How to Reheat Carbonara

Carbonara is a delicious Italian dish that isn’t always the easiest dish to make right. So when you splurge and order it from a restaurant, or manage to make it yourself, you don’t want any of it to go to waste. But what happens when you make too much? So what do you do?

It is easy to reheat carbonara in the microwave or on the stove. If you made the meal yourself, keeping the sauce and the pasta separate until you are ready to eat will give you the best flavor after reheating. 

However, that isn’t always an option, and we included how to heat up carbonara in the microwave and stove with the sauce mixed with the pasta and with it separated. 

How to Reheat Carbonara in the Microwave

Reheating pasta in the microwave is not the best option, but sometimes it is all you have. Here are the best ways to reheat your Carbonara in the microwave to give it the best texture and taste possible. 

With Sauce and Pasta Separated:

For the pasta:

  1. Add your pasta to a bowl with a little bit of water.
  2. Place plastic wrap on top of the bowl. 
  3. Using a medium temperature setting, cook the pasta for a minute. 
  4. Stir after and repeat until the desired temperature. 

For the Sauce:

  1. Place sauce in a separate bowl. 
  2. Set the microwave to the lowest temperature 
  3. Cook sauce in 30-second intervals, stirring between.

After both are to the desired temperature, mix them and eat! It’s more tedious than just throwing them in the microwave and selecting a time, but it will taste much less dried out this way. 

With Sauce and Pasta Combined:

  1. Place your Carbonara in a bowl.
  2. Set your microwave to low
  3. Microwave in minute-long intervals, stirring between. 
  4. If the sauce isn’t keeping your pasta wet enough, add a little bit of water to keep the moisture. 
  5. Give it a minute to rest before eating. 
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This is the least desirable method and may cause your pasta to lose a lot of its flavor and texture, but it is a quick method when in a pinch. 

How to Reheat Carbonara on the Stove

With Sauce and Pasta Separated:

  1. Fill a large pot with water and heat until boiling.
  2. Using a colander or noodle basket, drop noodles into the water for a maximum of thirty seconds. 
  3. Shake out any excess moisture.
  4. Put the sauce into a pan and cook on medium-low heat, stirring often, until heated up. 
  5. Mix and eat.

This is the best way to reheat carbonara, as it lets you retain the flavor and texture of the noodles and sauce. 

With Sauce and Pasta Combined:

  1. Let your pasta warm up to close to room temperature on the counter. 
  2. Take a saucepan, set it to medium-low, and place a little oil in it. 
  3. Place pasta and sauce into a warmed pan. 
  4. Stir constantly to avoid sticking or burning. 
  5. If the sauce is too dry, add more oil or milk. 
  6. Cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. 

Be careful not to turn up your temperature too high, or you risk the sauce separating. However, if done right, it should taste almost as good as the first time. Reheating creamy pasta sauce can be tricky, and requires patience.

Can Carbonara Be Eaten the Next Day?

Yes, Carbonara can be eaten the next day. Depending on the reheating method, it may still even taste fresh like it was made that day. However, as the days go by, the pasta will dry out more and more, making it harder to reheat while maintaining quality.

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How Long Is Leftover Carbonara Good For?

Leftover carbonara stays good for about four days if kept in the fridge. If you place it in the freezer, it will last for approximately two months with little to no loss in quality. 

How Do You Know if the Carbonara Is Spoiled?

The presence of mold is the most obvious sign of a spoiled carbonara. However, any odd smell or texture is another sign that it is probably time to throw it away. 

Even without the presence of mold or smell, pasta quickly loses its flavor and texture due to drying, hardened pasta. Even if the food is technically edible, the quality of the meal may be bad enough that it is inedible. 

Can You Eat Carbonara Cold?

Technically, you can. However, without reheating, the pasta will likely be clumped together and dry. Even reheating it in the microwave is preferable to eating it cold to keep a semblance of texture and flavor. 

Conclusion

Reheating carbonara is easy. As long as you take your time, you have pasta reheated well enough, you won’t even know it isn’t fresh. The best option is to separate your sauce and pasta, and heat it up slowly on the stove. When that isn’t possible, there are other options, though you may lose some of the quality and texture. But it’s worth it to not have to throw away that delicious food!