If you’re storing your pasta in a Ziploc bag, squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can before sealing and stashing it. Make sure to refrigerate leftover pasta within two hours of preparing it to keep it from going bad prematurely. [2] X Research source
1-2 teaspoons should do for an average serving size. The pasta only needs to be lightly coated. Toss freshly-made pasta with flour immediately prior to refrigerating. [4] X Research source
Find a place for your leftovers on the top or middle shelf where they’ll be in plain sight. Otherwise, you may forget about them. You can reheat refrigerated pasta by dunking it in a pot of boiling water for 20-30 seconds.
If you’re unsure whether the sauce is still good after 6-7 days, take a whiff and use your best judgment. Reheat leftover pasta sauce on the stovetop when serving it a second time. Cream sauces can be difficult to reheat on their own, as the fat and dairy components have a tendency to separate when refrigerated after cooking. [7] X Research source
Let hot pasta cool to just above room temperature before transferring it to a separate storage container. [9] X Research source Storing the pasta and sauce together can greatly simplify your storage situation if you don’t have a lot of space to work with.
It may help to label your leftover pasta with the item name and refrigeration date.
If you’re not sure whether you’ll be reheating the refrigerated pasta within this time frame, you may be better off freezing it instead. Pasta can actually be even better leftover, after the individual flavors have had more of a chance to mingle. [11] X Research source
Covering the baking dish with aluminum foil will help lock in moisture as the pasta cooks so that it doesn’t come out too dry. You could also reheat sauced pasta on the cooktop over low heat, stirring frequently.
The thin material of plastic freezer bags makes them better for freezing than thicker containers. Drizzle the past with oil or butter before freezing it. The added fat will come in handy during the reheating process, serving to break up frozen clumps.
When left frozen for too long, high water content foods like cooked pasta can become freezer burned, which will ruin the flavor and make it difficult to reheat properly. [15] X Trustworthy Source Library of Congress Official library of the U. S. and main research institution for Congress and the American public Go to source Mark frozen leftovers with the date so you’ll remember to use them before they expire.
The pasta will likely require a few hours in the refrigerator to thaw completely. Pasta that has been thawed in the refrigerator will usually be edible for another 3-4 days. [17] X Research source
