What to Do With Leftover Pasta

Cooked too much pasta? Plain leftover pasta is easy to turn into a new meal, and it reheats well with a little water or sauce.

First: store it safely

Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking (1 hour if it's above 90°F outside or in a hot car). Divide big batches into shallow containers so they cool fast.
Keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Eat cooked pasta within 3 to 5 days in the fridge (FoodSafety.gov). Toss plain pasta with a little oil so it doesn't clump.
Freeze for about 1 to 2 months; slightly undercooked pasta freezes best.
Reheat until steaming hot (165°F), with a splash of water or sauce.

For more detail, see the FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart.

1. Pasta frittata

Mix cooked spaghetti with beaten eggs and cheese and cook like Veggie Frittata. Crisp outside, soft inside.

2. Fried noodles

Stir-fry with cabbage, egg and soy sauce: Egg Fried Noodles with Cabbage.

3. Peanut noodles

Toss cold pasta with peanut butter, soy sauce and honey: Peanut Noodles.

4. Baked ziti

Combine short pasta with sauce and cheese and bake: Baked Ziti.

5. Soup

Add small amounts to Minestrone or Chicken Vegetable Soup at the very end.

6. Quick garlic pasta

Reheat plain pasta in garlic, olive oil and red pepper flakes: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.

Crave recipes that use it

Let Crave match the rest

Add your leftovers and whatever else is in your kitchen on the Crave home page. It's free and shows which of its 75 recipes you can make now and what, if anything, you're missing.

Questions

How long is cooked pasta good in the fridge?

3 to 5 days, per FoodSafety.gov.

Can you freeze cooked pasta?

Yes. Freeze in portions for about 1 to 2 months. It's best in baked dishes or soups afterwards.

How do I reheat pasta so it isn't dry?

Add a spoonful of water or sauce, cover, and heat until steaming, stirring once.