PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Lasagne - freezing and defrosting questions

Options
145791013

Comments

  • x_zombie_x
    x_zombie_x Posts: 18 Forumite
    Hi,

    I'm normally a lurker on this forum but have a question...

    I'm interested in making some small lasagnes and cannellonies that I can freeze as ready meals but i'm unsure at what stage I should freeze them.

    Do I freeze them after I have made them up in the dishes or do I have to cook them first then freeze?

    Thanks for your help as i'm very confused :-)
  • flea72
    flea72 Posts: 5,392 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    depends on how you want to reheat

    i always cook first, cool, then freeze, as that way i can microwave it to reheat

    if you havent cooked it before freezing, you will have longer to wait for your food lol

    Flea
  • I usually cook it, cool it quickly and then freeze it. To reheat I defrost in the fridge and reheat in the oven as quickly as possible.
  • Katzen
    Katzen Posts: 535 Forumite
    Uniform Washer
    Hi Zombie,
    I would cook them first, that way everything is bound together if you have to move it out of the cooking pots into freezing pots. Or, as I find it difficult to get lasagne out of hte pot without leaving it all mashed up, could you cook the bolognaise and freeze that then construct as required?
    Mortgage Outstanding Nov '16 £142,772.75
    Mortgage Additional OPs 2017 Target £4522.80/ Actual £865.00
    GC Feb 0/£200
  • x_zombie_x
    x_zombie_x Posts: 18 Forumite
    Thanks for the replys, v helpful! :j

    I will try a few of the suggestions and see what works for me.

    xxx
  • kraftykat
    kraftykat Posts: 435 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Photogenic
    x_zombie_x wrote: »
    Hi,

    I'm normally a lurker on this forum but have a question...

    I'm interested in making some small lasagnes and cannellonies that I can freeze as ready meals but i'm unsure at what stage I should freeze them.

    Do I freeze them after I have made them up in the dishes or do I have to cook them first then freeze?

    Thanks for your help as i'm very confused :-)

    I usually make one really big lasagne. Once it's cooked I cool it and cut it into portions and wrap each portion well in clingfilm & freeze them.

    When I need it, I defrost the portions overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven the next day.

    Kraftykat :D
  • hwalkerh
    hwalkerh Posts: 307 Forumite
    Hi

    i have just cooked a batch of lasagne to put in the freezer as i am fed up of shop bought ones with very little meat.

    i have cooked them up fully and the only thing to go one when they are cooked after being frozen is the cheese, but i have one question.

    When i want to taken them out the freezer do i need to defrost before cooking, how long shall i cook them for??

    thanks
  • Linda32
    Linda32 Posts: 4,385 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    This is what I do, I make two big ones, we have two portions then I freeze the others into individual portions.

    If I'm taking a portion to work, I take it out the night before, Its previously frozen in microwave containers. I zap this for 2-3 mins in the microwave at work, we don't have one at home.

    If I'm cooking one at home then I take it out the night before then put in a dish which has a lid, and this re-heats fine. We are gas so gas mark 6 for 1/2hr. That suits my oven.

    If I didn't have a dish with a lid then I would use pirex with foil over the top.

    I don't put cheese ontop, so can't help with that.
  • mum2many
    mum2many Posts: 244 Forumite
    Hiya

    I want to make a lasagne using a Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food recipe and then freeze it (we should have had it last night but ended up eating at the Inlaws)

    Will this be ok as i use creme fraiche in the white sauce?
    Do i freeze before I cook it or after?

    Any tips?
    em x
    Proud to be dealing with my debts
  • Pink.
    Pink. Posts: 17,650 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi mum2many,

    I don't usually bake the lasagne before freezing it, I just layer it up and freeze it as it is because I have found in the past that even part cooking it means that the top is over done before the middle is piping hot. Saying that, I cook mine in the oven. If you're planning to reheat it in the microwave then that shouldn't be an issue.

    If I was reheating a lasagne after freezing I would defrost thoroughly and then reheat in the microwave until piping hot right through.

    There's an earlier thread with tips on freezing and defrosting lasagne that should help:

    Lasagne - freezing and defrosting questions

    I'll add your thread to it later to keep the replies together.

    Pink
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.