Carbonara is a pasta dish that consists of bacon or pancetta, cream and parmesan cheese. It’s a classic dish that can be eaten on its own or as part of a larger meal. It’s also one of those dishes that tastes better when it’s freshly made. If you’ve made carbonara and have some left over, you may wonder how to reheat carbonara in the microwave without drying it out too much. The answer is simple: just use your microwave oven!
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The Pesto Sauce is Cold
Pesto sauce is a cold sauce, but it can be reheated in a pan on the stove. If you want to heat up both your pasta and pesto sauce at once, use a bowl that can go in the microwave.
You don’t need to make more than you’re serving for dinner if you’re using it all at once—just pour out enough for what you’ll eat immediately and save whatever’s left over for later (or share)!
When you’re ready to cook your pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until it’s tender but still firm (al dente). Drain the water from the pasta in a colander, then pour out any excess water from the colander.
If you want to serve your pasta with a sauce, pour some pesto over the top. Toss it gently with tongs or two forks until all of the pasta is coated in pesto.
If you’re serving your pasta with meat sauce, add the cooked meat and vegetables to the drained pasta. Toss gently until everything is combined. Serve immediately.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
If you want to freeze your pasta, place it in a freezer-safe container with ample room for air to flow around the food. Leave about an inch of space between each layer, then seal tightly and freeze for up to 6 months. To reheat frozen pesto pasta on the stovetop, add a little bit of oil (1–2 tablespoons) to a pan over medium heat. Add as much pesto pasta as you need and cook gently until hot throughout.
The Pasta is Cold
If you have leftover cold pasta, don’t throw it away! You can reheat your pasta in a pan or the microwave.
In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, add 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 teaspoon of oil. Once the oil has heated, add the cold pasta and cover with a lid until they are warmed through (about 2 minutes).
Alternatively, place the cold leftover noodles in a microwave safe bowl then cover with plastic wrap and a damp paper towel. Heat them for 30 seconds on high power then check to see if they are warm enough – if not continue to cook them in 30 second intervals until they reach desired temperature.
You can also reheat pasta in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then add 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 teaspoon of oil to an oven safe dish. Place the cold noodles inside and cover with a lid or foil until they are warmed through (about 2 minutes).
If you have leftover pasta sauce, you can store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just place your sauce in an airtight container and use within the specified amount of time. Never put cooked pasta in water or milk – this will cause it to clump together and become soggy.
The Pasta is Hot, but the Pesto Sauce is Cold
If your pasta has been sitting around for a while and is cold, or if you just want to heat it up quickly and easily, there are several ways to do it.
- The Pan: Put the pan on the stovetop with 1/4 cup water in it. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the water to a simmer. Add your cooked pasta from earlier and stir constantly until heated through (about 4 minutes). If you want more sauce, add 1/2 cup of pesto sauce now before stirring again until mixed well.
- The Microwave: Cook according to package instructions (typically 3-5 minutes). Remove from microwave when ready; stir thoroughly so that all pieces are coated with cheese sauce or meat juices (if using).
If you want more sauce, add 1/2 cup of pesto sauce now before stirring again until mixed well.
The Pasta and Sauce are both hot and ready to serve!
Now that the pasta and sauce are both hot, it’s time to eat! I like to use the same pan that I cooked my carbonara in because it makes me feel fancy. You could also just use a big bowl or pyrex measuring cup if you don’t have a carbonara-sized container lying around.
If you don’t have any leftover butter or olive oil, just add a tablespoon of each at this point and stir until melted. Don’t worry about getting all of it out of the original package—it won’t make much difference in your final dish if there’s some left over (and you’ll be able to use that later).
Once you’ve mixed the butter and olive oil into your pasta, it will be time to plate. If you’re using a carbonara-sized container, use a spoon or spatula to scoop out some pasta (I like to make sure there are at least one or two pieces of bacon in each serving). Then, add a nice helping of sauce overtop and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Here’s what you need to know to reheat carbonara.
To reheat carbonara, you’ll need a pan and a microwave. First, put your pan on the stovetop and turn the burner on high heat. Next, place about 1/4 cup of water in the hot pan and allow it to boil for about 30 seconds before removing from heat (the pasta will be hot, but too much boiling could cause it to become dry). If desired, add some more freshly grated Parmesan cheese at this point for added flavor! Finally, let your prepared dish cool slightly before serving—and enjoy!
If you’re reheating carbonara, it’s important to ensure that the dish is hot enough before serving. Otherwise, it will be difficult to properly cook the pasta inside and may result in an undercooked or even burnt meal.
Conclusion
Reheating carbonara is a great way to use up leftovers. All you need are some penne pasta and bacon, as well as some chicken stock or water. Start by heating a tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add your pasta and stir for about two minutes until it starts to brown slightly; then add the bacon pieces along with half a cup of chicken stock or water per person (or according to your preferred amount). Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes over low heat before serving immediately!