How long can lasagna sit out? Here’s everything you need to know, plus what to do with leftovers and delicious lasagna recipes to try!
Whether you prefer homemade lasagna or store-bought lasagna, there’s nothing quite like this hearty, comforting, and flavorful dish!
It’s the perfect recipe for a weeknight meal or Sunday dinner.
And it’s always great for a crowd.
If you’re making lasagna from scratch, it’s definitely a labor of love.
After hours of cooking, you may be tempted to let your Lasagna sit out for a bit before putting it away.
So how long can lasagna sit out?
Here’s everything you need to know, plus yummy recipes we know you’ll love!
Lasagna 101
Before we discuss how long lasagna can sit out, here’s some Lasagna 101.
Lasagna is an Italian dish that traditionally features melty cheese, meat sauce, and tender noodles layered into a bubbly casserole.
However, there are lots of creative ways to make a lasagna using various sauces, meats, and vegetables.
You can make a vegetarian lasagna using vegetables as the pasta sheets, chicken and spinach lasagna, butternut squash lasagna with Italian sausage, and more.
Typical Ingredients
- Mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Ricotta cheese
- Cottage cheese or a cottage cheese substitute
- Ground beef
- Sausage
- Chicken
- Tomato sauce
- Alfredo sauce
- Bechamel sauce
- Spinach
- Butternut squash
- Tomatoes
- Basil
What To Serve With Lasagna
Here are some of the most popular foods to serve with lasagna to make a complete meal:
- Green salad like BLT Salad with Avocado or Chicken Caesar Salad with Pasta
- Vegetable salad like this Sweet Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Bread salad
- Fruit salad
- Breadsticks like these Rhodes Rolls Breadsticks
- Garlic bread
- Rolls like No-Knead Crescent Rolls or Refrigerator Mashed Potato Rolls
- Cheesy French Bread
- Focaccia bread
- Green beans
- Carrots like these Crockpot Cinnamon and Honey Carrots
- Brussels sprouts
- Sauteed Veggies
- Asparagus
- Zucchini
Cooking Time
Lasagna has a relatively long cooking time, especially if you’re cooking frozen lasagna.
Depending on the size of your lasagna and the baking temperature, the baking time can take anywhere from 50-85 minutes.
Here are a few ways to tell if lasagna is done:
- Check the center of the lasagna with a toothpick or a fork. If it comes away clean, it’s done.
- Cook until the top layer of the lasagna is golden brown.
- Check whether the sauce is bubbling around the edges of the pan.
- Use a food thermometer (The ideal temperature will be between 165°F and 175°F).
- Cut a small piece and give it a try!
How long can lasagna sit out?
After you make your lasagna and pop it out of the oven, the clock starts ticking.
Perishable food can only sit at room temperature for a certain amount of time before harmful bacterial growth makes the food unsafe to eat.
The danger zone for foods is between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
As a general rule of thumb, foods should not sit at these temperatures for longer than 2 hours.
To halt the growth of bacteria, you should store your leftover lasagna in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible.
How to Store Leftovers
Now that we’ve covered how long lasagna can sit out, here’s how to store lasagna leftovers so you can enjoy them later.
The best way to store leftover lasagna is in a shallow airtight container.
However, you can also tightly cover your lasagna with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
If you plan to freeze your lasagna, you can package the lasagna into individual slices so you only have to reheat the amount you need.
And make sure you let your lasagna cool completely before freezing for the best results.
How Long It Lasts (in the Refrigerator and Freezer)
The shelf life of lasagna depends on how it’s stored.
It’s best to enjoy leftover lasagna the next day, but you can safely eat refrigerated lasagna for up to 5 days.
And frozen lasagna is good for about three months for the best quality.
How to Reheat Leftovers
From the Refrigerator
The best way to reheat refrigerated lasagna is in the oven.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the lasagna in a foil-topped tray or baking dish and cook for about 30 minutes.
You can remove the foil for the last few minutes of cooking to make sure the top browns.
The internal temperature of the lasagna should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check this with a meat thermometer.
Or, if you don’t have a thermometer, make sure the lasagna is hot all the way through and the sauce is bubbling at the edges.
From Frozen
It will take about double the amount of time to reheat frozen lasagna. And you’ll need to use a higher temperature.
Add frozen lasagna, covered with foil, to a preheated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit
Bake for about 1 hour, remove the foil and cook for another 10 minutes.
Let stand for at least 10 minutes, and serve!
How To Tell When It’s Gone Bad
It’s important to not let your lasagna sit out for too long. But, it’s just as important to keep an eye out for spoilage even under proper conditions.
When it comes to lasagna leftovers or any leftover food, it’s always best to err on the side of caution to avoid getting sick.
Check for these signs of spoilage before enjoying your leftover lasagna:
- Sour smell
- Mold
- Excess moisture
- Change in color
- Slimy texture
- An off taste
If you happen to eat spoiled lasagna, watch out for symptoms of food poisoning like upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting.
If you experience these, seek medical care as soon as possible.
FAQ
Perishable food should sit out for no longer than 2 hours at room temperature or between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you don’t plan to bake your lasagna for longer than this time, the best option is to place the uncooked lasagna in the refrigerator, covered tightly with aluminum foil until you’re ready to cook it.
Yes. You can put hot lasagna in the fridge. However, you should keep it away from other foods in the refrigerator to avoid heating them.
It is not safe to let the lasagna sit out overnight to let it cool. Perishable foods should not sit at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
Leftover lasagna can last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for about 3 months.
Yummy Recipes to Try
Now that we’ve covered lasagna 101, how long lasagna can sit out, and what to do with your leftover lasagna, here are some yummy lasagna recipes to try!
Healthy and Delicious Lasagna Zucchini Boats
Lasagna Zucchini Boats are a low-carb version of the traditional pasta dish made with hollowed-out zucchini instead of lasagna noodles. While this recipe may be healthy, it’s also incredibly delicious!
Best Ever Lasagna Made With Cottage Cheese
This classic Italian Lasagna made with Cottage Cheese is as delicious as it is easy to make! Featuring three different kinds of cheese and a savory red meat sauce, this lasagna recipe is scrumptious.
Healthy Turkey Lasagna Soup
This healthy Turkey Lasagna Soup recipe features browned ground turkey, tender noodles, a flavorful broth, and a little cheese. It’s everything you love about traditional lasagna without all of the calories!
Elevated Hamburger Helper Lasagna
This elevated Hamburger Helper Lasagna combines the noodles from the familiar boxed dinner with a homemade meat sauce and 2 different kinds of cheese. It’s a delicious one pot lasagna meal that’s so easy to throw together!
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