4

I have a made a number of meat lasagne's that taste great (IMHO) but I have always had a problem getting them to preserve that "layered" effect. When it is cooked and even partially cooled the first slice out of the pan and it practically turns to goulash.

I would love some advise on this.

Improve this question
5
  • Can you specify the order of the layers if you make lasagne?
    – Mien
    Commented May 29, 2011 at 16:47
  • Last night it was Pasta, Mozzerella, Cheddar, Meat Sauce, Ricotta, Repeat All, Pasta on top.
    – Cos Callis
    Commented May 29, 2011 at 16:54
  • Bet your meat sauce is on the damp side. If you want the layers, the whole dish needs to be drier, so it'll hold up.
    – Satanicpuppy
    Commented May 30, 2011 at 1:03
  • actually I tighten up pretty well, though maybe it does need to be thicker. Thanks for the input.
    – Cos Callis
    Commented May 30, 2011 at 1:13
  • 1
    this answer has some good pointers. for me, letting the lasagne 'rest' really helps with solidifying and helps maintain the effect you want when you slice into it.
    – Sam Holder
    Commented May 30, 2011 at 8:03

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

I've always done a layer of bechamel, pasta, meat, pasta, meat, pasta, meat, pasta, bechamel, cheeses (mozzarella and parmesan, from bottom to top). If you put the cheese in the middle the liquid in it (especially in the mozzarella) won't evaporate and you will have sloppy lasagne.

The other factor is the liquidity of your sauce - a thicker, meatier sauce is better for lasagne so it keeps its shape.

Improve this answer
3
  • No problem. FYI, I bake the lasagne with a foil lid for 40 minutes, then take the foil off for the final 20 so the cheese can crisp and turn golden.
    – ElendilTheTall
    Commented May 30, 2011 at 8:01
  • How thick do you make your white sauce? I've never had a problem with it in the middle, but I make it quite thick for the lasagne (but thinner as a sauce on the side), and let the lasagne rest for at least 30-45 min after baking so it sets back up again.
    – Joe
    Commented May 31, 2011 at 2:40
  • Quite thick. I just feel it gets lost when you put it in the middle. As long as you don't put the cheese in the middle though, the exact order isn't important I think.
    – ElendilTheTall
    Commented May 31, 2011 at 7:25
2

There are several factors in this, in my experience.

  • Thickness of the sauce. If your sauce is too watery, then the pasta layers will soak up too much liquid and have less structural integrity. This is the obvious issue.
  • Thickness of the layering. A layer of pasta can only hold so much weight. A layer of sauce about half an inch deep is usually the limit. This isn't an exact measurement though, merely experience.
  • Unemulsified fat. When you add things like Mozzarella and Cheddar, they melt and release lots of fat. This will get soaked up by the pasta, making it a little "gooey". These cheeses generally stay on the top, where the water can evaporate and the fat can brown nicely in the air above it.
  • Space between the pasta leaves. The pasta shouldn't have any spacing between leaves, as this allows a lot of shifting in the baking tray. I generally set it up with quite a bit of overlap (about 3/4 of an inch). This way the two leaves can combine in certain places, giving a thicker layer of pasta, and no spacing can form.
Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.