How to Reheat Leftover Pasta so It's as Delicious as It Was on Day One

Knowing how to reheat pasta properly is essential for fans of this versatile food. After all, one of the much-loved things about many pasta and noodle dishes is that you can make a big batch and eat it for days. But you probably don't want rubbery, dry results after reheating. Here's how to reheat your noodles so they taste as good as they did on day one.

How to Reheat Pasta on the Stove

It's easy to reheat leftover pasta in a skillet—whether already sauced, mixed with other ingredients, or dairy-based. Follow these steps.

1. Bring a skillet to medium heat. Having a hot skillet before adding the pasta helps ensure your dish isn't overcooked as it heats up.
2. Add olive oil, followed by your leftover pasta.
3. Stir the pasta dish and ingredients a few times until thoroughly warmed through.
4. If the dish is dairy-based (with cream or cheese), you'll want to heat it on low to avoid overdrying the pasta. Add more milk or cream as it heats for more moisture.
   

How to Reheat Pasta in the Oven

If you prefer to use your oven, you can easily reheat leftover pasta that has already been tossed in alfredo or meatball marinara sauce. This is a great hands-off method that delivers a delicious dish.

1. Put your pasta into a shallow ovenproof dish and cover it with foil.
2. Bake it in the oven at 350 F until just heated through, about 20 minutes.
3. To make it extra gooey, remove the foil and add a sprinkle of Parmesan in the last five minutes.

How to Reheat Pasta in the Microwave

While not a preferred method, it is possible to reheat pasta in the microwave for a quick and easy option. Use the microwave when warming up individual portions of loose pasta (not a casserole or baked pasta) and avoid reheating the same noodles more than once—this can lead to hard, dry pasta.

1. Place pasta on a microwave-safe plate or container.
2. Add a sprinkle of water or pasta sauce over the dish and cover with a microwave-safe lid. (This helps maintain moisture and prevents the noodles from clumping up.)
3. Heat on medium-high heat for a minute, then remove to stir.
4. Continue heating in one-minute increments until warm, stirring after every minute.
   

How Long Does Leftover Pasta Last?

Like most food, leftover cooked pasta only stays fresh for about three to four days when stored in the refrigerator. So make sure to eat it all before you're forced to toss it (a travesty we're sure you won't be facing). You can also freeze leftover pasta for up to six months, but you'll need to separate the noodles from the sauce before freezing.

Pasta Meal Ideas

We can always look to pasta for an easy-to-prepare, affordable, and shelf-stable dinner and it's extremely versatile, too. It's easy to dress your noodles in whatever sauce you have on hand for a family-friendly meal that takes 20 minutes or less.

Need inspiration for more pasta-filled dinners? Try one of these delicious, easy-to-make pasta recipes: bucatini with kale and ricotta, cheesy one-pot pasta, or pasta with shrimp and spicy butter. You can also keep things simple: Drizzle your leftover noodles—sans sauce—with good-quality olive oil, salt, and pepper, and finish with a shower of shaved Parmesan.