If you’re like a lot of people, you’d rather make multiple pans of lasagna at once, freeze the ones you won’t be eating right away, and then reheat them later. Or perhaps you ended up with leftover lasagna that you want to save for later.
In any event, there’s a good possibility that you already have some lasagna in your freezer because it freezes quickly and well.
But when it comes to pulling it out of the freezer, you might be wondering how to reheat frozen lasagna.
You run the risk of compromising the flavor and consistency of that mouthwatering cheese lasagna by utilizing the incorrect warming technique.
Because of this, we have included detailed instructions on how to reheat frozen lasagna so that it will both taste and seem as though it has just been taken out of the oven.
Reheating Frozen Lasagna – General Tips
Can whole frozen lasagna be reheated?
Yes, if you have cooked and frozen whole lasagna, it can easily be reheated and will be even more delicious due to all of the flavors which have melded together.
To reheat it, take the whole lasagna out at room temperature while your oven is preheating. Then cover it with aluminum foil and put it in the hot oven. Follow the reheating procedure as described below.
Do I need to thaw the lasagna before reheating it?
If you like to plan ahead, then it is better to take the lasagna out of the freezer the night before you will be eating it. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight for the best results. Then proceed to reheat it by using one of the following methods.
Of course, if you don’t have the time and need to reheat the frozen lasagna immediately, you can do so too, but the reheating time will be 10-15 minutes longer.
How to prevent the frozen lasagna from drying out during reheating?
Since the pasta sheets will most likely absorb the moisture from the sauce as the lasagna thaws, you can add a splash of water to it to prevent it from drying out when you are reheating it. Another way to prevent the lasagna from becoming overly dry is to cover it with aluminum foil or microwave-safe paper towels while it is being reheated.
The 4 Best Methods for Reheating Frozen Lasagna
Reheating Frozen Lasagna in a Microwave
Using a microwave is the fastest and the easiest way to reheat frozen lasagna. It is especially suitable for reheating a portion or two rather than whole lasagna.
The downside is that if you overheat it, the lasagna can pop and make a mess in the microwave.
Here is an easy way to prevent such an explosive event and the steps for reheating the lasagna in the microwave:
1. Place the thawed or frozen lasagna in a microwave-safe dish
Place the portion or two on a suitable plate, and make sure they are not touching each other. Drizzle the pieces with a couple of tablespoons of water, which will prevent the lasagna from drying out.
2. Stick a toothpick on top
Stick one or more toothpicks on top of the lasagna – at the center of each piece. The toothpick will help keep the paper towel safely away from the cheese topping while reheating the lasagna.
3. Cover it and cook it
Use a microwave-safe paper towel to cover the lasagna. Place it on top of the toothpick so it sits like a tent that is not actually touching the cheese topping of the meal.
You can also use plastic wrap, which is microwave safe and wrap the entire plate loosely.
Turn the heat on at full power at 90-second increments. Repeat the procedure until the lasagna has been heated to your liking.
The recommended internal temperature of the lasagna is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Reaching this temperature in a microwave should take about 5-6 minutes.
Don’t cook it for more than 90 seconds at a time to prevent it from exploding inside the microwave from the heat.
Related: Best Convection Microwave Ovens in 2022
Reheating the Frozen Lasagna in an Oven or Toaster Oven
Using the oven or toaster oven for reheating frozen lasagna is the best way to go if you are reheating a whole lasagna. It works for reheating spate portions as well, as the oven will mimic the original cooking environment for the dish.
The downside is that using the oven is the slowest way to reheat frozen lasagna.
But if you have about 30-45 minutes available, we recommend using this method, especially when reheating whole frozen lasagna.
Here is a step-by-step guide for using an oven or toaster over to reheat frozen lasagna:
1. Preheat the oven
Take the lasagna out of the freezer or fridge, and turn the oven on. Preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do not be tempted to crank up the heat because a higher heat will dry the lasagna out.
If you will be using a toaster oven, reduce the heat to 325 degrees Fahrenheit before popping the lasagna in. the reason is that the food will be closer to the heating element of the toaster oven.
2. Use aluminum foil to cover the lasagna
Since you will be reheating the lasagna at a gentle heat, you don’t need to sprinkle or add water before that. Still, it is advisable to cover the lasagna with aluminum foil to keep it nice and moist.
If you are reheating one portion only, you can use the toothpick method from above to prevent the foil from sticking to the cheese topping. When reheating more portions or whole lasagna, cover the baking dish loosely with the foil.
3. Leave the lasagna in the oven until it is heated up completely
As mentioned earlier, the recommended internal temperature of lasagna is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check it with a kitchen thermometer probe at the center of the dish. At a temperature of 350 degrees, the reheating should take about 30-45 minutes in an oven. The cooking time depends on the size of the lasagna and whether it has thawed completely or not.
In case you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can watch the lasagna and keep heating it until the topping becomes melted and gooey and the sauce begins sizzling on the sides.
Reheating Frozen Lasagna in a Skillet
Using a skillet to reheat the lasagna is faster than using the oven method but slower than using a microwave. It is suitable for reheating one or only a few portions because, obviously, a whole lasagna will not fit in the skillet.
When reheating the lasagna in a skillet, the result is a similarly tasting delicious meal as with the oven method.
Here are the steps to reheat your frozen lasagna using a skillet.
- Place the lasagna portions in a skillet, and drizzle each piece with about ¼ cup of water.
- Turn the heat on to medium-high, and wait for the added water to start simmering.
- Once the water starts simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the skillet and keep heating it until ready.
- Shake the skillet periodically.
- The cooking time should take about 20 minutes, during which the lasagna will absorb the added water and will reach the recommended internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you want to finish it with a crispy bottom, remove the pan cover during the last 5 minutes of the reheating.
Reheating the Frozen Lasagna Using an Air Fryer
Air fryers have become increasingly popular due to their ease of use and healthy cooking options. If you have an air fryer, you can use it as a convection oven. It will reheat or cook the lasagna like an oven but faster.
Here are the steps for using an air fryer to reheat your frozen lasagna:
1. Preheat the air fryer
Preheat it to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid skipping this step if you want to end up with moist and delicious lasagna.
2. Place the lasagna in a suitable pan
Use a loaf pan or other suitable pan to preheat the lasagna in the air fryer. This will prevent the cheese and sauce from melting and messing up the air fryer basket.
Cover the pan with some aluminum foil before putting the lasagna in the air fryer.
3. Reheat the lasagna
Keep heating the lasagna until ready. Check on it after 10 minutes to see whether the cheese has melted and is glossy and smooth and whether the sauce on the side is bubbly. After that, keep cooking it in 5-minute increments and check it every time. Repeat until the temperature in the center of the lasagna is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Useful Tips for Reheating Frozen Lasagna
How many times can frozen lasagna be reheated?
In general, the lasagna can be reheated several times and still be safe to eat as long as you reheat it to the recommended internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that the harmful microorganisms are killed and won’t spoil the lasagna.
Still, over time the quality of the lasagna will start to degrade, so it is recommended to reheat as much as you will eat and avoid freezing or reheating it again.
How long will leftover lasagna last?
The cooked lasagna will last in the refrigerator for about 3-5 days if properly wrapped or covered.
When frozen, and cooked, lasagna will be good to eat for up to three months.
Hopefully, we have helped you find the best way to reheat your delicious lasagna so that it tastes as good as it initially did when you first cooked it!
Related: How To Cook Frozen Lasagna Faster