Friday, March 31, 2017

How to Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up

Reheated pasta often ends up mushy, dried out, or sitting in a pool of oil. Luckily, these problems can be avoided with simple alterations to the heating process. Learn how to save your leftovers, whether they are plain noodles or an easily-separated cream sauce.

EditSteps

EditReheating Plain Pasta

  1. Boil a pot of water. Pour in enough water to cover the noodles, but don't add them to the pot. Wait until the water comes to a boil.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 1.jpg
    • You may use the methods below instead, but this is the fastest and best option for pasta without sauce.
  2. Transfer the pasta to a metal strainer. Choose a metal strainer or colander that can fit into your pot. Ideally, find one with long handles for easy handling.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 2 Version 2.jpg
  3. Dip the pasta into the boiling water. It only takes about thirty seconds to refresh most pasta. Withdraw the strainer and taste test the noodles. If they are not ready, return them to the water. Withdraw and taste test again every 15 seconds.[1]
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 3 Version 2.jpg
    • If your strainer does not have long handles, or if you do not have oven mitts, instead place the strainer in a bowl and pour boiling water over it.

EditIn the Oven

  1. Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) and wait for it to preheat. This method is gentle on pasta and sauces, but may not be practical for a single serving.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 4 Version 2.jpg
  2. Add the pasta to a baking dish. Spread the pasta across a shallow dish. A deep pile of pasta may heat unevenly.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 5 Version 2.jpg
    • If the pasta is dry, add a splash of milk or extra sauce to keep it moist. This is especially important for lasagna.[2]
  3. Cover with foil and bake. The pasta is usually ready in 20 minutes, but check after 15 just in case. The foil should help trap moisture, slowing the drying process.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 6.jpg
    • Optionally, add a sprinkle of Parmesan under the foil 5 minutes before the pasta is done.[3]
  4. Check the pasta. Stick a metal fork into the center of the pasta dish and wait for 10 to 15 seconds. If the tip of the fork is hot to the touch, the pasta is ready. If not, return the pasta to the oven.[4]
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 7 Version 2.jpg

EditOn the Stovetop

  1. Fry most pasta dishes over medium-low heat. This is one of the easiest ways to heat pasta. Just add melted butter or oil to a frying pan, add the pasta, and heat. Stir occasionally.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 8 Version 2.jpg
    • Add more sauce if the pasta looks dry.
  2. Heat cream or wine sauces over low heat. These easily separated sauces should be heated over very low heat. For lower risk of separation, see the cream sauce method below.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 9 Version 2.jpg
  3. Fry lasagna. Cut yourself a slab and toss it on the pan, cut side down. Rotate occasionally, heating each cut side until crispy.[5]
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 10.jpg

EditIn the Microwave

  1. Use the microwave for single servings only. Microwaves cook unevenly, especially if the pasta dishes contains cheese or vegetables. When reheating a large portion, use the oven instead for greater control.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 11 Version 2.jpg
    • Avoid using the microwave for cream sauces, wine and butter sauces, or other sauces likely to separate.
  2. Toss the pasta with sauce or oil. If the pasta already includes sauce, just stir it to distribute it evenly. If the pasta is plain, stir in a little sauce or olive oil. This will help keep the pasta moist.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 12 Version 2.jpg
  3. Set the microwave to medium-low power. A full power microwave will likely turn your pasta to mush. Reduce it to 50% power or below.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 13 Version 2.jpg
  4. Cover the pasta. Place the pasta in a microwave-safe container, preferably a round one to avoid uneven heating at corners.[6] Cover it with one of the following two methods:
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 14.jpg
    • Cover with plastic wrap, but leave one corner open for steam to escape.[7] This traps heat, warming the pasta more evenly.
    • Cover with a damp paper towel. This steams the pasta as it heats up, adding moisture to dry or sauce-light noodles.
  5. Heat in short bursts. Heat the pasta for about 1 minute, then check on its progress and stir. If necessary, continue heating for 15–30 seconds at a time.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 15.jpg
    • If your microwave does not have a turntable, stop and rotate the dish halfway through.

EditReheating Cream or Wine Sauces

  1. Heat water in the base of a double boiler. This is by far the best method for cream-based sauces, such as Alfredo. The indirect heat ensures a more even, slower cooking method, reducing the chance of separation.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 16.jpg
    • You can make your own double boiler out of two pans, or one pan and a glass, heat-safe bowl.
    • If a double boiler is not an option, use the stovetop method instead, over very low heat.
  2. Place the sauce in the top of the double boiler. If possible, heat the sauce separately, then pour over cold pasta or heat as described above. If the sauce and pasta are well mixed, just add them both to the container. Leave it here until the water begins to simmer.[8]
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 17.jpg
    • Reheating the pasta and sauce together shouldn't cause any major problems, but the risk of chewy or mushy noodles is a little higher.
  3. Add cream or milk to cream sauces. A cream sauce separates so easily because it is an "emulsion," or suspension of fat and water. A fresh splash of cream or whole milk helps keep these together, reducing the chance that the sauce becomes an oily mess.[9]
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 18.jpg
  4. Add butter or reduced cream to wine sauces. Wine sauces are also emulsions, but the acidity can cause cream to curdle. To avoid these, mix in a little melted butter instead. Another option is reduced cream, meaning cream heated in a separate pan until some of the liquid has evaporated.[10]
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 19.jpg
  5. Heat slowly, stirring occasionally. The lower the heat, the less likely your sauce is to separate. Stir gently, to avoid breaking apart the ingredients. Eat while the sauce is hot.
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 20.jpg
  6. Add an egg yolk in emergencies. If the sauce "breaks" apart while reheating, take it off the heat and transfer a couple spoonfuls to a bowl. Rapidly whisk an egg yolk into the bowl until smooth, then transfer the mixture back to the sauce.[11]
    Reheat Leftover Pasta Without It Separating or Drying Up Step 21.jpg
    • If you're heating the pasta as well as the sauce, the egg yolk method gets messy. Try a small handful of flour instead, to thicken the sauce and cut the greasiness.
    • If you end up with lumps of cooked egg while whisking, discard that bowlful and try again with less liquid and faster whisking. If the lumps are small, just strain out the lumps and use the remaining liquid.

EditTips

  • If you think you'll have leftovers, cook your pasta a little on the chewy side. If the pasta is already soft or overcooked to begin with, no method of reheating will save the texture.
  • For the best texture and taste, eat the pasta within three days of cooking.[12]
  • Surprisingly, there is some evidence that reheated pasta may cause a smaller rise in blood sugar than fresh-cooked or cold pasta. More research is currently in progress.[13]

EditWarnings

  • Do not eat pasta cooked more than seven days ago, or pasta with an unusual smell.[14]
  • Be careful, as all bowls and containers will be hot when you remove them from the microwave.

EditThings You'll Need

  • Plain pasta:
    • metal colander or strainer
    • oven mitts
    • saucepan
    • stove
  • Oven:
    • baking dish
    • foil
  • Stovetop:
    • Frying pan
    • Butter or oil
  • Cream or wine sauces:
    • Double boiler
    • Stirring utensil
    • Cream or butter
    • Egg yolk or flour (sometimes)
  • Microwave:
    • Microwave safe container
    • Plastic wrap or damp paper towel

EditRelated wikiHows

EditSources and Citations


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