Help! How to freeze pasta?

[alootikki]

I made way too much for dinner last night (company over), and now would like to freeze my leftovers. Can I freeze the following?

- Spaghetti in red sauce
- Tortellini with pesto
- Meatballs

If so, what's the best way to freeze it so it doesn't spoil?

(Can you tell I've never frozen leftovers before? :o )

[MsPeachy]

In my family, we've only ever frozen sauce and meat (meatballs and/or sausage) Usually just in Ziploc freezer bags.

I'm not sure I'd freeze the pasta - just put in the fridge and reheat and eat within a week or make into a fritatta.

[BeachBum]

It's one of those things that may or may not be good when you thaw it. It really depends. I would personally put it in a pan/tupperware then into freezer ziplock bag.

[Hello Kitty]

I've frozen pasta seperately before. I put it in a zipper bag and squeezed out the air. To reheat, I did it slowly, letting it thaw for awhile and then heating it in the bag in hot water. It wasn't like perfect fresh cooked pasta, but it was definitely good enough for the convenience factor.

[lil_geek]

I have frozen plain noodles too. Same as Hello Kitty... in a ziplock. It works best if the pasta is slightly firmer then you would want to eat it, but it does work with fully cooked. I do add a touch of olive oil before I freeze, I find it doesn't mush as much when defrosting.

Let thaw then toss into boiling water for 1 minute. OR I freeze it with sauce, let thaw in the fridge and microwave for lunches at work.

[AmandaLeigh]

I usually freeze pasta with sauce or meatballs in single portion containers to take for lunch. I add about a spoonfool or so of water before reheating since the microwave seems to dry it out. It is not quite as good as fresh, since the noodles are a bit softer, but it is still pretty good.