SaurabhRavioli can save you from many meals you would otherwise have to cook. You can find them frozen in most grocery stores and with different fillings from cheese to ham or spinach.
If you are looking for a fast but nutritious meal, some ravioli might be your best option. And there are several ways you can cook them depending on how it is most convenient for you.
Step-By-Step To Cooking Ravioli: 3 Different Ways
The following guide can help you cook the perfect ravioli for you and your family!
1. Cooking ravioli on the stove
The best way to cook frozen ravioli is still boiling them like you would any other type of pasta. All you have to do is take out the ravioli that you want to cook, and put them in boiling water along with a pinch of salt.
The cooking time if you choose this method is about ten to 12 minutes. But you can always try one ravioli to see if they are done before you turn the heat off completely.
A good tip is that cooked ravioli will rise at the surface of the water so this is an indication that they are well-done. However, if you like them a bit al dente you will not have to wait that long so try them out once ten minutes passed.
Served your ravioli with a sauce of your choice or plain as they can be tasty by themselves as well.
2. Baked ravioli
Baked ravioli can also be a tasty meal with no hassle but it is a method that can be a bit more complex than the previous one.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F
Before you add your ravioli to the oven make sure you heat it up to 350 degrees F. This is also the temperature you want to cook your ravioli at for just a bit over half an hour.
While the oven is heating up, you can prepare your ravioli
Place your ravioli in a baking pan
Choose a tray or a container that is oven friendly and add a layer of baking paper so your ravioli will not stick to it. If you don’t use baking paper, wipe the surface of the container with some olive oil as it will be just as efficient.
Put the ravioli along with the sauce you want in the pan and top them with some mozzarella before you put them in the preheated oven. Also, cover them with foil so they will cook throughout easier.
Put your ravioli in the oven
Put your dish in the oven and let it cook for 30 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees F. After this time ends, remove the foil on top of the container and give your ravioli 10 to 15 more minutes to cook.
Get the ravioli out of the oven and serve
When your ravioli are well-cooked, all you have to do is give them five minutes to cool down and serve them along with your friends and family.
3. Cooking ravioli in the microwave
Also, a faster method to cook frozen ravioli is microwaving them.
Add your ravioli into a microwave-friendly bowl
You will need to add frozen ravioli into a bowl that you can safely use in the microwave along with enough water to cover all of them. The water is important as you will basically be boiling your ravioli. Also, add a pinch of salt to the water as well.
Cover the bowl with cling film or even plastic foil and make some holes in it with the fork to make sure the ravioli can breathe and also receive the heat directly.
Microwave for up to 10 minutes
While the average time for microwaving ravioli is 10 minutes, don’t be surprised if it takes more or less depending on the power of your microwave.
A good tip is to pause the microwave after five minutes so you can stir your ravioli. Doing so will give them a better chance of getting cooked all the way through and will help you avoid hot spots.
Strain your ravioli and serve
When your ravioli are cooked, strain them and serve them along with your sauce of choice or plain. You will have to give them about two minutes to cool down before you enjoy your meal, though.
Should I Thaw Frozen Ravioli Before Cooking?
No, defrosting frozen ravioli before cooking is not necessary regardless of the cooking method you choose.
One of the benefits of frozen ravioli is that they are a fast meal. And if you defrost them, they will actually change their consistency in a way that will affect the cooking process as well.
However, if you do choose to defrost your ravioli, take into account that they will cook a lot faster than the time in the methods above. And since this pasta type is already cooked before it is frozen you will essentially just heat them up.
Can I Cook Frozen Ravioli Directly In Sauce?
Cooking frozen ravioli straight in the sauce you want to eat them with is not a good idea. Think about the fact that frozen ravioli will generate plenty of water once they defrost so your sauce will become a lot runnier than the consistency it had originally.
On the other hand, ravioli is pasta so it will need to boil for a few minutes, especially if you cook it on the stove. And if you decide to boil your ravioli in the sauce you want to eat them with, you will overcook the sauce.
However, when you bake ravioli you can bake them along with a sauce of your choice. So, the baking method could be a method of cooking your ravioli along with the sauce if you so desire.
We will talk further down the guide about the possibilities of frying your defrosted ravioli in the sauce so if you have your heart set on this method, keep reading as we will touch it in more detail.
Unless you want to defrost your ravioli, we strongly recommend cooking and adding your favorite sauce separately. That way, both dishes have different flavors and you can enjoy them together at the end of the cooking process.
How Do You Cook Frozen Costco Ravioli?
Costco ravioli will be as easy to cook as any other type of ravioli. However, they tend to be ready a lot faster which makes them even more popular.
Bring a container of water to a boil and add your Costco ravioli in it along with one or two teaspoons of salt of your choice. Reduce the heat from high to medium so your ravioli can simmer for three to five minutes.
These ravioli will also start floating once they are well-done so you can count on this aspect as an indication that they are done. Strain them and serve along with the sauce or toppings of your preference.
How To Cook Ravioli In A Pan?
You can cook defrosted ravioli in a pan as long as you don’t use high heat. In the case of defrosted ravioli, you can actually cook them along with a sauce you want since they will not eliminate as much water as the frozen ones.
So, to cook ravioli in a pan, make sure you defrost them first or give them a boil, even if you don’t want for them to boil all the way through.
Once they are halfway cooked or at least not frozen anymore, you can add them to the pan along with tomato sauce, veggies, minced meat, if you choose a red sauce. You can also choose to cook them along with a carbonara sauce if you prefer a white sauce with your ravioli.
You will not have to cook your pasta along with your sauce for more than five minutes to get them to the consistency you want.
Make sure you stir them often. Otherwise, you will end up with burned ravioli. Or they will stick to the pan. Stirring is also important to cook your pasta on all sides.
If you cook your ravioli with no other ingredients, you want to follow the same method. However, make sure to add one tablespoon of olive oil to the pan or any other cooking oil because the risk of them sticking is higher during the cooking process.
A great idea is to add caramelized mushrooms to your ravioli recipe if you cook them in the pan. This will give your final dish a delicious taste that everyone in your family will love!
Final Thoughts
Choose the method you prefer in terms of cooking your frozen ravioli, knowing the different times it will take for each one of them as well as the different tools you need.
Ultimately, your ravioli will taste delicious no matter how you cook them as long as you do it the right way.
Don’t hesitate to add the seasoning and toppings you love to give them an even richer taste. But as you do that, take into account the type of filling that your frozen ravioli already have.
