How far ahead to cook pasta?

[Pooh2]

I am having a huge crowd for a party and wanted to get a some cooking prepared ahead.
Is two days ahead okay for preparing lasgna and spaghetti pie?? Would the noodles taste soggy?

 

[mom2cookies]

Never had spaghetti pie, the lasagna would be ok, if you are going to cover it with aluminum foil while storing it, i suggest putting plastic wrap over it first. The acid in the tomato sauce will burn " holes" in the foil.

 

[rvchat]

Never had spaghetti pie, the lasagna would be ok, if you are going to cover it with aluminum foil while storing it, i suggest putting plastic wrap over it first. The acid in the tomato sauce will burn " holes" in the foil.

so many moms have told me how good lasagna tastes after it's been frozen and reheated.

? anyone know?

i'd eat it frozen, i love it so much.

 

[Sadie22]

Depending on the recipe you often do not need to precook lasagna noodles. I have done this with traditional lasagna noodles in traditional lasagna recipes, not just recipes for the special noodles that state no pre-cooking needed. You just need enough liquidy ingredients surrounding the noodles that there is some moisture for them to absorb. They soften up just fine during baking. You can certainly assemble the casseroles and refrigerate until baking time. Normally cheese is on top, rather than tomato sauce, but I have never had a problem with holes in aluminum foil. Cheese sticking to foil is another matter.

As far as spaghetti to be used in a casserole, I'm assuming that would be assembled for baking as well? If so, you would want to undercook it, and then I don't see why you couldn't assemble the casseroles and refrigerate until baking time as well.

 

[Sadie22]

so many moms have told me how good lasagna tastes after it's been frozen and reheated.

? anyone know?

i'd eat it frozen, i love it so much.

Yes, homemade lasagna is good to assemble, freeze and then cook. No need to bake it before freezing. Just allow extra cooking time if you cook from frozen.

 

[rvchat]

Never had spaghetti pie, the lasagna would be ok, if you are going to cover it with aluminum foil while storing it, i suggest putting plastic wrap over it first. The acid in the tomato sauce will burn " holes" in the foil.

so many moms have told me how good lasagna tastes after it's been frozen and reheated.

? anyone know?

i'd eat it frozen, i love it so much.

 

[Pooh2]

Yes, the spaghett would be cooked, then mixed with spinach and ricotta cheese mixture. The sauce is poured over the top of that. mm... Maybe I will undercook the spaghetti by a few minutes?
I was worried I would have a house full of company and my pastas would be rubbery!
I do precook the lagna noodles for my recipe.

 

[lpizzuro123]

I always make things ahead of time when we are having people over. I just made two quiche last night (Thursday). We are having people over Sunday afternoon. I have wrapped them in foil and put in the fridge. I will take them out of the fridge Sunday to take the chill of them and then put them in the over to reheat. Tonight I am making baked ziti w/meat - also for Sunday. We love any pasta/meat/sauce dish eaten a few days later - the flavors seem to come together better. I am going to add a little extra sauce so it does not dry out during reheating.

Linda

 

[a1tinkfans]

I have to say that from my experience frozen lasagna, then cooked gets watery ...I think it is from the ricotta.

I now prep and place it with plastic then foil a day ahead and then bake day of and never that water issue.
Happy Holidays to All....LOVE the YUMMY food!

 

[solfan68]

We've taken to doing our lasagna in one of the oval crock pots. Just another option...

 

[CTdiznymom]

I made lasagna for Thanksgiving. It was huge-at least 3 inches high! Baked it up, and served. After I cut out the first square, the whole thing was a soupy mess. Delicious but a mess just the same. Later that night we reheated and it was perfect. So I would make it and cook it the day before, let it set overnight in the fridge, and then reheat the next day. In fact we had it the next day and it was better still. I also made a dish and froze it, plan on having it this Sunday.

 

[Pooh2]

Thanks! Going to make the dishes tonight for Sunday. Hope it turns out okay! I have about 25 people coming and wanted to do the baking tomorrow.

 

[gobo2]

Well, how was it?

 

[Annal606]

The acid in the tomato sauce will burn " holes" in the foil.

 

[Pooh2]

Both the lasgna and spaghetti pie came out excellent! Not at all soggy or soupy.

Worked so well, that I am going to do 2 days ahead again for our gathering this weekend and go with a similiar menu for another large crowd.

Having the main dishes assembled gave me more time for baking the day before, and decorating the morning of the bridal shower. I felt very organized!