Wondering If you can freeze lasagna and if it is possible, how to do it properly?
Today, I am going to answer that question, with a thorough informational guide that will highlight everything you need to know about getting your lasagna ready for freezing.
So, let’s jump right into it.
Can You Freeze Lasagna & Should You Be Doing This?
Quick Answer: Yes, you can you freeze lasagna and is recommended, once it is packaged properly.
According to Stilltasty.com, properly stored lasagna “will maintain best quality for about 2 to 3 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.”
Why Freezing Lasagna is a Good Idea?
Frozen lasagna reheats really well and when done properly, it is almost as if you were having something freshly made.
Storing lasagna in the freezer is often done for a variety of reasons.
Some of the most common are:
- It’s a time saver
- Helps in planning ahead
- Store leftovers
It’s a Time Saver: If you have an event or party coming up, freezing lasagna can be a huge time saver.
You can make your dish days or weeks in advance and when you are ready, you can thaw, bake/reheat and you are in action.
Great for Planning Ahead: Freezing lasagna is a great option for those who like to pre-plan their dinners.
You can make a big batch at once, freeze and serve as needed.
Great Way to Store Leftovers: If everyone is stuffed from that amazing lasagna dinner you made or you have way too much leftover from a party, you can always store it in the freezer for another time.
Instead of trying to finish the leftover lasagna before it spoils, you store it away in the freezer and warm it up, when you feel for it.
As we mentioned above, frozen lasagna can be stored for 2-3 months for best quality.
How to Freeze Lasagna Properly: Step-by-Step Instructional Guide
The process for freezing your lasagna is very simple and it doesn’t take a lot of time.
Generally, you will find that people opt to freezer either:
- Baked lasagna
- Unbaked lasagna
Let us take a look at the instructions to do both, below.
Freezing Baked Lasagna
Here is how to freeze baked lasagna. It is important that it is fully cooled, before you attempt to place it in the freezer.
Instructions
- Step 1 – Bake your lasagna and once finished, allow it to cool completely, before you get it ready for freezer storage.
- Step 2 – You can now freeze the cooled lasagna whole or divide it into individual servings.
- Step 3 – You will cover the baking pan with the lasagna or the individual pieces with plastic wrap. Wrap multiple times and make sure it is sealed properly, so it is not affected by the elements or weird smells often found in the freezer.
- Step 4 – This is an optional step, but as an added layer of protection, you can also wrap again with aluminum foil.
- Step 5 – At this point, you can place the whole container of lasagna in the freezer. If you have individual pieces, you can place them in a freezer safe container or bag.
- Step 6 – Label and date the bag/container before putting it in the freezer.
Freezing Unbaked Lasagna
For an unbaked lasagna, the process is essentially the same as above, minus allowing it to cool.
Instructions
- Step 1 – Follow your recipe and put together your lasagna.
- Step 2 – You will now take some plastic wrap and cover the container that the unbaked lasagna is in.Cover multiple times.
- Step 3 – As an optional step, you can wrap with aluminum foil to add a second protective layer to the dish.
- Step 4 – If you have a freezer safe bag big enough to hold the container, squeezing out as much air as possible before closing.
- Step 5 – Label and date.
Thawing Frozen Lasagna
Depending on how you froze your lasagna (baked or unbaked), you have a couple of ways to thaw it, before baking/reheating.
- Let it thaw overnight
- Bake/Reheat Frozen
Thaw Overnight – If you are planning on eating the lasagna the next day, you can let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
It should take anywhere from 6-12 hours to fully defrost (depending on size).
Once thawed, you can either bake it (if it was unbaked) or reheat it (if it was already baked).
The baking time will be dependent on the recipe you used.
As for reheating lasagna, there are different options you can use (we go into more detail here).
Bake/Reheat Frozen – If you are in a rush, you can either bake or reheat the frozen lasagna, without defrosting it.
The only difference is that the cooking time will increase for unbaked lasagna and not all reheating methods are recommended for baked frozen lasagna.
Important Note: You should never allow frozen lasagna to thaw on the kitchen counter at room temperature.
As the dish thaws, if it is left out too long, it opens up the possibility for the growth of harmful bacteria.
These bacteria can cause food borne illnesses (food poisoning).
Wrapping it up
There you have it: a comprehensive guide to freezing lasagna.
Now that we have covered everything, I want to hear from you:
Why will you be freezing your lasagna and will you be doing it baked/unbaked?
So go ahead and let me know in the comments below.
