Making lasagna from scratch takes a lot of time and effort. Luckily, frozen lasagna can taste just like a homemade dish if you prepare it correctly. So whether you buy frozen lasagna or make a few and freeze them for later, it’s a great option for dinner.
Cooking frozen lasagna can take anywhere between 1 and 2 hours, so you’ll want to plan ahead. It will also require you to pre-heat the oven, so all in you’re looking at up to 2 hours of your time.
Quick Tips
The time it takes to bake frozen lasagna depends on many factors. Here are all our tips in a quick format.
- A small lasagna (4-6 servings) will take less time than a larger one – around 1 hour.
- A large lasagna (8-12 servings) will take longer to cook from frozen – around 1 1/2 hours.
- While you can bake frozen lasagna right away, you should take the time to thaw it. This significantly reduces cooking time and results in a more delicious lasagna.
- If you defrost the lasagna and preheat the oven first, it’ll typically take about 60 to 75 minutes to bake a large lasagna.
- If you bake a large lasagna straight out of the freezer, you should plan to cook it for at least 1 1/2 hours to ensure it’s fully cooked.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Frozen Lasagna?
Most frozen lasagna brands include cooking time on the package, so you can consult the instructions for how long they recommend cooking it. They also often give multiple ways to cook their frozen lasagna, for best results.
If your frozen lasagna doesn’t have cooking instructions, you can follow these instructions. A frozen lasagna is a pretty solid mass so it will take some time to cook, in any scenario.
At What Temperature to Cook It
Generally, you should cook a frozen lasagna at 375°F (190°C). This will give a high enough heat to cook the lasagna quickly but without burning or drying out the toppings.
You might think increasing the temperature will reduce the cooking time, but it doesn’t really work that way. Instead, you’ll end up with hot edges and a frozen core. For this reason, it’s best to bake frozen lasagna at a lower temperature for more time.
How to Prepare the Perfect Frozen Lasagna
Here are the instructions you should follow to make sure your frozen lasagna cooks perfectly.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cover the lasagna with foil.
- Place the lasagna into the oven on the center rack.
- Cook for 60 minutes for a small lasagna or 90 minutes for a large lasagna.
- Uncover the lasagna and test the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. It should read 160°F (71°C). If not, continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes with the foil on.
- Once the lasagna hits 160°F (71°C), remove the foil and continue cooking for 5-10 minutes, until the top is bubbly and golden.
- Remove from the oven. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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Laura is a home cook, with 25 years experience behind the stove, who spends an extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen cooking. She loves making new recipes and finding wonderful new things to eat, both at home or abroad. She spends a lot of time researching, crafting, and perfecting her recipes.