Can you reheat pesto pasta?

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Yes, you can reheat pesto pasta in the microwave, oven, or stovetop. Make sure you just warm pesto pasta, then cook before you make it tasteless. There are pros and cons to using the stove and microwave, but if well done, you should be left with delicious reheated pesto pasta. 

There are instructions to follow when reheating pesto pasta. If it gets too hot, chances will have a dry bowl with a bitter taste. If done correctly, it tastes just as fresh. Add extra liquid, such as olive oil or water, before reheating the pesto pasta. 

Pesto pasta does not need to be very saucy, but eating a dry bowl of pasta is not enjoyable. Choose any method below to reheat your pesto pasta.

Microwave

The microwave is quick and convenient when it comes to heating pesto pasta. Be careful when warming pasta up in the microwave, when you heat it for too long or let the food get too hot.

Add enough moisture to the pesto pasta before warming it and cover it with a damp paper towel. You get soft, saucy pesto pasta in no time. Lack of moisture makes your pesto pasta stick together to form a mush, a dry sauce, and a tasteless dish. Do not heat the pasta in the microwave for too long or on too high heat.

Steps

  1. Place the pesto pasta to be reheated in a microwave-safe bowl. Add some extra water or pesto to the top of the pasta to keep it separated and moist.
  2. Cover the dish with a damp paper towel and heat it for 1 ½ minutes. 
  3. Check to see if the pasta has warmed; if it has not, stir it around to distribute the heat and continue to microwave the pasta on medium power for 15 seconds until warm.

Oven

Reheating pesto pasta in the oven takes longer than all other methods. However, the results are tempting. You can keep the fresh flavor of the pesto and ensure the pasta is heated evenly. 

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Do not forget to place aluminum foil over the pasta when heating in the oven. That keeps the pasta moist and the noodles tender. Reheating the pasta in the oven allows an even distribution of heat. There is more room for heat that circulates during the process. 

Turn the oven to the right heat so the pesto does not become too hot and lose its flavor. You can spice up the meal by topping off the pasta with some cheese before baking it. The cheese will make the pasta crispy and give it a new flavor. When the pasta gets warm,  switch to broil for one or two minutes to melt the cheese on top.

Steps

  1. Place the pesto pasta in an oven-safe dish. 
  2. Sprinkle some leftover pesto or olive oil onto the pasta and stir.
  3. Cover the oven-safe dish with aluminum foil.
  4. Leave the pesto pasta to warm in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  5. Remove the dish from the oven, remove the foil and stir the pasta.

Best method

The stove gives you soft noodles and a warm sauce. It keeps the original taste of your pesto pasta as well as moist. You can add in some extra liquid so that it uses the excess water to warm up instead of using up the existing moisture in the sauce.

Reheating pasta on the stove takes longer than warming it up in a microwave. Keep stirring the pasta to stop it from sticking to the bottom of the pan, and make sure there is enough liquid to prevent it from drying out. To keep the pasta saucy, use olive oil (tastingtable.com).

Ensure that the pan does not become too hot. Otherwise, you will have burned pasta. Heating smaller portions on the stove can be tedious, but it is ideal for reheating more significant portions of pasta.

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Steps

  1. Start by heating butter or olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium or low heat.
  2. Once the oil is hot, add in the cold pasta.
  3. When the pasta begins to warm, add a small amount of liquid, such as water, cream, or milk, around ¼ of a cup.
  4. Stir the pasta occasionally while warming, and once the liquid has absorbed, check if the pasta is warm. Remove it from the heat. Enjoy.

Storage

You can refrigerate or freeze pesto pasta. Note that freezing pesto might result in a change of texture after thawing. After defrosting, the quality of this sauce depends on the ingredients that made the pesto and when it was frozen.

In most cases, it comes with a best-by date on the label. If not opened, it lasts for weeks or even months after that date. Of course, the quality will not be the same, but it is still consumable. Once you open the jar, you can keep the sauce for about 7 to 10 days (fitibility.com).

The unrefrigerated pesto contains more preservatives than the refrigerated variety, which is why it lasts longer. Homemade pesto lasts for 4 to 5 days in the fridge. Self-made pesto has no preservatives, meaning it is unprotected from going bad. 

Safe Temperatures

FAQs

Can pesto pasta be served cold?

Yes, you can have pesto pasta served cold as an appetizer. It tastes fresh when cold. Add extra moisture, and drizzle some olive oil over the pasta. The pesto taste remains original.

Can you eat pesto from the jar?

Pesto is safe to eat from the jar, just like the bowl. It happens if you have made a fresh batch at home. If the pesto has been sitting for some time, there is a need to stir it before using it. Mix with olive oil, basil, garlic, and pine nuts, to enjoy pesto from the jar. Olive oil can be separate from the rest of the ingredients.

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