Storing Homemade Noodles

Because homemade noodles are such a wonderful addition to just about any meal, everyone in our family looks forward to the times we have them. There is a drawback to these items, though, and that is they take so long to make. Even the most concise and quick recipe, using a pasta maker will take several hours. This is a lot of work to do each and every time we want to have homemade turkey noodle soup or beef stroganoff.

Instead of making the noodles fresh each and every time, there are a few option available. Use these storage options the next time you make your own noodles and you can add a touch of the homemade to any meal.

• Dry. After making your noodles, allow them to dry completely on a drying rack before storing. These racks can be purchased at kitchen supply stores. After drying, put them in a container where no air or moisture can get to them, like in a Ziploc bag or pasta container. Put them in a dark cool place, like a pantry, and they should last several weeks (roughly three) before needing to be changed.
• Dehydrate. Similar to drying, using a dehydrating machine to remove all the moisture from the noodles will significantly increase their shelf life. In fact, doing this will increase the shelf life to the same point that it is for store-bought brands. Store in the same manner as with store-bought brands, free of moisture and in a dark cool place, and your noodles will last for up to two months.
• Freeze. Dry your noodles out completely as listed above, but don't dehydrate them. Place the noodles in some type of airtight container, specifically a Ziploc bag, and place them in your freezer. When you need some noodles for a meal, simply remove the noodles and thaw them. This method allows the noodles to last for up to three months.

Please note that with each of these methods you will need to completely dry out the noodles before storage. This reduces the risk of mold growing on them and allows the noodles to store longer than otherwise. No matter what type of storage method you use, make sure that you mark the date and time that you stored them. This allows you to check at a glance to see if they are still good or not. The longest that you can store any noodles would be about three months, and that is with the freezing method.