A dish like a lasagna is something that takes time to prepare. And when properly cooked, they taste delicious. No wonder there is nothing left after a hearty meal.
But sometimes, you are left with a sizeable portion after a big party. And you can’t just toss lasagna into the trash, can you? Yes, leave it in the fridge and enjoy them tomorrow.
But is there any guarantee that it will taste as creamy as it did last night? Probably not. However, with the proper methods, you can bring your leftover lasagna back to life.
This article will focus on everything you need to know about how to reheat frozen lasagna. If you’re interested, keep reading.
Reheating Frozen Lasagna: The Ultimate Guide
Reheating is always a go-to with leftovers. And the same goes for frozen lasagna. Below, we have listed the best methods, tricks, and tips.
- Reheating lasagna in a microwave
Using a microwave is perhaps the quickest option on this list. However, you want to be very careful before you proceed. One wrong move and your appliance can explode. Here’s a step-by-step guide.
- Let your lasagna defrost in the fridge overnight. You can skip this wait and thaw your frozen lasagna in the microwave for 2 minutes using the defrosting mode.
- Once it is completely defrosted, place your lasagna on a microwave-safe plate. Remember to reheat in batches. If you try to shove the whole portion in, it will not get enough heating.
- Slice them up in portions and add a touch of oil or water to the edges. Ensure the individual pieces are not touching each other to avoid a mess.
- Cover the entire dish with another microwave-safe bowl or paper towel. This is to avoid any splattering issues with the cheesy content.
- Place them inside the microwave at medium heat for a minute or 90 seconds.
- Once the cheese starts bubbling, take it out and check with your food thermometer. You want an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you don’t achieve that particular temperature, flip the lasagna and put it back in for another 30 seconds. That should do the trick.
- Using an oven
- As always, defrost your lasagna in the fridge overnight or use your microwave to thaw it. You can set the timer at about 40 minutes up to an hour.
- Start by preheating your oven to 350-375 degrees.
- Place your lasagna in an oven-safe container and add a touch of olive oil or sauce.
- Cover it with aluminum foil and toss it for half an hour or 45 minutes. This timing is usually for multiple portions or a whole serving of lasagna. For a single serving, you can set the timer to 20 minutes.
- Once done, your lasagna should have an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- With an air fryer
- Defrost your lasagna overnight and slice them into single portions if it is a whole serving.
- Place your lasagna in an air fryer-safe container and cover it with aluminum foil.
- Set the temperature to 350-375 degrees and let it reheat for 10-15 minutes.
- You want an internal temperature of 165 degrees. If you’re unsatisfied, put it back in for another 5 minutes.
- Remember that you can reheat only 2-3 servings at once with an air fryer due to the limited capacity.
- A trusty skillet
You can reheat almost anything if you have a trusty cast-iron skillet in your kitchen. The same goes for lasagna. In fact, it provides quicker results than a traditional oven method.
- Defrosting your frozen lasagna beforehand will provide the best results if you’re using this method. Leave it in the fridge overnight.
- Take out your lasagna and let it rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Next, put your lasagna in the skillet and add about 4 tablespoons of water. This is for a single serving. For more batches, you can adjust the amount of water accordingly.
- Place the skillet on the stove at medium-high heat and bring the water to a boil.
- Once it starts boiling, cover it with a lid and let it rest for 15-20 minutes. Keep an eye out on the water. You don’t want it to evaporate.
- Give your skillet an occasional shake to ensure even cooking and to prevent the lasagna from sticking.
- Once it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees, take it out and serve.
How To Freeze And Store Cooked Lasagna
Cooked lasagna can last up to 4-5 days in a refrigerator and 3-4 months in a freezer if stored properly. Here are a few helpful tips if you’re looking to freeze your lasagna for later.
- Never put steaming hot lasagna into a freezer. You want it to cool down first before preparing it for the freezer.
- Cover your lasagna with a double layer of plastic and aluminum foil. This is to preserve the texture and avoid freezer burn.
- Never forget to label the date. This will help you decide how long to store it and serve it accordingly. Avoid puncturing the foil if you’re labeling it directly on the covering.
- Frozen lasagna can last up to 4 months in the freezer. It would be best not to exceed that number as the dish might give a pungent smell and develop molds. Moreover, it is a cheese-based dish that has a short shelf-life.