ACOT Message Board

Tomorrow night we're having a shower for my brother in law and his fiancee...
I'm making lots of pans of baked ziti. My question is...do you think it would be ok if I prepared the pans tonight (boil the noodles, mix with the sauce, cover) and put them in the fridge...then tomorrow add the cheese on top and cook them?

Do you think the noodles would get soggy?

I just read this in a cookbook yesterday...the noodles will get soggy. You can make it ahead of time, just undercook the pasta a bit. They'll finish cooking when you reheat the dish.

We prepare baked ziti ahead of time all the time, not a problem, sometimes we even partially cook it ahead of time, but be careful, it can dry out if you do that.


have fun

I think they would be totally fine... just make sure to cook the noodles al dente so when they finish cooking in the oven they don't get soft.

I agree it should be fine as long as the noodles are al dente---

Thanks! I'll do that with the noodles...
It's less time I'll be standing over a stove and more time to be scrappin'...

i do this with pasta dishes all the time. you can undercook them just alittle but I don't.

Absolutely!!!! Save you some time tomorrow...that's smart prep!

I do it all the time, but like the other girls said, make sure the noodles are al dente It also will take a little longer in the oven because of course the dish will be cold from the fridge and have to warm up first before beginning to bake

Cook the pasta al dente, and it will be fine! Sounds yummy...are we invited???

i do this ALL the time..don't cook the noodles at all! just use a tiny bit extra sauce. while it sits over night the noddles will get soggy and by the time you bake it, they will be perfect! Even if you under cook the noodles the longer they sit in the sauce the more soggy they will get.
I make baked ziti at least once a month and this is how i do it everytime!