As delicious as lasagna can be, baking it the right way is the secret to a perfect recipe. You want to bake it for enough time for all the layers to get cooked properly.
Many times, your lasagna will look done but it could be still raw in the middle. To avoid such a situation, we put together a complete guide to cooking the perfect lasagna!
If you want to cook your lasagna at 350 degrees F, it will take 45 minutes to get done all the way through. However, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about preparing this tasty, Italian dish!
Do You Bake Lasagna at 350 or 375?
Even if you can bake lasagna at different temperatures, by just adjusting the baking time correctly, it is recommended to use the temperature of 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes. This temperature is ideal for cooking the pasta and the filling while the lasagna is covered.
Moreover, it is important to check the internal temperature of lasagna and make sure it gets to 165 degrees F. This is the optimum temperature that will assure you everything is cooked.
What Temperature Should Lasagna be Cooked at?
Lasagna is traditionally cooked at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes, as long as you cover it with foil. However, this time can vary if you cook it without the foil and you might have to give it up to 50 minutes until it is fully done.
Remember to check the internal temperature of your lasagna to decide if it is well done. Always adjust the cooking time according to the temperature. The higher the temperature, the less time your lasagna will need to get done.
Lasagna Baking Temperature and Baking Time Table
Lasagna Baking Temperature | Baking Time |
180 degrees F | 60-70 minutes |
350 degrees F | 45 minutes |
375 degrees F | 30-40 minutes |
400 degrees F | 25-30 minutes |
425 degrees F | 25 minutes |
450 degrees F | Not recommended |
Why You Shouldn’t Bake Lasagna at 450 Degrees F?
You might think that the higher the temperature, the faster your dish will be cooked.
While that is true, you should also consider that a high temperature will also burn your lasagna and potentially ruin your recipe as well.
Therefore, we do not recommend cooking lasagna at 450 degrees F as it will bake way too fast and chances are that you will end up with burned edges.
Stick to an ideal temperature of 350 degrees F or 375 degrees F and your lasagna will have time to cook correctly and all the way through.
If you bake your lasagna at a high temperature, you also risk ruining the flavor and end up with a dry dish that will not be what you expected.
How Long to Cook Lasagna in Oven?
If you want to make lasagna from scratch in the oven, you should consider a temperature from 350 degrees F to 375 degrees F. Sepending on the temperature you choose, you will be looking at a time between 30 minutes and 45 minutes.
Consider that you should also give your lasagna up to 15 minutes to cool down before you can serve it. If you want it to have a crusty top, you want to cook it with a foil o it but remove the foil and let it cook without it for the last ten minutes.
Apply this time and recommendations even if you use an electric oven or a gas oven as there is no difference in terms of cooking time or cooking strategy.
How Long to Bake Vegetable Lasagna at 350?
In terms of cooking time, there is no significant difference between a vegetable lasagna and a meat lasagna. However, your veggie lasagna might be done 5-10 minutes earlier, so make sure to check it before the regular time runs out.
If a regular, meat lasagna, will need to cook for about 45 minutes at a temperature of 350 degrees F, you want to check its internal temperature after 30 minutes of baking.
When the internal temperature of your lasagna is 165 degrees F you can consider the dish done and take it out of the oven.
5 Layer Lasagna Cook Time
Five-layer lasagna needs to be baked all the way through, which is why using a thermometer is that much more important for this type of dish.
The good news is that most types of lasagna are with five layers, at least if you follow the Italian recipe.
So, the cooking time of 30-45 minutes at a temperature of 350 degrees F or 375 degrees F, will still apply to such a lasagna dish.
Best Lasagna Recipe
To create the best lasagna all you need is the best recipe. And we have put it together for you so get ready to amaze your guests and family members with this delicious dish!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
- ¾ pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 (28 ounces) can of crushed tomatoes
- 2 (6 ounces) cans of tomato paste
- 2 (6.5 ounces) cans of canned tomato sauce
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried basil leaves
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ¾ pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
If the ingredients seem like a lot, don’t worry! Once you start preparing the recipe you will see that there is nothing so complicated about it.
Also, we want to mention that if you don’t have all the ingredients, or you don’t like all of them, you can always substitute as you please to end up with the best type of lasagna for your taste!
Step 1:
Cook the sausage and ground beef until it turns a brown shade. Add garlic and onion and keep stirring. When the onion turns a glassy texture, add chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, and water.
Let it cook at medium heat and season with sugar, fennel seeds, basil, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, and parsley. Cover everything and let it simmer for about one hour and mix occasionally.
Step 2:
Boil the lasagna noodles in water for eight to ten minutes, according to instructions. Make sure to add a pinch of salt to the water as well. When the noodles are boiled, drain them and let them sit.
In a different bowl mix the ricotta cheese with egg, salt, and parsley.
Step 3:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. This is the best temperature to get a perfectly cooked lasagna.
Step 4:
Get a baking dish and start putting together your lasagna.
Spread a layer of meat sauce then place a layer of noodles. Add a layer of the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles and again a layer of meat sauce before you top it with mozzarella slices.
Repeat these layers until your lasagna is well assembled.
Make sure to sprinkle parmesan over the last layer. If you prefer extra parmesan in your lasagna, you can sprinkle some in between layers as well, as you put it together.
Step 5:
Cover your lasagna with foil and bake it for 30 minutes. After this time passed, remove the foil and bake it for another 15 minutes.
Make sure to give your lasagna 15 minutes to cool down once you are done cooking it. When your lasagna is cool, cut it into squares and serve it plain or next to a fresh salad or pickles!
Bonus tip: If you want to prepare vegetable lasagna, you can replace the meat in this recipe with grounded soy. There are also types of vegan products based on pea protein that you can use instead of meat.
Some people prefer to use mushrooms instead of meat as well.
However, if you use mushrooms, take into account the fact that they will get cooked a lot faster so cut the cooking time in half to make sure you don’t burn your dish or overcook it!
Final Thoughts
As popular as lasagna is, you want to cook it the right way in order to get the result you want. It is always best to prepare it at home so you have control over the ingredients and the quality of the dish. Plus, once you make it, you will find it easier to adjust the recipe to your taste and have a delicious lasagna every time.
Make sure to cook it at 350 degrees F or 375 degrees F. Stay away from high temperatures so you don’t end up burning it.
We recommend eating your lasagna with a side of fresh salad or some pickles of your choice and you will have a great dish to enjoy with your friends and family!