Is Olive Garden Food Made Fresh Or Frozen? Since Olive Garden is casual, it comes as no surprise that some of their delicious meals are actually frozen. Former employees, in an Reddit AMA, stated, “The food is almost entirely made up of frozen ingredients”.
Olive Garden is fast-casual dining, so it’s not exactly surprising that some of their food is frozen before being sent out to you. In one Reddit AMA, a former employee wrote, “The food is mostly frozen. All of the desserts are.”
Does Olive Garden Use Frozen Pasta?
Olive Garden does not use frozen pasta. Their pasta is not actually made fresh though. It is boiled in the morning and cooked al dente to prepare for the lunch and supper rush.
Another Olive Garden favorite is their soup. They sell a variety of classic Italian soups that are tasty and filling. These soups taste so fresh because they are just that; freshly made that morning!
Now that we have discussed the different things that Olive Garden serves that are cooked fresh, let’s discuss what frozen foods Olive Garden actually uses.
There has been a rumor circulating throughout social media that Olive Garden uses microwaves in their kitchens. The assumption here is that the pasta and meat dishes that they serve are not cooked to order and instead simply “warmed up” in the microwave.
After discussing the menu items offered at Olive Garden, you might be curious if these dishes are authentically Italian.
Olive Garden does prepare some of their food in advance, and not all of their food is made fresh. Though these could be seen as shortcomings for the restaurant chain, premade and frozen food can actually benefit you as it cuts down wait time and allows for more menu options.