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lasagna question?

15 years ago

My family is coming up for a few days Thanksgiving. I would like to make a lasagna ahead of time. I have never done much freezing. Do I make it without cooking and freeze? Or cook it and then freeze. Do I cook and freeze in a tin foil pan?

Thank you.

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Comments (8)

lindac
15 years ago
Freeze without cooking....and I wouldn't freeze in a foil pan...I did and somehow got a small hole in the pan and it leaked all over my oven...
maybe 2 pans? bit If I were freezing a big lasagna again I would go toa thrift store and buy another pan.
Linda C
hawk307
15 years ago
L&B:
I make it in a Pyrex dish and freeze it after baked.
Cover with Alluminum Foil coated with oil.
Tomatoe sauce will react on the Foil.

Then I put it in a large plastic bag with ties, for a short stay in the freezer.

For longer , I use double bags.
**************************
It can also be made the day before, refrigerated unbaked, covered the same way.
Lou
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Thank you Nancy and Terri! Everyone I asked around here was giving me a different answer so I thought I would check at the CF. Terri, I used to post here for a long time then I got away from cooking after my Mom died since it is just me I cook for. Now that I have my new kitchen I should spend some more time here. I've got to start giving my new KA mixer a workout - right now it is just a decoration on my counter. LOL I am going away for a girl weekend and I was asked to prepare the food. Those cousins of mine are in for a carboyhydrate rich cheesy chocolately weekend with a little spring salad thrown in and a few bottles of wine of course. LOL I am bringing lasagna, Greek pasta salad, dough to make pizzas, tortilla roll ups, chocolate chip/cherry/skor cookies, 7 layer bars, maybe if I find enough time I will make butter tarts. Spring mixed greens to have with the lasagna. I am trying to find a vinagrette that they might like. My cousin doesn't like Dijon mustard and that is what I put in my vinagrette. LOL Oh well. We are also going to barbeque something but my cousin is in charge of that. All the sauces are cooling so I am ready to start putting the lasagna together. I was just holing off for an answer here. Terri, by the way I hope you had a wonderful birthday! Thanks again. Anne
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User
15 years ago
I always freeze my lasagna unbaked unless I'm freezing leftovers. I find it gets a bit dry if cooked and then frozen.

I freeze in a disposable pan, let thaw almost completely, add a bit more sauce and then bake as normal.

Works well for me.
seagrass_gw Cape Cod
15 years ago
I'm always concerned about freezing things in glass dishes for fear the dish will break from temperature shock in the oven. Especially if something is frozen. I always let my glass and pottery casseroles sit at room temp for an hour before putting them from the refrigerator into the oven - and that's not with frozen food, just food made ahead that has to be reheated. I think the risk of breaking with frozen food would be greater - so that wouldn't be an issue if you used a metal pan. Maybe others have experience with that.

seagrass
nancylouise5me
15 years ago
I freeze mine unbaked also. I use 2 large disposable foil pans(one is just too flimsy). line the top with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and into the freezer. I take it out and set it on the counter to defrost when I want to bake it. NancyLouise
lindac
15 years ago
Done it for years and years....never had an issue with frozen into the oven....if it would make you feel better....don't preheat the oven before you put the dish into it.
My dishes are Pyrex....some old and some bought last year. Do it at the church all the time.
I find that the cheese on lasagna, once cooked and re warmed gets rubbery instead of properly gooey and stretchy, the fat in the cheese goes into the lasagna when it's baked. Not that it's not still good, but better frozen uncooked, like the Stauffers frozen stuff is.
Linda C
seagrass_gw Cape Cod
15 years ago
That's good to know, LindaC. Thank you.

seagrass
livvyandbella
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank all of you for your suggestions. That was my concern with glass, it cracking in the oven. I will get it all together and freeze and then cook. That will make it easier.

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