Can I make a pasta salad the night before my party?

Question

I'm having a birthday party for my son & wanted to make some of the food before hand. I'm wondering if I make a pasta salad the evening before (late) if it would go soggy by the time of the party (6pm). The recipe says to refrigerate atleast 1 hour to blend flavours.

Thanks everyone...I'm happy to hear I can make it ahead of time so I can relax a little the next day! Awesome!

Answer 1

Yes, it keeps very well.

Answer 2

I would not make it more than the night before the event. With pasta, you have to worry about it soaking up all the juices or liquids produced by the other ingredients, thus making the pasta expand and get really soggy. My suggestion is : Put your salad together ahead, even a couple of days ahead, and add the dressing the morning of the day you need it--it will still have the several hours in the fridge to meld the flavors together. Good luck.

Answer 3

If your pasta salad has an oil and vinager based dressing, the noodles will absorb most of it during the night. This makes for a less oily and more tasty version in my opinion. Make sure that you've cooked your pasta al dente to avoid the "mush" aspect you're worried about. Here's my favorite recipe:

1 box spiral pasta (rotelle or rotini)
1 bottle Berensteins Cheese Fantastico Salad Dressing
1 chub salami, cut into cubes
1 4oz package feta cheese with tomatos and herbs
1 bunch green onions, chopped (if you prefer fewer onions, then only use three)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 can sliced olives, drained

Cook the pasta according to package directions and cool. Add other ingrediants and stir to mix thoroughly. Chill overnight and stir again before serving.

Answer 4

A green salad would wilt and become unattractive, but a pasta salad will actually taste better when it's had time to let the flavors blend. A day ahead is no problem. You wouldn't want to do 2 or 3 days, but one day is actually ideal.

Answer 5

Pasta Salads are the perfect make-ahead food! Not sure what kind of pasta salad you're making, but just cook your pasta, rinse, and refigerate in a zip type storage bag. Cut up your veggies (ie: cucumber, cherry toms, olives, etc. and store in ziplock baggies) Put it all together 1 hour ahead of time and add your dressing! Viola!

Answer 6

I always make pasta salad the night before to let the flavors mingle and to get the pasta nice and chilled. Warm pasta salad is gross. The raw veggies in it will not get soggy. The only thing that I wouldn't put in till right before serving is any cheese you may put in it (shredded or cubed). That can get a little too wet and get mushy......especially shredded cheese.

Answer 7

I usually cut all the vegetables and let them sit in the italian dressing overnight then the next day I cook the pasta and add it an hour before it is served. This way the vegetables are blended with flavor.

Answer 8

Yes, you can it should be better because the pasta has a chance to merinate and be tasty... Go ahead and make it the night before. It won't be soggy just refrigerate it when you are done making it and once its cooled.

Answer 9

Do not overcook the pasta. It will be fine overnight. What you'll have to do is add a little bit of dressing and stir it up before serving.

Answer 10

no it wont. my mom makes pasta salad the night before all the time. but the best thing to do is to leave the olive oil and vinager (if u use that) on the same day.

Answer 11

Yeah, you can. I would just use a little less dressing than you usually do, put it in the fridge, and then add the rest the next day. You'll run less of a risk of it going soggy, and it only takes a few seconds to spoon in a little dressing! Good luck!