Can I prepare and refreigerate baked ziti until the last step (baking it) the night before I bake it?

Question

i work late and would like prepare a baked ziti the night before, refrigerate it and do the final baking an hour before we eat. Is this ok?

Answer 1

Yes, but check it after the recommended cooking time, it might need a little more time because it's going into the oven colder than if it had just been prepared.

Answer 2

I do this all the time. Use a little extra tomato sauce, because the zita soaks it up. Get it ready to go into the oven and cover it with plastic to seal it. Put in ref, Bake next day, It might take 10 to 15 min. longer to cook. Turns out great every time.

Answer 3

Yes you can. Every Sunday I make a weeks worth of main dishes and freeze them. This saves time and when I get home at night all I have to do is pop them in the oven. Then I add some veggies as a side and dinner is ready.

Answer 4

As long as the dish does not contain uncooked chicken or pork, it should be fine. However, make sure you drain and cool the noodles before building the casserole, cover it well and get it into the refrigerator as soon as you are done.

Answer 5

KN's got the right answer! Just add extra sauce because that pasta will aborb the liquid while it's sitting in the fridge.
Cover it while you're cooking until the last 10 minutes. Should be just fine.

Answer 6

Absolutely

Answer 7

yes. a friend of mine does this and then drives the ziti from new jersey to north carolina when we visit the beach house. refrigeration will be fine

Answer 8

It's fine, just cover the dish with foil and refrigerate overnight.

Answer 9

Should be fine, but I'd slightly undercook the ziti (al dente). :)

Answer 10

You can, but you're better off baking and re-heating it. I think it even tastes better the next day.