Layering Lasagne - quick help!

[whethertheweather]

I'm currently cooking lasagne for tomorrow.

In the past I have always layered in order from the bottom:

1)meat
2)pasta
3) bechamel
4) meat
5) pata
6) bechamel

With parmesan etc sprinkled on the white layer in between

But I looked in a couple of cook books and they do the white sauce as the bottom layer, then pasta then meat. Am I missing a trick? Do you put bechamel on top of the meat for the top layer?

[whatareyoueatingNOW]

In my opinion you are right

Meat
Pasta
Bechemel

[MammyHester9116]

I do meat, pasta, cheese sauce, meat, pasta, cheese sauce! 😀

[AlpacaLypse]

I don't think it matters whether you have white sauce or meat as the bottom layer, but the top needs to be pasta then white sauce then sprinkling of cheese otherwise it turns into a mess!

[aneres]

I do the same as you.

[Doje]

I never put bechamel on the bottom. Meat, pasta, bechamel. If I don't have lots of milk, I often don't put bechamel in the lasagne, I just use it as a top layer.

[NathanTheProphet]

Meat, pasta, cheese sauce.

[AstridWhite]

I do the same as you but I really don't think it matters as long as there is sufficient wet stuff between the pasta layersvand the top needs to be béchamel then cheese.

[AlpacaLypse]

I put in a layer of spinach too, usually mixed with ricotta. But I learned to cook as a vegetarian student and only started cooking with meat after the great bacon buttie revelation when I was 24 and very hung over...

[TheSpottedZebra]

I put in the thinnest smear of bechamel and then a pasta layer first. Then it doesn't slop about on the plate.

[gryffen]

Meat pasta then sauce (small amount)
Repeat and top layer of sauce has the most and then add cheese and Tabasco.
Now wanting lasagnas!!!

[myrtleWilson]

ah - I do bechamel on the bottom, then pasta so the bottom pasta layer has some "glue" to stick to (and not wasting a meat/main dollop of sauce) So I go

bechamel, pasta, tomato sauce mix, spinach (bit more béchamel if I've got too much - but not always) pasta, tomato mix, spinach, pasta, béchamel -tonne of cheese

[AdaColeman]

I butter the dish, then have pasta as the bottom layer followed by meat etc etc.
I find this makes for a very neat serving, and also makes a solid slice if leftovers are to be frozen, (not that there often are leftovers!)

[whethertheweather]

Thanks for such a quick response.

Glue is good - my lasagne is never a neat slice! I'm hoping that making today for tomorrow might help in some way.

[FridayThirteenth]

Yep, another who does pasta as the bottom layer, I find it much easier to serve

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

Cheese sauce
Meat
Pasta
Cheese sauce
Meat
Pasta
Cheese sauce
Grated cheese or torn mozzarella
Sliced tomatoes
More grated cheese
Salt and pepper

[CannotEvenThink]

I do pasta at the bottom too, gets any extra layer in.

[MerryMarigold]

It's such a faff to do lasagne, but last time I made it I did 3 layers of pasta with v thin layers of sauce and meat between the layers. I put the bechamel (containing some parmesan) on top of each pasta layer. Final layer is just bechamel. I'm going to do a pasta layer at the bottom next time and maybe 4 layers of pasta. Dh aunt is Italian and she always has lots of v thin layers in her pasta so looks more like puff pastry than ready-meal lasagne plus the layers are less bright red as the bechamel mixes with the meat sauce.

[afreshnewname]

Leave it 10-15 mins after getting out of the oven and it will 'firm up' so you can do neat portions

[Oblomov18]

Actually I do differently. I wonder why.
I put a tiny bit of meat on the bottom. Then: pasta, meat, white sauce.

So my white sauce goes on top of the meat. Then another layer of pasta.

I wonder why I do it differently to you all?

[GrouchyKiwi]

I do:

pasta
meat
cheese sauce (none of this bechamel nonsense; more cheese always)
pasta
meat
cheese
pasta
cheese
parmesan

[GrouchyKiwi]

Those two solo "cheese"s should be cheese sauce. Fingers got lazy.

[Merrz]

Wow never knew there were so many variations on Lasagne!!

cheese sauce (just enough to cover the bottom of the dish)
pasta
meat
pasta
meat
pasta
cheese sauce
chedder cheese

Yes 2nd day lasagne is always better

[MrsJayy]

I put a smear of sauce then pasta on the bottom layer it slops on my plate other wise

[OutyMcOutface]

Meat, Pasta, Meat, Ham, Meat, Bechemele, Pasta, meat, ham, meat, bechenemme etc.

[whethertheweather]

Ham! Now I'm intrigued. Is it good?