Although pasta is often quicker to prepare than rice or other grains, it can seem to take a long time, especially on busy weeknight dinners. This is a guide about freezing cooked pasta.
Recently my mom and I prepared some pasta (penne?). Instead of tomato based sauce, we added mixed greens (Southern Greens, chard and mustard from Trader Joe's) that had been sauteed in olive oil, lots of garlic and crushed red pepper, and topped with Parmesan cheese.
We cooked 2 lbs. of pasta. It was way too much for the two of us to eat at one sitting so we put the leftovers in freezer bags and froze them. We have since thawed and eaten the frozen pasta and it was great! I've often wondered if cooked pasta could be frozen. I've finally discovered that yes, it can. It freezes very well. It is very convenient to be able to simply thaw, warm a delicious meal, and there's not much clean-up.
By Jayne from Yountville, CA
I usually make too much pasta when I am serving spaghetti, not wanting to run short. I never know if the child who ate two plates full last week will do so again this time.
An Italian friend who owns a restaurant shared this secret. They make large quantities, drain it, and put it in the cooler to use as it's ordered. All they do is keep a pot of water simmering. When they get an order, they take out as much pasta as needed, dip it into the boiling water, drain and put in on the plate.
I have started doing that with my leftover pasta. In fact, I sometimes intentionally cook up extra to have ready for a quick meal. I freeze the leftovers in serving size bags and just put the frozen pasta in the boiling water long enough to heat it, which is not very long. It tastes good, and there is no waste.
By Sandy from Elon, NC
Can you freeze cooked pasta? What is the best way to do it? I'd like to cook some meals for a friends whose daughter just passed.
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