There is no right or wrong way of layering lasagna, but some cooks swear by traditional methods. The lasagna noodles can be fully cooked, partially cooked, or not cooked at all. All other ingredients, such as the sauce and cheese, should also be prepared before beginning the layering process. Most cooks put a thin layer of sauce first onto the bottom of the pan to prevent the pasta from sticking or burning. In addition, some people find it helpful to have more than one person help with the task to speed up the process.
The quantity of pasta needed varies depending on the size of the pan and the quantity and size of the other ingredients put between each layer. With practice, a cook can calculate how much he or she needs within seconds and sometimes be off by only a noodle or two. If the pasta is fully or partially cooked before layering, it should be left to cool and dry. Layering lasagna is easier when the noodles are not slippery or too hot to touch. The noodles can be sliced to fit the pan better, but the cut noodles will not be obvious once the dish is completely put together.
Layering lasagna is easiest and quickest when all the ingredients are at hand. The cheese can be grated and placed in a bowl, and the lasagna sauce should be prepared and ready to spoon onto the pasta. Any herbs, vegetables, or meat added between the layers should also be nearby to quickly place onto a layer.
It is entirely possible to prevent the first layer of pasta from burning, hardening, or sticking to the pan. When layering lasagna, the cook should place a thin layer of sauce onto the very bottom of the pan. The pasta can be placed directly onto it afterward and then piled with more sauce, cheese, and vegetables. This trick is similar to greasing cupcake tins or flouring pie pans; the barrier keeps the bottommost food from sticking or becoming unpleasant once the rest of the dish has finished cooking.
Lastly, it is sometimes helpful to have more than one person layering lasagna. This is especially true for lasagna recipes that require the cook to begin layering lasagna outside the pan. One person can start building the components to the dish, while another puts it all together in the pan. Even if the recipe does not call for special layering techniques, the whole process can move faster when two people are putting in effort.
