How to Store and Reheat Pasta

How to Reheat Pasta With Sauce

We always recommend storing and reheating pasta and sauce separately, but if your pasta is already mixed with sauce, reheating it in a microwave will yield the best results. Here’s what you should do:

• Place a single-serving of the pasta in a round or oval microwave-safe dish and drizzle a little extra sauce or water on top to keep the pasta moist and separated while it cooks.
• Then, cover the dish and microwave the pasta at medium heat for 1 to 1 ½ minutes.
• Check to see if the pasta is warmed all the way through—if it isn’t, stir it and continue to microwave it at medium power in 15-second increments until completely heated.

How to Reheat Plain Pasta

To reheat plain pasta that has only olive oil on it, simply sauté it with a little water in a skillet over medium-heat. Cook the pasta until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees—approximately 2-3 minutes for 1 serving (1 cup) of cooked pasta.

To reheat plain pasta in a microwave oven, here’s what you should do:

• Place a single-serving of the pasta in a round or oval microwave-safe dish and drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil on top to keep it moist and separated while it cooks.
• Then, cover the dish and microwave the pasta at medium heat for 1 to 1 ½ minutes.
• Check to see if the pasta is warmed all the way through—if it isn’t, stir it and continue to microwave it at medium power in 15-second increments until completely heated.

How to Reheat Stuffed Shells

To reheat non-casserole baked pasta dishes, such as stuffed jumbo shells, place the shells in an oven-safe dish, cover with aluminum foil, and bake at 375 degrees until the shells’ internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Hearing or seeing the shells sizzling is usually a good indication that they are nearing or at the desired internal temperature.

If you have to use a microwave to reheat stuffed shells, you should reheat individual portions one at a time. Here’s what you should do:

• Place a single serving of shells on a microwave-safe dish and drizzle a little extra sauce or water on top to keep them moist while they cook.
• Then, cover the dish and microwave the shells at medium heat for 1 to 1 ½ minutes.
• Check to see if they have warmed all the way through—if they haven’t, continue to microwave them at medium power in 15-second increments until completely heated.

How Long Does an Open Jar of Pasta Sauce Last in the Refrigerator?

Barilla recommends storing an opened jar of sauce in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. The remaining sauce may be frozen at any time during the 3-5 days; simply transfer the sauce to a freezer-safe container and it will be good for up to 3 months.