There are many ways you can reheat dumplings. You can fry, deep-fry, boil, steam, and even bake the dumplings. Choose a method based on how you cooked the dumplings.
Some are soft and spongy, thin-skinned and delicate, and some are heartier with thicker wrappers. Your goal is not to re-cook the dumplings but only to get them warm.
The dumplings can take all kinds of heat. Deep them in boiling water for minutes to reheat them. If you steamed or boiled them the first time, you can still pan-fry or deep fry them the second time.
Dumplings are delicate and can become mushy or fall apart if you do not handle them carefully. Depending on their wrapper, dumplings can be boiled, steamed, or fried.
Steamer
Steam provides excellent heat transfer (Gestra.com). It does not matter if you have a metal or bamboo steamer. Use it to reheat steamed or boiled dumplings. If the dumplings have stood water and steam, they can do it again.
The only challenge is over-steaming your dumplings, as they can end up soggy. Use a fork to test your dumplings so that the heat has reached their center.
Reheating steamed dumplings is straightforward. You only need to steam them again. Steamed dumplings are gentle. Avoid an aggressive method for steamed dumplings because you will destroy them.
Steps
- Use a pot with boiling water with a metal steamer on top.
- Put a layer of parchment paper on the steamer. Do not fully cover the steamer. Leave it uncovered around the edges to allow the steam to reach the dumplings.
- Close the pot with a tight-fitting lid.
- Steam the dumplings for a few minutes to reheat them.
Boiling
Boiling is a fat-free cooking method (thechefswife.com). For boiled dumplings, use boiling water to reheat them. Put the dumplings in boiling water for a few minutes before removing them. Remember that you do not need to boil them for too long.
Microwave
Reheating dumplings in the pan or oven will take a few minutes, but some people choose the microwave. It is easy, fast, and efficient. However, microwaves do not work in every case. For crispy dumplings, you need to use another reheating method, as the microwave will make the skin on dumplings soft and soggy.
Overcook them, and the edges will become stiff and chewy. You can microwave frozen dumplings, and it takes 3 minutes to prepare them. They taste as good as the ones you cook on a stovetop.
Steps
- Use a microwavable-safe bowl and place the frozen dumplings in it.
- Allow the dumplings to thaw and cook evenly in the microwave.
- Add hot tap water to the bowl to half submerge the dumplings.
- Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe lid.
- Microwave on high for 3 minutes.
- Take a colander and drain the water from the dumplings.
- For crispy dumplings, place a non-stick pan on medium heat and add oil to it.
- Add the dumplings to the pan and fry them until they turn golden brown.
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Best method
Frying pan
You can deep-fry boiled or steamed dumplings in a pot. Once soft and juicy, dumplings will be in crispy pockets. Smaller dumplings are suitable for deep-frying, as you will leave them in the hot oil for a few minutes.
If your dumplings are bigger and right out of the fridge, they will get crispy but remain cold inside. Pan-fried dumplings, such as potstickers, are best reheated in a pan to bring back the initial crispiness of the wrappers.
Steps
- If the dumplings are in the fridge, let them come to room temperature. If frozen, allow them to thaw.
- Add a small amount of water to the pan and wait until it starts to boil.
- Put the dumplings in a pan and cover them with the lid.
- Wait until the water boils off. By this time, the dumplings will be all warmed up.
- If you want to get the dumplings crispy, add a tablespoon of oil to the pan. When adding the oil, put the dumplings aside until the oil gets hot so that the dumplings will soak it up until it manages to get hot.
- Turn the dumplings around to get them crispy from all sides.
If you want the dumplings to be crispy, do not put them on a paper towel to remove the excess oil. While the towel will absorb the oil, it will cause the dumplings to get soggy.
Storage
If you make a batch of dumplings, you can store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Keep them there for three or five days. If you have a small amount leftover, store it in the fridge.
Safe Temperatures
For reheating your dumplings in the microwave, put them in a microwave-safe dish covered with a paper towel and heat them for 45 seconds to 1 minute.
FAQs
How to reheat frozen dumplings
To reheat frozen dumplings, first, let them defrost. Take the dumplings from the freezer into the fridge and let them thaw there overnight. Never defrost the dumplings at room temperature since it increases the risk of bacterial contamination.
Once the dumplings have thawed, use one method to reheat them. Sometimes you do not have time to thaw the dumplings. Reheat them frozen by steaming or boiling them. However, there is a higher risk of making soggier dumplings.
How long do you cook dumplings in the microwave?
The cooking time depends on how many dumplings there are. Ten dumplings take about 3 minutes to finish cooking.
How do you tell if dumplings are fully cooked?
You can tell that your dumplings are fully cooked by inserting a fork into a dumpling and splitting it in half. It is fully cooked when the center is cooked, not dense or doughy. If you under-cook them, you will have raw dumplings inside. They can contain harmful bacteria that may make you sick if you eat them.
Can dumplings be served cold?
Cold dumplings are not appetizing, but they are delicate to some people. It is up to you whether you want to serve them cold or not.