce or Pesto, or you can freeze the pasta separately from the sauce. If you freeze the pasta and pasta sauce together, I recommend using glass containers that are oven safe. Then you easily can go from freezer to fridge to oven without dirtying additional dishes.

How to freeze pasta without sauce?

Cook the pasta al dente, divide it into portions, and freeze on a baking sheet. When the pasta is frozen through, place it in a freezer-safe container!