Making ravioli is a labor of love to many while purchasing a batch is probably not the cheapest thing to do when you’re hungry. That being said, I’m almost certain no one wants to throw an ounce of their precious ravioli away, but is freezing the thing you should do to circumvent its expiration date?
Although it doesn’t freeze too well, ravioli can be frozen. The process is essentially a 2-step task revolving around flash freezing and “regular” freezing techniques.
Stick with me a while longer, and you’ll learn how to freeze ravioli safely and properly.
What Happens if You Freeze Ravioli?
When you are freezing ravioli, you’re essentially freezing both the pasta and the sauce. When frozen, the shelf life of both ingredient groups is extended.
You should expect its texture to be fairly different, usually a bit softer while its flavor should be the same if you use it within recommended time (two months). It can go bad even after being frozen, so you should double-check for freezer burn marks and repulsive odor, just in case.
Can You Freeze Ravioli Before and After Cooking
Uncooked ravioli freezes much better than cooked, but both options are viable. “Dry” ravioli needs less time to freeze and thaw; the way ravioli is cooked influences the freezing capability. If undercooked, it will freeze decently good while overcooked ravioli is better used immediately. If you cooked it just right, it will still be able to come out of the freezer intact in the following month.
How to Freeze Ravioli
Ravioli is a bit easier to freeze than most types of pasta, as it’s already split into portions. However, there are a few little details that are strikingly different, so to properly freeze ravioli, follow my step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Place a Cookie Sheet on a Freezer Tray
This way they won’t stick to the surface of the tray. Leave sufficient room between individual ravioli pieces so they don’t stick to each other.
Step 2: Wrap the Tray with Plastic Film
Use a plastic film and wrap the tray from all sides twice. This is done to prevent air from coming into contact with your ravioli, which in turn prevents freezer burn.
Step 3: Place in a Freezer for 20 minutes
The final step of the flash-freezing stage. Ravioli typically needs around fifteen minutes to flash freeze, but I recommend giving it a couple more minutes just to stay on the safe side.
Step 4: Grab Frozen Ravioli and Pack them in Airtight Containers
Again, use a cookie sheet (or wax paper) to prevent individual pieces from sticking to each other. In order to save up some freezer storage space, you can take them out of the tray and place them in airtight containers.
This way, you’ll grant your ravioli an additional layer of protection against freezer burn.
Step 5: Place Containers with Ravioli in Your Freezer
Now that your ravioli is packed in airtight containers, it will be able to endure months of freezer time with minimal chance of suffering freezer burn.
How to Freeze Fresh Ravioli
The process is the same as freezing any fresh pasta, with the exception being that you don’t have to cut or slice anything. Sprinkle your ravioli with flour to hasten its drying time; flash freeze; place it in airtight containers or freezer wraps, and put it in your freezer for up to two months.
How to Freeze Homemade Ravioli
If you’re in the middle of making homemade ravioli, I recommend not filling it just yet. This way, you will extend its freezer lifespan by another month. The process is exactly the same as freezing fresh ravioli unless you’ve used any “wet” toppings – in this case, wait for your ravioli to become dry, and then freeze it for up to two months.
How Long Can You Freeze Ravioli?
Ravioli can be frozen for up to two months without losing any quality, texture, flavor, or taste. With the most basic ingredients (eggs, pasta, and cheese), it can be eaten even six months after freezing, although I recommend using it within the first month or two.
How to Thaw Frozen Ravioli?
Filled pasta is not supposed to be defrosted, and this applies to both Tortellini and Ravioli – it should be cooked while in their frozen state.
This might be also interesting: Freezing Tortellini.
However, you can still thaw your ravioli with a microwave, leave it in the fridge, or use the countertop defrosting method:
Microwave Thawing
This is arguably the best option to defrost ravioli, as it’s the quickest and most efficient solution of thawing any filled pasta.
Although some people may be concerned that their food will get irradiated if they place it in a microwave oven, ARPNSA’s study proves otherwise.
Fridge Thawing
This is a good way to thaw ravioli if you don’t mind the super-long time it takes to defrost.
By placing your frozen ravioli in a fridge, you’ll allow it to naturally defrost, but the process can take well over 12 hours.
Countertop Thawing
Thawing ravioli at room temperature may not be the healthiest option. Although it’s a bit quicker than the fridge thawing approach, harmful enzymes and bacteria may appear and demolish your food’s quality. It’s still somewhat of a viable option if you don’t have a microwave and need to thaw your ravioli pronto.
Can you Refreeze Ravioli?
I fear ‘absolutely not’ is a bit of an understatement. Although you can refreeze ravioli’s sauce, the pasta may suffer tremendously and turn into a formless mush.
Freezing Different Types of Ravioli
There are all kinds of ravioli variations that you can freeze, but the results won’t always be the same:
Can You Freeze Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli
Any pasta with vegetable toppings or stuffing can be frozen, including Ravioli with Spinach and Ricotta. Here you’ll find more information about freezing Ricotta cheese for instance.
Can You Freeze Crab Ravioli
Yes, that should be possible as well. Just follow the process above. Freezing crab meat is generally a good way to keep it fresh.
Can You Freeze Ravioli Filling
Whether it’s cheese, veggie, or meat, any ravioli filling can be frozen. In fact, most ravioli fillings freeze better than ravioli pasta.
Can You Freeze Egg Yolk Ravioli
Egg yolks can last a year in a freezer, and given that ravioli pasta can endure about three months, I recommend freezing it up to three.
Can You Freeze Kite Hill Ravioli
Yes, most Kile Hill products feature plant-based toppings that freeze phenomenally well.
Can You Freeze Trader Joe’s Ravioli
Yes, Trader Joe’s ravioli feature quality ingredients that are perfectly suited for freezing up to two months.
Can You Freeze Meat Ravioli
Yes, meat freezes much better than most veggies, so this is an excellent idea.
Can You Cook Frozen Ravioli in the Sauce?
Yes, this way ravioli pasta will absorb the sauce even better. I recommend doing this in particular if you’ve waited for more than two months after freezing your ravioli.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a couple of other things I want you to know about ravioli, such as how much it can last in a fridge, how to spot rancid ravioli, and in which cases you can eat it even if its expiration date is due:
How To Tell if Frozen Ravioli is Bad?
If you’ve properly stored your ravioli in the freezer and grabbed the container from the freezer within two months, it should be healthy and delicious still. If it started turning white, or if its smell became too strong, as much as I hate seeing food go to waste, I suggest throwing it away.
Is it Okay to Eat Expired Ravioli?
Freezing most types of food extends their lifespan by at least a couple of weeks. If you’ve frozen a bag of ravioli a few days before the expiration date, it’s still okay to eat it after thawing.
How Long Does Opened Ravioli Last in the Fridge?
Freshly opened ravioli should be consumed as soon as possible for the best flavor and taste. It can last up to four days, although its peak quality is up until the third.
This might also be interesting: Freezing dumplings.
Conclusion
Although there are many other types of food that freeze better, ravioli is certainly freezable. I hope that my guide helped you tackle this challenge more easily.
Do you prefer vegetable or meat-based ravioli? I prefer meat pasta, but I also think it’s very hard to top the flavor of cheese-topped ravioli. If you’re up for it, share your favorite ravioli recipes with me in the comments below and check my other Can You Freeze guides!
