Freeze and defrost the lasagna: So it doesn't get mushy

Freezing lasagna is very easy.

There are just a few things you need to bear in mind so that it doesn’t get mushy after defrosting.

Lasagne can be baked and frozen unbaked and will then keep for about 3 months. To avoid freezer burn, it must be packed airtight. To do this, you can wrap the baking dish with cling film and aluminum foil or portion the lasagna and store it in airtight storage boxes.

In this article, I’ll show you how I usually freeze my lasagna when I’m preparing it for guests or have leftover lasagna.

For more information, you can read this article on the shelf life of food from the German Consumer Center.

How to freeze lasagne properly – here’s how

There are several ways to freeze lasagna, you can:

Freeze the unbaked lasagne in the baking dish (best method)
Freeze baked lasagne in the oven dish
Freeze lasagne leftovers in suitable storage boxes

Here you will learn what you need to bear in mind.

Note: The following instructions refer to freezing classic lasagne Bolognese. Lasagne recipes with other ingredients may not freeze as well. You can find an overview of this below under: Which lasagne can be frozen?

Freeze unbaked lasagne (best method)

When I prepare lasagna for guests, I usually freeze it unbaked and in the baking dish.

To do this, I coat the lasagne up to the top of the baking dish and leave off the last layer of cheese. This is only added after defrosting so that the cheese doesn’t lose its flavor.

As I often know in advance when I am going to freeze lasagne, I bought this set of freezer-safe casserole dishes.

This way, I just need to close the lid and can put the lasagna in the freezer immediately (or let it cool down first if some of the ingredients were still hot.

But you can do it without, the most important thing is to keep the lasagne airtight. Proceed as follows:

Wrap the baking dish as airtight as possible in cling film and then cover with aluminum foil.

Make sure that as little air as possible remains in the baking dish to avoid freezer burn.

Now just note the best-before date and the contents, then freeze. The lasagne should be used within 3 months.

Freeze baked lasagna

Even if you have already baked the lasagne, you can still freeze it in the oven dish.

However, you should only do this if the lasagna is still complete and has not yet been served, as the air it contains can lead to freezer burn.

Otherwise, you will need to portion them and freeze them in freezer containers of the appropriate size, as shown in the instructions for freezing lasagna leftovers.

First, leave the lasagna to cool completely and wrap it as airtight as possible in cling film and aluminum (as shown in the instructions for unbaked lasagna).

Then note the best-before date and the contents and freeze the casserole dish.

Freeze lasagne leftovers

If the unimaginable happens and there is actually lasagne left over, then you can’t just wrap it up in the baking dish and freeze it. The air that inevitably remains in the dish will lead to freezer burn.

Instead, divide the lasagne into several portions and fill the individual pieces into storage tins of the appropriate size so that there is little air space.

Then place cling film over the opening and close the lid. This way, the lasagne is optimally protected against freezer burn.

Defrosting lasagne correctly – here’s how

I know two methods for defrosting lasagna:

Overnight in the refrigerator (gentle method)
In the microwave (quick method)
In the oven

Defrost lasagna in the fridge

The gentlest method is to defrost the lasagne overnight in the fridge. While the oven is preheating, the lasagne should be taken out of the fridge so that it reaches room temperature. It can then be baked in the oven as usual.

The baking time varies depending on whether the lasagne is pre-baked or unbaked.

You can find more information on this in my article Reheating lasagna.

Defrost lasagna in the microwave

Most microwaves have a mode for defrosting food. The problem with this is that the lasagne may dry out a little in the microwave due to the way it works.

That’s why I usually only defrost leftover lasagna in the microwave.

To do this, the lasagne is defrosted on a plate at low power (between 180 and 240 watts) for around 15 minutes. This method is particularly suitable for defrosting lasagne portion by portion.

Defrost lasagna in the oven

To defrost frozen lasagne in the oven, you can reheat it for about 30 minutes at 130 °C top and bottom heat and then bake at 190 °C for a further 30 minutes.

Which lasagna can be frozen?

As a rule, you can freeze any lasagne, whether with vegetables or Bolognese. The only important thing is that none of the ingredients have already been frozen.

However, some ingredients lose quality as soon as they are defrosted.

During freezing, cheese loses moisture and becomes dry. Therefore, if you are preparing the lasagne for freezing, you can leave out the top layer of cheese and only sprinkle it on after defrosting.

Can you freeze lasagne with béchamel?

Lasagne with béchamel sauce and bolognese is ideal for freezing and can be kept for 3 months without any problems.

Can you freeze lasagna with vegetables?

You can only freeze vegetable lasagne if the vegetables have not been frozen beforehand. Otherwise, lasagne with vegetables can also be frozen without any problems.

Can you freeze lasagna with spinach?

Contrary to popular belief, lasagne with spinach can be frozen without any problems, provided the spinach has not been frozen beforehand. The best results are achieved by blanching the spinach. This preserves the taste, color and vitamins better.

Can you freeze lasagna with fish?

Lasagne with fish can only be frozen if the fish has not been frozen beforehand.

Can you freeze lasagna with mushrooms?

Mushroom lasagne can be frozen without any problems, unless the mushrooms have already been frozen. Mushroom lasagne can be kept frozen for about 3 months without any noticeable loss of flavor.

Frequently asked questions

How long do you have to bake frozen lasagna?

To defrost frozen lasagne in the oven, you can reheat it for about 30 minutes at 130 °C top and bottom heat and then bake at 190 °C for a further 30 minutes.

Can you freeze lasagna after 2 days?

Lasagne should be frozen immediately after baking or coating to minimize the risk of bacteria developing. If you have already kept the lasagne in the fridge for 2 days, you should not freeze it again.

Can you freeze ready-made lasagna?

Baked lasagne can normally be frozen. To do this, leave it to cool and fill it in portions in airtight storage boxes. Alternatively, wrap the baking dish several times in cling film. However, if the lasagne or the ingredients it contains have already been frozen, it should not be frozen a second time.

How long does lasagne keep after defrosting?

Once defrosted, lasagne can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. However, the lasagne must not be frozen a second time.

Can you freeze lasagna in a glass dish?

Lasagne can easily be frozen in a glass, ceramic or metal baking dish. With aluminum dishes, the lasagna may take on a metallic taste after a while.

Can you freeze lasagna after baking?

You can easily freeze baked lasagne and store it for 3 months. To do this, you must first allow the lasagne to cool and then store it in an airtight container in the freezer.

Can you freeze lasagna raw?

You can easily freeze lasagne raw and bake it after defrosting. The top layer of cheese should be omitted, as cheese loses quality in the freezer. Instead, you can sprinkle the lasagne generously with cheese after defrosting.

Can you freeze homemade lasagna?

You can freeze homemade lasagne both raw and baked and keep it for 3 months. To do this, cover the baking dish with cling film and aluminum foil or put it in an airtight storage box.

Can you freeze lasagna twice?

Lasagne should never be frozen twice, as there is a risk of bacteria multiplying and eating it could be harmful to your health. Even if some of the ingredients used for the lasagne have been frozen, the lasagne must not be frozen again.

Freeze and defrost the lasagna: So it doesn’t get mushy