Watery Lasagna? - Chef Joe and Chef Brian's Cooking Blog (2024)

FAQs

What to do if my lasagna is too watery? ›

Cornstarch is cheap and widely available at most grocery stores with the flours and baking products. To use cornstarch as a thickening agent for lasagna sauce, add it in a slurry to the sauce as it simmers. A slurry consists of equal parts cornstarch and cold liquid.

If the eggplant is still a bit raw before layering, it still has water to release, and it will make the lasagna watery. Second, be sure to cook the tomato sauce down for the full 20 minutes. We're letting water evaporate as well as concentrating the flavor of the tomatoes.

Mistake number 3: the sauce is too runny

The key is to have a nice, thick sauce that won't seep too much into the pasta, but rather, get absorbed into it, making it more flavourful.

If you are finding the lasagne sheets too soft then you may want to try reducing the amount of liquid in the meat sauce slightly. You can either reduce the amout of beef stock or broth used, or simmer the sauce after cooking in the oven to reduce it.

Cornstarch: Make a slurry of half water, half cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener, so start by whisking in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce; stir and simmer for 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more slurry as needed.

How can I keep lasagna from being a mushy mess? The best way is to keep your ingredients dry. Cook your pasta sauce long enough to boil out most of the moisture so the sauce is thick.

Butter (or cream, which has a high fat content) is also what makes pan sauces so luscious, letting them stick to your steak or chop. Next time you encounter a runny pan sauce, add a pat of butter, a splash of heavy cream, or a dollop of sour cream to slow down its flow rate and give it some body.

Yes it's tempting to cut into the lasagna right when you pull it from the oven, but let it rest on a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes. This will help firm up all the layers and make it much easier to slice a square. And of course you can make it a day ahead or in the morning then reheat.

This said, you break out the teaspoon and take a taste: if the sauce tastes exactly the way you like it to, then the sauce is done. This can happen after 5 minutes, after 20 minutes, after 1 hour, after 3 hours, or after 8 hours.

To reduce in cooking, start by boiling your liquid in an uncovered pan and reducing the heat to a simmer. As it simmers, monitor the liquid closely until it reaches the consistency you desire. If you're having trouble getting your liquid to reduce, sprinkle in a few spoonfuls of a thickener, like cornstarch or flour.

How do you thicken lasagna sauce without tomato paste? ›

Use Cornstarch or Arrowroot: Mix a slurry of cornstarch or arrowroot with water and stir it into the sauce. 🌽 Parmesan Cheese: Grate and add Parmesan cheese; it not only thickens but also enhances flavor.

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for about 45 minutes. Uncover, then bake until hot and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Let lasagna stand 10 minutes before serving.

Just like steak, you need to allow the lasagna to rest before slicing into it. Resting or letting it cool for a good 10 to 15 minutes at least allows the heat to dissipate, the ingredients to settle from its bubbling state in the oven, and firms up the cheese that you added on top.

To keep it from tasting dry, add some extra liquid as you reheat it! A splash of water usually does the trick, and you'll want to cover the lasagna with foil, plastic wrap or a paper towel to trap all that liquid inside as it reheats.

How do you reheat lasagna without drying it out? Refrigerated lasagna is best when adding additional liquid or sauce on top before reheating it in the oven. Use foil to cover the lasagna so it helps seal in the moisture while it reheats.

Reheat individual portions one at a time. Place a single serving of lasagna on a microwave-safe dish and drizzle a little extra sauce or water on top to keep it moist while it cooks. Then, cover the dish and microwave the lasagna at medium heat for 1 to 1 ½ minutes.