Do I need to cook lasagna before using it?

Question

I've bought some fresh lasagna sheets, but it says I should cook them in boiling water. Surely if I'm going cover them in sauce, then put it in the oven for 45 minutes, I don't need to soften it up first do I?

Answer 1

if they are fresh and not dried then no dont cook them ,but if they are dried then you need to cook them for a bit until they are pliable

Answer 2

There are two types of pasta for Lasagna that are available in the grocery store..
One requires boiling first before preparing the layers of ingredients. Some people like the flexibility of the pasta .
Then there are the pasta lasagna noodles that can be used straight from the box.
This type is quicker in preparation because the boiling step is eliminated.
One crucial thing about the dry pasta method, you must remember to pour about one cup of water on the surface of the fully prepared Lasagna before putting it into the oven to cook. This allows the pasta to soften during the cooking phase instead of boiling the pasta ahead.

Answer 3

Yes of course you do need to soften it first because it will still be crunchy it will break and then it won't let the flavors combine at all and the sauce doesn't have enough mositure so it will be like chewing on cardboard with pizza flavors really. When the no boil kind was used it didn't work at all.

Answer 4

yes! You always want to cook your pasta before adding it to anything. I know it seems a little silly because in theory it would make sense that that pasta would cook it. If you did try it your pasta isn't going to taste like pasta anymore it's going to taste like tomato paste. The pasta will draw in all the water that is in your sauce. It's also not going to cook right. It won't be soft like it should be and it might not cook evenly.

Answer 5

No you don't have to pre-cook lasagne noodles. Just use a loose sauce. Here's my recipe:

Meat Mixture
1-1/2 pounds ground meat (any combination of beef, turkey, pork, veal, lamb)
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can mushroom stems and pieces
1 large can tomato paste

brown the meat and then drain. Add about 1 TBSP olive oil and then add the onion and garlic. Turn heat down to very low and add the tomato paste and 1/2 can of water (or marsala wine).

Allow to cook on very low until needed.

Cheese Mixture
1 large container part skim ricotta cheese
1 poung shredded mozzarella cheese
1 pound grated parmesan cheese (use fresh, not canned)
2 eggs
1 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and set aside

Sauce
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 large can diced tomatoes
fill a can with water and pour back and forth between cans to clean them out
2 cups of marsala wine
liquid from mushrooms
2 TBSP sweet basil

mix all ingredients in a large bowl and set aside

ASSEMBLY

1. a few ladles of sauce on the bottom of your lasagne pan

2. layer of noodles, then sauce, then 1/2 meat
3. layer of noodles, then sauce, then 1/2 cheese
4. layer of needles, a package of frozen spinach, thawed and mixed with 2 TBSP oregano, then sauce
5. repeat step 3 and finish with repeat of step 2
6. top with more sauce
7. wrap tightly with foil
bake at 350 for 45 minutes
turn oven off and allow lasagne to cool in oven for 2 hours
remove to cooling rack and let sit until cool enough to touch.

At this point, I would freeze the pan until the day I want to serve it. Lasagne takes on a fantastic depth of flavor when it is reheated.

on the day of serving it:

remove from freezer to a cold oven
set to 325 and bake 1-1/2 hours

remove foil and add a little more sauce on top
cover with another 6 to 8 ounces of cheese. I use a packaged five cheese blend.

Return to oven at 450 for about 10 minutes or until brown on top.

This is a fantastic meal with garlic bread and a small tossed salad. For desset, have a scoop of ice cream with hazelnut syrup on it (called spumoni).
ENJOY!

Answer 6

Some people do, and some don't. I prefer to par boilor par cook the lasagna. Then you know for sure it is done in the oven. (par means partially).

Answer 7

yess...

boil the lasagna then drain it

take it out of the pot and then you can lay it down in the tray

the add the sauce cheese and meat ( what ever ingredients)

good luck

Answer 8

well yes to just soften them to bend to the pan..
A mistake I made for years..
I always tore the wavy edges and frustrated myself.
Now I use wonton wraps.

Answer 9

Yes you do need to soften it up.

Answer 10

Yeah its better too, I have seen recipes that you don't have to pre cook them but . I always do..