# How many layers is your lasagna? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120 "2013-02-02T14:58:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/1 "2013-02-02T14:58:15Z")
Because my mother had been a Depression baby, her method of cooking was to take whatever recipe from a women’s magazine that piqued her interest and pare it down to something Joe Arpaio would be glad to serve. Thus the lasagnas of my unappreciative youth were: noodles/tomato paste & hamburger/noodles/grated cheese. The Thermidorian Reaction to this was the lasagnas of my adulthood: monstrosities created as if Howard Roark had gone to culinary instead of architecture school; Noah’s arcs of flesh from land, sea and sky; cheeses from every beast willing to be milked, vegetables all green and so fresh they were still filing last minute appeals as I chopped them. Five layers was my usual, limited only by the want of temerity in pan manufacturers. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/2 "2013-02-02T15:10:51Z")
A box of lasagna noodles has enough to make three layers in the pan I use, so that’s what I do. Happily I was raised by a Boomer and not a Depression baby. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/3 "2013-02-02T15:22:57Z")
My wife’s lasagna has three layers of noodles alternated with two layers of filling. Then topped with sauce and cheese. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/4 "2013-02-02T15:23:12Z")
Top to bottom: Mozzarella Parmesan/Romano Sauce Noodle Basil leaves Mozzarella Sauce Sausage Noodle Mozzarella Sauce Ground beef Noodle Sauce How many layers would you call that? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/5 "2013-02-02T15:27:20Z")
That’s 3, \*\*DCnDc. \*\* You put sauce in the bottom of the pan before the first noodles? I just put olive oil to keep them from sticking (though I love crispy noodle) ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/6 "2013-02-02T15:35:18Z")
I sauce the bottom of mine too. I don’t know why, I just always have. I make really thick layers so I am usually lucky if I can get 3 to fit in a pan. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/7 "2013-02-02T15:35:39Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > That’s 3, \*\*DCnDc. \*\* > > You put sauce in the bottom of the pan before the first noodles? I just put olive oil to keep them from sticking (though I love crispy noodle) That’s how I was taught to do it, and from what I’ve seen and had of others’ lasagna, it appears to be standard practice. Never really gave it much thought, to be honest with you. If the bottom noodle layer gets crispy, doesn’t that make all the innards squish out when you cut into it on the plate? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/8 "2013-02-02T15:36:22Z")
3 layers. As God intended it. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/9 "2013-02-02T15:41:19Z")
Three layers in a 9 x 13 pan. No room for more (though I always seem to have extra noodles left over. I hate that! They sit in the cupboard forever.) My cousin had three boys and would make a lasagna in a big roasting pan, using as many of the noodles and layers as would fit. She said she never had any leftovers (and her boys were stick figures as long as I’ve known them). She estimated it worked out to a double recipe, just doubled all ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/10 "2013-02-02T15:43:18Z")
The number of layers is limited by the thickness of the layers and the depth of the pan. I reach the top of my pan at three layers, so that’s how I make it. ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/11 "2013-02-02T16:19:04Z")
noodles sauce noodles cottage or ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan, noodles sauce mozzerella/gruyere ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/12 "2013-02-02T16:41:39Z")
I have six or seven distinct ingredients that are abundant enough to comprise a layer, but multiple layers of most of them. In my usual pan, it works out to about 14 layers total, plus some herbs and spices that don’t comprise full layers. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/13 "2013-02-02T17:03:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I have six or seven distinct ingredients that are abundant enough to comprise a layer, but multiple layers of most of them. In my usual pan, it works out to about 14 layers total, plus some herbs and spices that don’t comprise full layers. I think of a layer as being from Noodle to Noodle, but maybe not everyone is thinking the same way. I was wondering how anyone had a pan deep enough to accomidate more than 3 layers. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/14 "2013-02-02T17:08:39Z")
Oh. Again with the caveat that it’s pan-dependent, but I usually have three layers of noodles. It’s not all the same things between the noodles, though. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/15 "2013-02-02T18:55:57Z")
Mine is 2 noodle layers. My sauce is pretty chunky with chuck and italian sausage, which I don’t break up very much. I love making lasagna- I’m actually going to attempt a noodle-free lasagna this week for a gluten-intolerant friend. Thinking an eggplant layer and maybe a spinach layer. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/16 "2013-02-02T19:12:21Z")
From bottom to top: Fresh spinach pasta Meat sauce & parmesan Pasta Bechamel & parmesan Pasta Meat sauce & parmesan Pasta Bechamel & parmesan Pasta Meat sauce & parmesan So, three meat layers, two bechamel layers, five sheets of pasta. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/17 "2013-02-02T21:06:00Z")
Bottom-to-top, in a 2-inch deep pan: Marinara sauce (either with meat, or vegetarian, same with all following marinara layers) Pasta Marinara Ricotta Parmesan Pasta Marinara Mozzarella Pasta Marinara Parmesan Mozzarella ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/18 "2013-02-02T23:55:23Z")
Why on earth do you people have lawyers in your lasagna? They taste awful. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/19 "2013-02-03T00:01:50Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Why on earth do you people have lawyers in your lasagna? They taste awful. Not if you saute them properly! 3 layers of noodles, multiple layers of sauce/cheeses/meat between each noodle layer. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120/20 "2013-02-03T00:22:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Why on earth do you people have lawyers in your lasagna? They taste awful. I’m not the only one, then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-layers-is-your-lasagna/649120.md?page=2)