Why do my lasagna noodles fall apart and/or stick together?!
Answers: Seriously, can anyone give me pointers on how to cook these damn things correctly?
Falling apart -- you're probably overcooking the pasta.
Sticking together -- you're probably not stirring the pasta once it's cooking to keep the noodles from sticking together.
I only ever cook my lasagna noodles for 6 or 7 minutes. You want them to still be a bit chewy (al dente) so that they continue cooking as you bake the lasagna. I usually stir them as soon as I add the noodles to the boiling water, then again after two minutes of boiling to make sure they're not sticking together. I drain the noodles and quickly add them back to the pot (they'll still be a bit wet, but that's okay) and toss them IMMEDIATELY in a dribble (about 1 tsp) of olive oil. This keeps them from sticking together as I make the lasagna (since it usually takes me about 10 minutes to put it all together).
Best of luck, and I hope my advice helps you!
I just made lasagne so here's what I do. Put the noodles in boiling, salted water that had about 1/8 cup oil in it. Boil for 7 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse well. Use as directed. You won't have any problems if you use this method. Stay away from cheap noodles. I buy Italpasta or Primo only.
I have the same problem! I sort of resolved it by adding a little oil to the water, and I gently stir the noodles around after they become plaible and fall into the water.
I don't cook them first. I simply put the uncooked lasagna noodles in the pan and layer with tomato sauce or tomato meat sauce and cheese then anothe layer of noodles then sauce and cheese and bake until bubbly. The noodles absorb the liquid of the sauce and thoroughly cook in the oven.
I always use a little oil in my salted water to cook any pasta. It helps to keep them from sticking together. Cook noodles as instructed. It is better to have them slightly undercooked rather than over cooked, since they will finish cooking in the oven. After cooking on top of stove, I drain quickly in a colander continually rinsing in cold water. I lay them out on a cookie sheet after they have rinsed well, so they remain flat. Sometimes you may still have a couple that want to tear but if that happens just use the torn ones underneath saving the whole ones for the top layer so it looks nice. Your making me hungry for lasagna!
Over cooking, Not a large enough pot. Don't let any one tell you to add oil to the water. Just a Large pot of boiling water.for about 12 min.
It's because the noodles are getting over cooked! Hoped it helped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???
You're overcooking the pasta. I would also say you need to add a little oil to the water when cooking and stir the noodles around a bit so they don't stick. When finished, dump them into some cold water.
When making lasagne, the pasta needs to be a little undercooked. When you bake it, the liquid in the sauce will finish the cooking process for you.
This may sound a little convoluted but here is what I do. I got this idea from somewhere but don't remember where.
I boil the noodles, stirring once I put them in the pot and then occasionally until they are al dente. I then lay them out on paper towels. (good ones like Bounty so they don't stick to the paper) I use 2 pair of tongs to get them from the water to the paper towels. You can layer them also. I then assemble the lasagna and use the noodles as I need them. I have had great luck doing it this way.
The best way is to put your lasagna together with uncooked noodles. The sauce will cook the noodles. To keep it together add a egg to the cheese mixture and it will slice very nice with out falling apart.