Easy-Prep Lasagna Freezer Meal Recipe - About a Mom (2024)

FAQs

What is the best dish to freeze lasagna in? ›

Be sure to fully cool lasagna before freezing and avoid putting a frozen lasagna straight in the oven. The problem with using a baking dish is that for as long as that lasagna is in the freezer, you can't use the baking dish. Recyclable aluminum foil trays are an easy alternative.

For the best results, freeze lasagna after it has been assembled but before it's been baked. Freezing food this way will help maintain the lasagna's cheese and noodle texture and prevent it from getting soggy.

Yes! Lasagna freezes and reheats beautifully, and doubling up requires minimal extra effort. Plus, because the flavors are given more time to come together, reheated lasagna actually tastes better than a slice fresh out of the oven. The layers of sauce prevent the lasagna from drying out when it's reheated.

You can assemble the lasagna, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking. This not only saves time but also allows the flavors to meld together, making the lasagna even more delicious.

Yes! In fact, you can freeze most casseroles unbaked, or bake them first, then freeze.

Soups, stews, lasagna, empanadas, and pie dough are some of our favorites to freeze—check out more ideas below.

Reheat Frozen Lasagna

If you have leftover lasagna in your freezer, set it in your refrigerator to thaw overnight and then reheat using the oven or toaster oven methods described above. If it's too late to thaw, don't worry. Frozen lasagna can also be reheated directly from the freezer.

After thawing the lasagna according to the package instructions, cook it about 25 degrees higher than directed. Then, add some fresh sautéed vegetables about three-quarters of the way through. Mushrooms, asparagus, and bell peppers are all tasty ideas.

Never allow frozen lasagna to thaw at room temperature. Bake at 375 degrees F, covered with foil, for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbly and cooked through. Cooking from frozen – Bake lasagna straight from the freezer covered with foil for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

To be more clear, eat within 12 hours of removing from the freezer. Never, ever thaw at room temperature--it's just not safe! You can absolutely cook this from frozen, but be keep it covered in foil and cook it longer than one hour. Keep it covered to ensure the top layer doesn't dry out.

What happens if you thaw frozen lasagna before cooking? ›

You will get the best result if you take it directly from the freezer to the oven. For most frozen foods, defrosting will make little or no difference. You would need to cook it for less time than in the instructions to avoid overcooking, but the end result should be about the same.

FREEZING TIPS: FREEZING WHOLE LASAGNE

Simply cover the lasagne tightly with cling film and freeze sitting flat with nothing resting on top of it. For best results, allow to defrost for a day in the fridge, then cook as stated. Or, to cook from frozen, heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.

Alternatively, you can assemble the lasagna as directed, and store it, unbaked, in the refrigerator for 1 day. Bake as directed (let the dish sit on the counter while the oven preheats) and serve.

Building the Lasagna

And if you're planning to freeze your unbaked lasagna, no-boil noodles are a must. Yes, you can boil regular lasagna noodles, then drain and cool them and build your lasagna, then freeze it.

Lasagna is the kind of food that can keep a family fed for many nights in a row, happily. But it has other perks, too: namely, that you can prepare the whole thing in advance, and store it in the fridge overnight—ready to pop in the oven an hour or so before dinner (just before the kids start to whine).

The short answer is yes—but there are a few rules you should follow. When using Pyrex or any glass bakeware or cookware, you should avoid extreme temperature changes—very cold dishes shouldn't be placed in a hot oven, and vice versa. Sudden changes in temperature may cause the dishes to shatter or break.

To prepare the lasagne for freezing, allow to cool, cover each portion with the lid and then freeze. They will keep for up to one month.

Wrap the lasagna in plastic and foil, or put individual slices in bags. Wrap a baked lasagna the same way you'd wrap an unbaked one—wrap it inside of a freezer-safe dish with plastic, leaving as little space as possible between the top layer and the plastic, then add a second layer of foil.

You can also flash freeze food items such as casseroles and lasagna. Allow the casserole or lasagna to completely cool in refrigerator. Then slice into individual portions. Flash freeze the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for at least a few hours, then transfer to vacuum sealed bags.