How to Keep Pasta Warm

Soaking in a Hot Water Bath

Fill a large pan halfway full of water. Set it on medium or low heat on the stove. Heat the water to about 160 °F (71 °C).

Place a second pot or pan inside the water bath. Add your cooked and drained pasta to that pot or pan. If you have any sauce, add that into the pot or pan as well. Cover this second pot or pan to retain moisture.

Keep the stove on low heat. Stir the pasta occasionally to prevent burning. If necessary, replace the evaporated water from the larger pan with warm water. Replace the lid after stirring.

Using a Slow Cooker

Cook your pasta al dente. Al dente means the pasta is soft, but has a little resistance. This should take 6 to 8 minutes. The longer you cook the pasta, the softer it will be. You can use a slow cooker to keep pasta warm after it’s cooked.

Drain the pasta. To do this, put a colander in the sink. Grab the pot of pasta with potholders, then carefully pour the contents of the pot into the colander. Be careful not to burn yourself with the steam or the pot.

Check if you are using a Crock-Pot or a different type of slow cooker. Crock-Pots are a subtype of slow cooker. Thus, all Crock-Pots are slow cookers but not all slow cookers are Crock-Pots. Crock-Pots also have only two temperature settings. Crock-Pots have ceramic interiors and have heating elements in the sides. Slow cookers have heating elements only at the bottom.

Grease the Crock-Pot with olive or vegetable oil. The oil prevents the pasta from sticking to the sides. Olive oil is richer in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, but vegetable oils are better for high temperature cooking. Skip this step if you are using a slow cooker that is not a Crock-Pot. Skip this step if you are using a Crock-Pot and have sauce.

Add sauce to the pasta. This will prevent the pasta from sticking to the sides of the pot. It also stops the pasta from drying out. If you are using a slow cooker and do not have sauce, drizzle the pasta with olive oil and water instead.

Put the pasta into the slow cooker and turn the heat to low. Stir the pasta every thirty minutes. This helps evenly distribute the heat, and prevents your food from separating into layers. Add water/sauce every time you stir the pasta. If you are using a Crock-Pot, turn the heat to warm and do not add any water/sauce when stirring.

Serve the pasta when you are ready. If the pasta has been sitting undisturbed for a long time, stir beforehand.

Utilizing a Chafing Dish

Set up your chafing dish. Place the food pan over the chafing dish stand where you intend to serve the pasta. Before lighting the burner, make sure the dish isn’t near anything flammable and that the flame will be protected from any wind.

Check if your chafing dish has a water pan. The water pan is the larger pan that surrounds the food pan. It is designed to help heat the food with steam.

Pour .5 inches (1.3 cm) of water into the food pan. Cover the pan to ensure the water doesn’t evaporate away. This water will create steam, which will help ensure the pasta won't dry out. Skip this step if your chafing dish does have a water pan.

Cook your pasta to the desired texture before draining. Remember that the longer you cook the pasta, the mushier it will get. Many people prefer pasta al dente. If you will be keeping the pasta warm for a long period of time, it may cook more while it is being kept warm.

Mix the sauce with the pasta. This way you can serve the pasta without having to keep the sauce warm separately. Skip this step if your chafing dish does not have a water pan.

Rinse the pasta in cold water for 5 minutes, then toss with a small amount of olive oil. The water makes the pasta stop cooking and removes excess starch that will make it sticky. The oil adds moisture and also prevents stickiness. Skip this step if your chafing dish does have a water pan.

Add the pasta to the food pan. Make sure to replace the cover so you don't dry out your pasta. Stir the pasta periodically so the bottom doesn't overcook. Serve when ready. If you do not have a water pan, periodically add water to the food pan to replace the water that evaporates.

Trying Alternative Solutions

Reheat refrigerated pasta in boiling water. Restaurants often use this method to quickly fill pasta orders. It also warms the pasta without a loss in texture. Cook pasta al dente, then drain and refrigerate the pasta in a ziploc bag. When you want to eat the pasta, boil a large pot of water. Submerge the pasta in boiling water for no more than 30 seconds, then drain and serve.

Microwave refrigerated pasta. This works well if you are in a hurry and don't have many tools available to you. Remember that the pasta may cook a little when it is reheated. Cook pasta al dente, then drain and refrigerate the pasta in a ziploc bag. When you want to eat, add olive oil to the pasta and place in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on low heat for one minute.

Keep the pasta warm in the oven. This method can dry out the pasta. To avoid that, make sure the pasta is well-covered with sauce before you put it in the oven. Place the pasta in an oven-safe pan or bowl. Cover the pasta with aluminum foil then set the oven to the lowest temperature, or 220 °F (104 °C). If the heat gets up to 225 °F (107 °C), turn the heat off so the food can stay warm in the residual heat without overcooking.

Store warm pasta in a thermos. This is great for packing lunches or dinners. It also works well for keeping pasta warm for one or two people, rather than for a full party. Warm up a thermos by filling it with boiling water and letting the water sit for 10 minutes. Empty the thermos and fill it with your hot pasta and sauce. Make sure to secure the lid, and be careful not to burn yourself on the hot food.