How to Store Fresh Pasta: The Ultimate Guide
You may have read our Definitive Guide to Making Homemade Pasta, or perhaps you have treated yourself to some delicious fresh pasta to cook at home. Better yet, you could be the proud owner of one of our pasta making kits, bringing some authentic Italian flair into your kitchen.
When it comes to fresh, restaurant-quality pasta, we believe you can’t have too much of a good thing. However, there’s a chance you’ve whipped up more mouth-watering tortelloni than you can handle in a single sitting. Those who appreciate the delights of fresh pasta will know it’s simply too good to waste. Fortunately, we’ve put together a guide to storing fresh pasta. This means you’ll be able to savour the fruits of your labour for many meals to come. Continue reading or watch as our Chef Roberta shows how to best store fresh pasta.
How Long Does Fresh Pasta Last?
Supermarket-bought fresh pasta can be stored in the fridge for two to three days. This is because it’s already been semi-cooked for a longer shelf-life. Homemade pasta, however, can only be stored for one to two days (although we’d recommend eating it within 18 hours – if you can wait that long!).
If you keep fresh pasta in the fridge for over 18 hours, the pasta will start to absorb water and become oxidised. A telltale sign of this is the pasta turning into a “greenish-grey” colour. This can easily be confused with the pasta going off. Don’t let looks deceive you, as long as it’s within two days of making it, your pasta will still taste just as sensational.
So, now you know how long fresh pasta lasts in the fridge, how exactly should it be stored? To refrigerate fresh pasta, place the portions in airtight plastic bags. You can also use a Tupperware container, but make sure the seal or lid is placed on firmly.
Can You Freeze Fresh Pasta?
Are you planning on saving your pasta for a special occasion? Perhaps you have a date, and you want to dazzle your amore with your culinary prowess. If so, we recommend putting aside your desired portion and freezing the rest to enjoy at a later date.
To freeze fresh pasta, place the cut pasta on a baking sheet for 15 minutes so that it dries out slightly. This is to prevent the individual pieces from sticking together. Then transfer the pasta portions to airtight containers or bags. Before you place them in the freezer, make sure to press out any excess air.
You can store fresh pasta in the freezer for up to 1 month. When you want to reheat the pasta, simply remove it from the freezer bag and drop it in salted water on a rolling boil. If you’re worried about overcooking it, take a look at our guide to cooking fresh pasta.
We believe that no matter how hectic your schedule, you deserve the joys of gourmet cuisine. That’s why all of our fresh pasta and sauces can be frozen in their original packaging. Don’t worry about losing those delectable flavours – they’ve travelled to you all the way from Italy, so they aren’t going anywhere now!
Can I Freeze Pasta That’s Been Cooked in Sauce?
Many home cooks freeze leftover portions of meals, and cooked pasta in sauce is no different. Simply put the freshly cooked pasta and sauce into a freezer bag for safe storage for up to one month. To reheat, simply place the bag in warm water for quick thawing before placing it on a hob. From there, it will only be a matter of minutes before you’re indulging in a hearty ragu or a velvety carbonara.
Here at Pasta Evangelists, we are passionate about pasta. Generations of craftsmanship, flavour, and skill go into each one of our artisanal pasta dishes. All our handcrafted pasta dishes contain the finest ingredients, sauces, and garnishes. We also offer nationwide shipping, bringing a little bit of Italian gastronomic luxury to your door. We’re constantly perfecting our recipes and sourcing new ingredients. So, if you think your fridge or freezer is lacking in fresh pasta, simply take a look at this week’s menu.
At Pasta Evangelists, we bring a taste of Italy to your kitchen. Prepared using the freshest ingredients, our gourmet pasta dishes are perfect for those looking to enjoy restaurant-quality meals, delivered to your door, and ready in under five minutes. Order from our weekly menu today, and we’ll offer you 25% off your first delivery - simply enter the code BLOG25 at checkout.
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Hi Bill – great question! It depends a bit on the type of fresh pasta. Fresh egg pasta can be left at room temperature for a couple of hours but if you’re planning on cooking it the following day, I’d put it in the fridge overnight. Be sure to flour it well or separate the pieces so they don’t stick together.
Filled pasta is mostly the same, just be aware that the moisture in the filling will seep into the pasta dough, making it quite sticky after an hour or so. Therefore, if you’re planning on keeping them for a couple of hours or overnight, be sure to flour the surface heavily and try to pick a filling with less moisture.
Pasta bianca shapes (made with just flour and water) are the best for leaving out. These can be left out indefinitely (up to a month or two) once they’ve dried out. It usually takes a couple of days for them to fully dry out (although this does depend on your climate – humidity and temperature). Then, they can be stored in a sealed container. Happy pasta making!
How long can you leave fresh pasta out at room temperature before cooking it please?
And I assume the best thing to do, if you’re leaving it out too long at room temperature, is to put it in a fridge until you’re ready to use it?
Thanks,
Hi David,
Glad you found the blog helpful! For frozen pasta, don’t defrost before cooking – just drop the frozen pasta straight into generously salted boiling water, and add between 30 seconds to a minute of extra cooking time to account for this.
Thanks for the article, really helpful. How much longer would you allow for cooking fresh pasta that has been frozen?