How to Reheat Lasagna Without It Turning Into a Rubbery Mess

You’ve mastered most pasta re-heats, but lasagna is a whole other beast. This one-tray dinner can’t be tossed and stirred in its sauce to prevent drying—you need some new tricks if you want to recreate that ooey, gooey goodness. (Hint: Steam is your friend.) No matter which cooking method you choose, we have the scoop on how to reheat lasagna so you can enjoy that cheesy decadence on day two and beyond.

This method is quick, convenient and practically foolproof, as long as you're heating just one or two portions at a time. Why so stingy? Placing a huge hunk of lasagna in the microwave isn't ideal since your dish won’t reheat evenly—and nobody one wants to be the unlucky diner eating congealed cheese while everyone else is enjoying a melty mouthful. Follow these steps for smaller portions and you can still rely on your tried-and-true kitchen appliance.

Step 1: Prep the lasagna. Place a single or double serving of lasagna in a microwave-safe container.

Step 2: Add water. Sprinkle the dish with a tablespoon or two of water (or sauce if you happen to have some leftover).

Step 3: Microwave. Cover the dish and heat using the medium setting on your microwave for 60 to 90 seconds.

Step 4: Check the lasagna. Remove the lasagna from the microwave and check that it’s hot all the way through. If you have a piece of pasta that is piping hot at the edges but cold in the center, split it in half by separating the layers and give it another minute in the microwave, checking again after 30 seconds.

Step 5: Plate your lasagna. Remove the heated lasagna (reassemble if necessary) and dig in.

The oven works well for single servings of lasagna and large portions alike. This method requires a little patience, but the payoff (i.e., bubbly, cheesy deliciousness) is big.

Step 1: Prep the oven. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Step 2: Heat. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of water around the edges of the pasta. Tightly cover your casserole dish with a double layer of aluminum foil and pop it in the oven.

Step 3: Dinner is served. After 30 to 45 minutes (less time for a single slice), your lasagna should be soft, melty and ready to be devoured. (Psst: The pasta experts over at Barilla tell us that the internal temp of your reheated lasagna should reach 160°F, so keep your thermometer handy.)

Looking for a way to cure your—and your family’s—leftover aversion syndrome? Introducing a genius method for turning yesterday's dinner into an entirely new dish. Crunchy lasagna is usually the enemy, but the crispy, fried cheese that this preparation yields is a total game-changer. P.S. This method works best with lasagna that’s been refrigerated.

Step 1: Cut into slices. Use a sharp knife (a serrated one works well) to slice your hunk of leftover lasagna into slabs approximately one-inch thick.

Step 2: Fry, fry, fry. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Once hot, add a tablespoon of oil and sear the lasagna slabs on one side until golden. Flip over and fry on the other side.

Step 3: Dig In. Serve these fried lasagna slices with some tomato sauce drizzled on top and marvel at your culinary prowess.

The air fryer is a popular appliance for a reason. There is nothing this little machine can’t cook—from delicious breakfasts to start the day to crispy chicken wings to nom on while watching a game and even…you guessed it, reheating lasagna without turning it into a crunchy mess.

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer. If your device comes with a preheating option, simply turn it to that mode. If not, use the temperature and time buttons to warm up the air fryer for two minutes.

Step 2: Put the lasagna on a pan. Because you don’t want the ooey-gooey cheesy drippings to stick to your air fryer basket, it’s better to place your lasagna on a loaf pan that fits into the air fryer. Next, you want to cover the top so you retain the moisture while reheating.

Step 3: Reheat. Leave the lasagna inside the air fryer for ten minutes to let it reheat thoroughly. The layers should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit, but of course, feel free to pull it out when it’s warm enough for your liking. If after ten minutes it still feels cold, continue reheating in five-minute increments.

Step 4: Plate your lasagna. Carefully pull the pan out of the air fryer and let it cool down a bit before plating and digging in.

You can stash your leftover lasagna in the fridge for a maximum of five days before it goes bad, says Food Network. In order for it to maintain its integrity, your lasagna must be stored in a tightly sealed container so moisture can’t get through. To double-check if your lasagna is still good, be on the lookout for dried-out noodles and funky-smelling cheese or tomato sauce.

If you have leftover lasagna that you know you won’t get to within five days, you can simply store it in the freezer. Taste of Home says your batch of pasta goodness can live in the freezer for up to three months. Again, it’s best if you store it in an airtight container where moisture and other contaminants can’t get in.

Keep in mind that before reheating, it’s best to thaw frozen lasagna in the refrigerator overnight before using one of the methods above. However, you can reheat frozen lasagna using the microwave or the oven—you'll just need to add an extra ten to 15 minutes to the cooking time.

We love a classic bake, but sometimes you want to shake things up a bit. Like with this cheater's skillet lasagna with corn and cherry, or this waistline-friendly mixed greens lasagna. When we're craving comfort food but don't want to spend hours layering lasagna noodles, this ravioli lasagna is our dinner go-to. Or, why not enjoy your favorite dish in a soup or in individual muffin trays? And when we want the luxurious, comforting taste of lasagna without having to turn on a stovetop and an oven to make it, we turn to this Instant Pot vegetable lasagna. Buon appetito.