If you make noodles at home, buy them in bulk, or just want to keep leftovers from turning into one solid lump in the refrigerator, knowing how to store noodles is useful.

The right method depends on what you are starting with. Fresh noodles, cooked noodles, dry store-bought pasta, and pasta meant for long-term storage all need slightly different treatment.

This article covers those everyday storage questions. If what you really need is the step-by-step process for drying homemade noodles, use my separate guide to drying and storing homemade noodles. I keep that process separate so you can get straight to the information you need.

In This Article

How To Store Fresh Noodles

It's easy to store fresh noodles in either the refrigerator or freezer.

The best way to decide how to store your fresh noodles is to decide how soon you intend to use them.

If you plan to use them within two days after making them, the refrigerator is the best place to store fresh pasta.

Be aware the pasta may discolor and appear more grey-green than it did when you were making it.

This is normal.

It is caused by water migration and oxidation.

Fresh noodles stored in the refrigerator also tend to clump together after about 18 hours.

How To Store Fresh Noodles In The Refrigerator

To store fresh noodles in the refrigerator, dust each noodle with some flour, let them dry on a baking sheet for two minutes and then place the pasta in an airtight container.

Place the container in the refrigerator and use the pasta within the 2 day time period.

You could also place the pasta dough in the refrigerator using the same method and cut it when you are ready to use it.

How To Store Fresh Noodles In The Freezer

Storing fresh noodles in the freezer is another way to make your recipe ahead of time and use the noodles or dough later.

There are two practical ways to freeze them.

You can freeze the dough before cutting it. Wrap the dough well, then place it inside a freezer bag and press out as much air as you can before sealing it.

Or cut the noodles first, dust them lightly with flour, spread them out on a baking sheet, and freeze them until firm.

Once frozen, transfer the noodles to a labeled freezer bag and return them to the freezer. This keeps them from freezing together in one big mass.

Pasta dough or fresh noodles are good for up to four weeks when they are preserved like this.

Drying Homemade Noodles Is A Separate Process

If you are working with fresh homemade noodles and want to dry them before storage, I have a complete step-by-step guide devoted to that process.

It covers dehydrator drying, air drying, how to tell when the noodles are fully dry, cooling them before packing, and the storage methods I actually use.

Read: How To Dry And Store Homemade Noodles.

This page focuses instead on choosing the right storage method for fresh noodles, cooked noodles, commercially dried pasta, and noodles you want to keep for long-term pantry storage.

How To Store Dry Noodles

I prefer to store my dry noodles in the freezer.

In fact, I even place store bought noodles in a freezer bag and keep them in the freezer.

I feel it keeps them fresher longer.

However for those who do not wish to store dry noodles in the freezer, it is ok to store them in a cabinet.

Wherever you store your dry noodles, it is important that the pasta is kept in an airtight container in an area that is cool and dry.

Store Bought Homemade Noodles

Keeping store bought homemade noodles is no different than keeping homemade noodles.

Remove the pasta from the bag or box it came in.

Place the pasta in a freezer bag if you intend to store it in the freezer or put it in an air tight container if you intend to store it in a cabinet.

Most store bought pasta has a shelf life of two years, but be sure to check the date on the package when you purchase it.

Need Ideas For Using Dried Noodles?

If you already have dried noodles on hand, I put together five practical ways to use them, from quick dinners and soups to pantry-style meal ideas.

Read 5 Creative Ways to Use Homemade Dried Noodles

How To Store Noodles After Cooking

You can store noodles after cooking them in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Be sure to store it by itself and not in the same container as the sauce.

To reheat the pasta, place it in a colander and place it into boiling water for one minute.

How To Store Noodles so They Don't Stick

The secret to preventing noodles from sticking is to rinse them off with cold water right after you dump the boiling water off.

This is how I do it.

I dump the noodles into a colander then rinse the pan several times with cold water to cool it down.

I pour the water out of the pan over the top of the noodles.

Then I fill the pan with cold water.

I dump the noodles into the cold water and swirl them around.

I repeat this process at least two more times.

Then I dump the noodles back into the colander and place the colander on top of the pan so the noodles can drain.

How To Store Noodles Long Term

To store noodles long term, you need oxygen absorbers and the containers or mylar bags need to be vacuum sealed.

For those who want to use mylar bags instead of glass canning jars, be aware the sharp edges of the pasta can rip the mylar bags.

A bay leaf put in with the pasta before vacuum sealing the bag helps to keep critters away.

This is important because sometimes even store bought pasta is contaminated with weevil eggs and if they hatch, they will eat the pasta and eat their way out of cardboard packaging.

Pasta is a wonderful long term storage prep item because it has a long shelf life, is inexpensive, filling, nutritious and versatile plus it is an easy replacement for rice.

For those who choose to store their pasta in a mylar bag - or even a vacuum seal bag - placing the bag into a glass container or a five gallon bucket with a lid is highly recommended.

This prevents any pests from chewing through the packaging and ruining your pasta.

How To Use Oxygen Absorbers

Here is a quick chart on how to use oxygen absorbers.

For a 32 ounce canning jar use 100 cc oxygen absorber.
For a #10 can or 1 gallon container use 300 cc oxygen absorber.
For a 5 gallong container use 15oo cc oxygen absorber.

You can learn more about oxygen absorbers here.

Need Help Making Or Drying Homemade Noodles?

This guide is intentionally focused on storage. If you are starting with homemade dough and want the full process for making, drying, and preserving the noodles, use my dedicated homemade noodle guide instead:

How To Dry And Store Homemade Noodles.