How to Reheat Pasta
Italians know how to reheat pasta to make it taste even better and now you will, too! There’s also an encouraging health benefit to this method!
Originally published April 28, 2012.
How to reheat pasta like the Italians do is so simple, yet delicious, you’ll never want to eat it any other way! It’s also the best way to reheat pasta, and that’s not just an opinion. Try it and let me know yourself.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The word, “leftovers” seems like it should be a four letter word. So many people don’t like them, but it doesn’t have to be this way, especially with pasta. Here’s another leftover recipe for your Thanksgiving meal which tastes amazing as well.
“Crispy leftover pasta”–for lack of a better name–is something that every Italian household makes. However, many Americans, Brits, etc., have never heard of reheating pasta in a pan with olive oil, which makes me sad! If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I reheat pasta?” this is for you!
Does Reheating Pasta Make it More Healthy?
Yes, reheating leftover pasta which has been refrigerated, or frozen, makes it much healthier for our bodies. According to a recent study, chilling pasta after cooking it lowers the glycemic index preventing it from raising blood sugar by 50%!
The additional extra virgin olive oil is a nutritional boost, too. Over the years, Italians seem to have an innate sense of doing what is healthiest when it comes to food.
A friend tasted this at my parents’ house once, went home, made pasta and attempted to fry it immediately after making it because he loved it so much. Unfortunately for him, it doesn’t taste the same if the pasta hasn’t been chilled and absorbed the sauce before frying it, but now he’s a pro in reheating pasta with sauce!
Next time you make your favorite pasta dish, make sure to make extra so you can give learn how to reheat pasta this way. I bet it’s one time you won’t be disappointed with having leftovers.
How to Reheat Pasta
a family “recipe” serves 1
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- any type of leftover pasta in tomato sauce (be sure to use good quality 100% durum wheat semolina pasta)
- good quality extra virgin olive oil
Special equipment: nonstick frying pan, seasoned cast iron pan, or even a nonstick wok
Directions to Reheat Pasta like an Italian
Pour some extra virgin olive oil into a nonstick frying pan, or wok, over medium high heat, and add the pasta.
Pour a little more oil over the top of the pasta, and let it begin to sizzle for a few minutes before stirring it.
Every now and then, turn the pasta; depending on how crispy you want it. Reheating pasta in this way is so simple, it’s no wonder it’s also the best way to reheat pasta!
How to Reheat Spaghetti Pasta
If you have leftover spaghetti, you make make it exactly as described above, or you can choose to do it this way.
Spread into the pan evenly, and drizzle with more olive oil, however, leave it much longer without turning it for a crispier result. As you see here, I made the spaghetti really crisp before touching it (the bottom should look like this before flipping it which will also hold it together.)
You can lift up the pasta to check when the bottom is crisp enough, then simply put a large plate over the top, secure it with one hand, and invert the pan carefully.
Slide the pasta back into the pan and continue to cook until the other side is crispy.
The refried pasta is ready when it’s hot, so it’s a matter of taste to decide when to stop cooking it.
I love it very crispy, so I let it cook longer.
I have shown penne and spaghetti here, but ziti, rigatoni, linguine (I don’t recommend reheating seafood pasta this way) and honestly, most any kind of pasta with tomato sauce is just as good.
I predict that you’ll never reheat your pasta in the microwave ever again if you try this just once. Give it a try and you’ll be making extra pasta just so you can make it like this the following day! Let me know if you enjoyed learning how to reheat pasta in the comments below.
Don’t miss another travel or recipe post; subscribe to my free subscription at the top.
Thanks so much, and buon appetito!
Crispy Leftover Pasta
Special Equipment
- 1 Nonstick frying pan, or even a nonstick wok
Ingredients
- 1 bowlful leftover pasta in tomato sauce
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil or more if needed
Instructions
- Pour some extra virgin olive oil into a nonstick frying pan, or wok, over medium high heat, and add the pasta.
- Add a little more oil over the top of the pasta, and let it begin to sizzle for a few minutes before stirring it.
- Every now and then, turn the pasta; depending on how crispy you want it, leave it longer without turning it for a crispier result.
- It’s ready when it’s hot, so it’s a matter of taste to decide when to stop cooking it. I love it very crispy, so I let it cook longer. (It is excellent most any kind of pasta.)
Notes
- If the pasta sticks or looks very dry, add more extra virgin olive oil.
- 10 minutes of cooking time won’t yield super crispy pasta unless you have it on very high heat. Cook longer for crispier results.
Nutrition
Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
My Sicilian grandparents and my Mother, always heated up our leftover Sunday pasta this way for Wednesday pasta supper. I absolutely love the crispy noodles and I heat up the leftover sauce to serve over it.
It’s hard to describe how delicious it is, Gail, don’t you agree?
I was wondering if you ever reheated pasta without a sauce that way. I often cook extra noodles that I won’t mix with sauce right away. Especially when you’re cooking for one person this could be a good way to have planned leftover pasta. Maybe add some parmesan and fresh pepper once it’s fried?
Hi Inge, Italians don’t ever do anything with pasta without sauce. It’s added to sauce immediately after cooking, and usually even before it’s al dente, so I don’t know, tbh. What I would suggest is adding the sauce to all of the pasta, then reheating the pasta as shown with the sauce. It’s really tasty! I have never added Parmigiano or Pecorino to reheated pasta, but pepper would be good! Let me know how it goes if you try it!
I am teaching a class on budget cooking for 1 or 2, for seniors. This recipe is perfect!
It really is, Sue. I can suggest a couple more that are low cost (uses ½ much pasta), are healthy, nutritious and delicious cucina povera dishes (one pot, 3 ingredients recipes, if you have sauce in the fridge.) They are pasta and beans and pasta and ceci. Glad you’re helping seniors, that’s a noble cause! :)
My Italian friend always made ‘fried pasta’ with leftovers. I wasn’t sure how she did it, so thank you for the directions. It’s delicious!
How great this is a thing! A cultural culinary delight that’s practiced for years! Those of us who didn’t grow up with a microwave, our mothers did this in a pan to reheat it, mac and cheese, etc. Really too much bother to put it in the oven to reheat anyway.
Thanks for sharing all the great recipes and ideas. I love the back stories, as well.
Thanks so much, makes me happy to hear that you appreciate my stories! :) Have a lovely day, you made mine!
did ot in the air fryer… delicious!!
Nice!