GO! Pesto™ - The Reason You Shouldn't Heat Pesto Sauce (2024)

GO! Pesto™ - The Reason You Shouldn't Heat Pesto Sauce (1)

Short answer
No, you should never heat fresh pesto before adding it to pasta, although with the jarred alternative, we're a little more relaxed.

Long answer
We're often asked whether you're supposed to heat up pesto, and 99% of the time we advise against it, especially if you're talking about the kind of fresh pesto you find in supermarkets' chilled sections.

The reason is because pesto is designed to be a raw sauce. Cooks and manufacturers go to great lengths to preserve the freshness of the ingredients, so heating up your pesto just destroys all that hard work.

This is not to say pesto must be eaten cold. If you're serving pesto with pasta, for example, once you've drained your pasta and stirred through the pesto, the pasta's residual heat will naturally warm the sauce without the need to apply any additional heat.

Ambient pesto, on the other hand (the kind you find in the pasta aisle of your supermarket, sold in glass jars with a long shelf-life), is slightly different. For this kind of pesto to be edible for so long, it will have undergone some form of heat treatment.

Here at GO! Pesto, we go to great lengths to keep this kind of heat treatment to an absolute minimum, thereby preserving as much freshness as humanly possible. However, while we don't condone heating fresh pesto, we're a little less opinionated when it comes to the jarred stuff.

In fact, we've got lots of recipes where the sauce is heated. This includes pasta bakes, paninis, pizzas, and many more. Just be aware that exposing pesto to too much heat for too long will change its flavour. Whenever possible, therefore, we add it right at the end of the cooking process to minimise any flavour loss.

GO! Pesto™ - The Reason You Shouldn't Heat Pesto Sauce (2024)

FAQs

GO! Pesto™ - The Reason You Shouldn't Heat Pesto Sauce? ›

When you heat pesto, it's structure changes. The herbs become blackened and the oil changes. The sauce becomes almost bitter. So to answer your question, there is no recommended way because it is recommended that pesto not be heated.

Why are you not supposed to heat pesto? ›

PESTO SHOULD NEVER BE “COOKED”. If you cook Pesto Sauce, you change the make up of the fresh basil and cause it to turn darker in color. It is best to warm it up and use it at room temperature. If it needs to be thinned out, you can do so by adding a little water, chicken stock, cream or white wine.

Is pesto good hot? ›

Pesto pasta is easy to make and full of flavor. It tastes good hot or cold!

Should basil pesto be cooked? ›

A well-made pesto is a thing of beauty: Fresh, green, cheesy, and nutty, this no-cook sauce has it all, and goes with just about everything.

When should you not eat pesto? ›

Once opened, a jar of pesto lasts in the fridge for three days without any dramatic loss of quality. It will be perfectly safe for another two days, but leave it any longer, and its quality will decline to the point that it will no longer be enjoyable to eat.

Why can't you heat Costco pesto? ›

The reason is because pesto is designed to be a raw sauce. Cooks and manufacturers go to great lengths to preserve the freshness of the ingredients, so heating up your pesto just destroys all that hard work. This is not to say pesto must be eaten cold.

Is cooked pesto bad for you? ›

As long as it forms part of a diverse diet with plenty of vegetables, fibre, and moderate levels of protein and dairy, there's absolutely no need to worry about pesto being bad for you. It's packed full of nutrients and healthy fats, which are needed in a well-balanced diet.

What makes pesto taste better? ›

Add a pinch of salt if the basil tastes too bitter or the pesto needs more zing. Add more Parmesan if you'd like a creamier/cheesier pesto. If desired, you can thin out the pesto with more olive oil.

Can pesto pasta be eaten hot? ›

You can serve this pasta warm or cold! To serve it cold just store it in the refrigerator until it cools! Should pesto be heated? You should not heat the pesto sauce, because it will change the color, taste and texture of the fresh basil.

Should I put pasta water in my pesto? ›

The salty, starchy pasta water will loosen the pesto enough to make a light sauce over the pasta. Because of its salty, starchy quality, this water will make a more flavorful, thicker final pesto sauce than regular water would.

Do you just warm up pesto from jar? ›

Yes, pesto can be used straight from the jar and doesn't require cooking or heating. In fact, we actively discourage applying too much heat to pesto, as this will destroy many of the fresh flavours that producers work so hard to retain.

How do you get the bitterness out of basil pesto? ›

Anything sugary will work: granulated white sugar, honey, fruit juices, even sweet dessert wines. Acid in the form of vinegar or citrus juices can make a pesto taste less bitter and could even enhance the flavour of the sauce at the same time.

Why can't i cook pesto? ›

Pesto degrades in heat

The heat breaks down the aroma and flavor when you put pesto on a hot skillet. This is because all the individual ingredients that make it up do not do well in high heat. For example, basil, which gives the paste its minty, peppery flavor, degrades quickly when cooked, per Spiceography.

What are the disadvantages of pesto? ›

Downsides. Nuts are a common allergen. If you have a tree nut allergy, it's essential to check the ingredients in pesto, as most types are made with tree nuts. Accidentally eating pesto that contains nuts could trigger a life threatening anaphylactic reaction in those who are allergic to tree nuts ( 7 ).

Is it OK to eat pesto everyday? ›

You might not want to douse everything you eat with pesto, but you wouldn't want to do that with any food. Variety and moderation are important. Pesto can be a healthier replacement for cream-based sauces since it's made with olive oil and nuts.

How long will a jar of pesto last in the fridge? ›

Just make sure to leave some headroom at the top of the container so the pesto has room to expand as it freezes. Pesto will last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Can you warm up pesto pasta? ›

Refrigerate pasta in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Pesto pasta can be reheated. Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave.

Should pine nuts be toasted for pesto? ›

Many pesto recipes call for raw pine nuts, but toasting the nuts can make the final sauce's flavor deeper and richer. Toast the nuts and then combine them—either as a paste or whole—with fresh basil, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and garlic.

Why can't you can pesto? ›

If you want to preserve pesto for later use it needs to be frozen. There are no safe home canned recommendations for pesto. The major ingredients in pesto are non-acidic and could support the growth of disease causing bacteria like clostridium botulinum.

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