How to Store Pasta

Pasta is one of the more popular foods you will find on the dinner table. It comes in many forms and can be made at home, purchased fresh, or purchased dried for long term use. Learn how to store your pasta.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Plastic freezer bags
• Air-tight container

1. You can store dry, uncooked pasta, for up to a year in a cool dry place. To ensure that pasta will not be left in your pantry for too long, it is wise to use the "first in, first out" rule, using the oldest packages before the newer ones.
2. If you purchase fresh pasta from the refrigerator section of your supermarket, you can store it in your refrigerator. Use it by the "use by" date. Fresh pasta can be frozen and stored for up to three months. If you make pasta yourself, and do not plan to use it immediately, you can allow it to air dry slightly and then store it in a plastic freezer bag in your freezer. Mark the pasta clearly with the expiration date before freezing.
3. Once you have cooked pasta, you should store it in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. As cooked pasta is absorbent, it should be stored alone.
4. Pastas made into casseroles can be frozen. Pasta dishes that freeze well are lasagna, baked ziti, manicotti, and macaroni and cheese.