Every type of pasta has a tendency to stick together when it hits hot water, but the problem with lasagne sheets is that it’s so much bigger than regular pasta, so that glue-y texture becomes a bigger issue because there’s more area to stick with other sheets. You can pull apart a penne pretty easily, but lasagne? Forget about it! So, how do you prevent lasagne sheets from sticking the next time you come to cook this delicious meal? Stick with us, and you’ll find out!
Table of Contents
Surely boiling lasagne sheets will inevitably lead to them sticking? That’s what we said at the start, right? Whilst they are more likely to stick, it isn’t a guarantee, and by following these steps, you’ll be able to guarantee that they won’t!
Step 1
First, use a larger pot than you would usually. That’s because forcing lasagne sheets into a confined space is a sure-fire way to guarantee they’ll stick. Why? Because the pasta will hit the hot water and curl, when they do they’ll all curl together and those starches that are released when they hit hot water (the gluelike substance that seems to seep out of any pasta the moment it gets hot) will stick them together. Goodbye lasagne sheets, hello lasagne ball!
Step 2
Wait until the large pan is at a rolling boil and then add in some vegetable or olive oil. This helps to stop the lasagne sheets from sticking together by greasing them up slightly. It’s the same reason you add olive oil to a roasting tin when making roast potatoes. It just stops them from sticking. You’ll need a good glug of oil for your large pan too. Two tablespoons are about right to make sure there is enough residual oil leftover once you’ve drained the lasagne sheets.
Step 3
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Before you drain the pasta, you need to worry about cooking the pasta. One joy of any pasta is that you can stick it in a pan with boiling water and forget about it: but you can’t do that with lasagne! You’ll need to use a wooden spoon to continuously stir the pasta until it softens. Only after
it has softened are you safe to leave it alone, because you will have done your best to keep them separated whilst it releases the starches. Once it’s softened a little, those starches should have lessened and the sheets should be less glue-y (a technical term, we’re sure…), so you can leave it alone and let the oil you added earlier do the separating for you!
Step 4
Now back to draining. You’ll be happy to hear that this is the one stage you don’t need to change the way you usually do it. Drain your noodles as you usually would. Hopefully, none of them are stuck together at all, but if they are, just peel them away from one another. The oil should make this easier, and you shouldn’t end up with torn up lasagne sheets like you would if you hadn’t used the oil.
Why the big pot?
We thought we’d include this here because we’re certain some of you are wondering why you’ve gone to the trouble of digging out your largest pot to cook lasagne if you’ve just added oil to prevent sticking anyway. Well, the size of the pot still matters even with the oil in the water. That’s because the starch to water ratio can still be too high in a small pot, even if that small pot has oil in it. This means the water itself can work against you by taking on the properties of the sticky pasta starch that’s released when lasagne sheets are cooked. Without the big pot, you’re essentially cooking the lasagne in glue!
Can’t be bothered boiling your own lasagne sheets for fear of it sticking? Got a willing partner or family member who will do the initial cooking for you? That makes sense, you’ll probably get away with using pre-cooked lasagne sheets without needing to worry about them sticking, right? Sorry folks, it just doesn’t work like that. Precooked lasagne sheets are going to stick together too without the proper care, so if you’ve palmed the job of cooking the lasagne sheets off onto somebody else, then we’re afraid you’re still going to need this next section…
Sprinkle olive oil
Once you’ve cooked the pasta, one of the first things you’ll want to do is sprinkle a little olive oil over the individual sheets. We say a little, because depending on how much you put in the water when you cooked, there could still be a considerable amount left on the sheets. Look at your pasta closely. Is there still a slight sheen to them? You might not need any olive oil at all if that sheen is quite pronounced and they look as though you have already coated them in oil. If they need a little more to stop them from sticking, then go ahead, but use it sparingly.
Remember, too much oil can be a problem with lasagne sheets too, because it can really mess up the assembly of the dish. Too much oil, and the sauce and cheese won’t stick to it, so you won’t create the most delicious part of a lasagne – when the cheese, sauces, and lasagne sheets all work together as one complete unit after baking. So be careful with the amount of oil used.
TOP TIP: Consider using a spray bottle of olive oil instead. Two sprays on each sheet ought to stop them from sticking without making it so oily that the lasagne can’t be baked into the complete dish you’re looking for.
Use plastic foil
Plastic foil is another great alternative to storing pre-cooked lasagne sheets. By placing them on here, they don’t become easily stuck to the surface, so you can peel them away from the foil when you want to assemble your dish. In fact, the leftover oil from the cooking water ought to be enough to stop them from sticking at all. Just be careful about how you arrange them. Don’t let any sheets overlap or they might stick if you leave them to rest there for too long.
Place in cold water
Another great way to store lasagne sheets after you have cooked them is in cold water. Hot water brings out that glue like starch, ergo, cold water keeps it at bay. It’s simple really, and after using oil in the water to cook the pasta to begin with, you won’t need to add any more oil when you transfer the pasta into some cold water instead.
This has two benefits. The first is that it prevents the pasta sheets from sticking, and the second is that it gets the pasta nice and cold to handle it when you’re layering the lasagne or whatever dish you’re making with the lasagne sheets. It’s a win-win!
OK. This last one is going to split the lasagne community like you wouldn’t believe, so imagine we’re whispering this one so we don’t get shouted down for the suggestion:
You can always place uncooked pasta in the lasagne dish and bake the whole thing for longer.
Will you probably end up with a few crispy bits here and there? Yes. Will it affect the texture of the dish overall? Maybe a little. But does it make your life a lot easier? You bet it does!
Now, if you’re a die-hard traditionalist, then we imagine you’ve just got a little heated after reading that, and that’s why we led with the whole cooking the pasta in oil and storing it correctly before assembly thing. But not everybody is a pasta aficionado, so sometimes a little cheat here and a sneaky trick there isn’t the end of the world.
Are you wondering how it works? It’s simple really, the sauces act as the hot liquid you’re cooking the lasagne sheets in. Instead of boiling water, the hot meat and cheese sauces cook the dried lasagne sheets until they are done. Obviously, the sauces aren’t at a rolling boil like the water is that you usually cook the lasagne sheets in, so you need to cook it for slightly longer. We suppose it’s a sort of ‘low ‘n’ slow’ lasagne when you cook it this way.
We’d also recommend putting a knife through the lasagne to make sure it’s cooked. Any crunches, and you’ll need to pop it back in for another 10 minutes. Try cooking lasagne at a moderate heat (around 200C or 370F) for 45 minutes to start with. If that doesn’t do it, check again after 10 minutes and it ought to be done. Crispy lasagne sheets be gone!
And remember, if anybody asks where you heard that tip – it wasn’t us!
- GOTHAM STEEL 5-Quart Stock Pot
- Egg Lasagne sheets 500 g
- Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cold-Pressed
- 3-Piece Glass Casserole Baking Dish
Despite our above tip (shhh), we think it’s important to know how to prevent lasagne sheets from sticking because pre-cooking the sheets make for a much nicer lasagne. Remember to use a large pan, add oil to the water, and stir the pasta until it softens to prevent them from sticking together. Then either store them with an extra sprinkle of olive oil, on some plastic foil, or in some cold water until you’re ready to use them. Stick with this guide, and your lasagne sheets will never stick again!
FAQs
The Best Way To Prevent Lasagne Sheets From Sticking - The Cooking Bar? ›
Boil water like you normally do when cooking lasagne sheets. However, this time stir vigorously in circles so you create a whirlpool in the water. This way, when you add the lasagne sheets to the boiling water, the whirlpool movement will prevent them from sticking to each other.
How do you unstick pasta sheets? ›The best way to do this is to plunge it quickly into boiling water, to which you've added a tablespoon of oil or butter. Then drain again, and it should come unstuck. If this is a continual problem for you, try adding oil or butter to the water as it boils the first time.
Do you soak lasagne sheets in hot or cold water? ›Pouring boiling water on to a batch of sheets, as Yotam Ottolenghi once advised (see this entry), is asking for trouble. However, you can soak all the sheets you need in cold water. After 5 to 10 minutes, they should be floppy.
Do you soak lasagna sheets before cooking? ›Beat the egg in a bowl, then mix with ricotta, parsley, a pinch of nutmeg and pepper. Soak the lasagne sheets in a single layer in boiling water for 5 mins. (Although the packet says no pre-cook, I find soaking improves the texture.)
Should you boil lasagne sheets first? ›I like to use fresh lasagne sheets, which you can buy in the fresh pasta section in the supermarket – they can go straight in and there's no need to pre-cook the pasta sheets at all. Start by spreading a layer of your tomato-based sauce (either a plain tomato sauce or your pre-made ragù) on the bottom of your dish.
How do you make lasagna sheets not stick? ›Boil water like you normally do when cooking lasagne sheets. However, this time stir vigorously in circles so you create a whirlpool in the water. This way, when you add the lasagne sheets to the boiling water, the whirlpool movement will prevent them from sticking to each other.
How do you unstick lasagne sheets? ›This edition's winning Vileda Quick Kitchen Tip for unsticking your lasagna sheets comes from viewer Natasha Mendonca: 1) Lay noodles in dish, overlapping slightly. 2) Pour water over noodles, using tongs to gently separate sheets. 3) Drain pasta and rinse under cold water.
Is it alright for the lasagna noodles not to rinse with cold water if it will be served hot and immediate? ›Do Not Rinse. Pasta should never, ever be rinsed for a warm dish. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately.
Is it better to use fresh or dry lasagna sheets? ›Fresh pasta sheets cook faster. If you can't find fresh pasta sheets, you can use dried pasta sheets. To use dried pasta sheets in lasagne, cook the lasagne for 10-15 minutes longer than fresh sheets. If your lasagne is looking too brown on top, you can cover it with foil for this extra cooking time.
Do you put lasagna noodles in cold water after boiling? ›Rinsing the pasta after cooking
Shocking pasta with cold water after it comes out of the pot will indeed stop the pasta from cooking more, but it will also rinse away all the delightful starch that helps sauce cling to noodles. To avoid the overcooking factor, see rule #5.
Why are my lasagne sheets not cooking properly? ›
All you need to do is maintain a good level of moisture throughout the cooking process. There are two ways of doing this: Make sure you use plenty of sauce to keep the sheets moist. Pre-soak the sheets in salted boiling water.
How many layers should lasagna have? ›Home Cook World claims that the typical lasagna should have between three and five layers, but the proper number depends more on pan size. You don't want your lasagna to look flat or shallow in a large pan, and in this case, its best to prepare to come closer to five layers rather than three.
What is the correct order to layer lasagna? ›- Spread a thin layer of pasta sauce in the bottom of a baking dish.
- Make a layer of cooked lasagna noodles.
- Spread an even layer of the ricotta cheese mixture.
- Spread an even layer of meat sauce.
- Repeat those layers two times.
- Top it with a final layer of noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.
Barilla® Oven-Ready Lasagna does not need to be boiled before cooking. Simply assemble the lasagna dish in an oven-safe dish and then bake. However, if you are making lasagna roll-ups, you can boil Barilla® Oven-Ready Lasagna for 3-5 minutes, so the sheets become more pliable and can be easily rolled.
Should you cover lasagna when baking? ›It is ideal to bake lasagna covered with aluminum foil as it will help it cook more quickly and reduce the risk of the noodles drying out. The foil helps prevent moisture loss so that the lasagna doesn't have any hard edges.
How many layers of pasta in lasagna? ›Betony Kitchen says you could make lasagna with as little as two layers for a quick lasagna that doesn't take long to bake. Many, however, would consider this skimping. Most recipes you'll find for lasagna call for a minimum of three layers, which seems to be the universal standard.
Does olive oil unstick pasta? ›Olive oil is fantastic at many things, but it does not prevent spaghetti from sticking together. Because it floats to the top of the water while the spaghetti is cooking in the water, having the oil there does nothing to prevent the pasta from sticking together while cooking.
Why are my pasta sheets still hard? ›Simply put, if there isn't enough moisture in contact with your lasagne sheets, they will dry out and become hard and chewy in texture. A nifty trick if you plan to pre-soak your pasta sheets is to add a few drops of cooking oil to the boiling water.
Does cold water unstick pasta? ›Yeah, it is better to wash the pasta with cold water (to wash away unnecessary starch that sticks outside) very fast... otherwise the pasta gets cold.
What does it mean if pasta is stuck together? ›Make sure you're using enough water.
There is one thing you may also consider if your pasta is still sticking even after frequent stirring: whether or not you're using enough water. The reason pasta sticks in the first place is because it's leaching starches into the water as it cooks.