Can You Freeze Potato Dumplings?

How often has this happened to you: you prepare potato dumplings and realize only when things are over and done that you have prepared way, way more than you can eat? It almost always happens to me and in the end, I find myself eating dumplings for three days. For heaven’s sake there is certainly worse, but, after three days no matter how much you love them, you will get bored. What to do in that case?

So you might be wondering, can you freeze potato dumplings? The answer is yes. You just need to find the space in the freezer. And don’t worry, it will still taste like before.

However, to obtain a good result, it is necessary to adopt some very simple precautions. The first thing to know is that potato dumplings should be frozen raw and not after being cooked. 

So I’m going to show you how to freeze potato dumplings in the best way. 

What Happens if You Freeze Potato Dumplings?

Freezing potato dumplings is always a good idea if you have too many dumplings in your hand. Freezing the dumplings will prevent them from getting too soggy due to condensation that can build up in the refrigerator. 

Pros of freezing potato dumplings

1. Safety and hygiene. Low temperatures kill many bacteria.
2. Texture and taste remain the same if stored properly.
3. Ideal if you don’t have time to cook.

Cons of freezing potato dumplings

1. They are heavier because, in most cases, they are high in trans fat.
2. For me, the most important disadvantage is its nutritional value.

To prevent freezer burn on food, proper storage is particularly important so that the food hardly loses any liquid. It is also important to ensure that the packaging contains as little air as possible and fits as closely as possible to the food.

I avoid this by wrapping the dumplings in foil and then in the freezer bag and marking each bag with the date when it was frozen so that it does not stay in the freezer for too long.

How To Freeze Potato Dumplings?

Let’s dive right into this one. There are two basic steps to follow. Here goes!

Step 1:

Bring a clean tray or large plate. Dust the tray or large plate with flour or cornstarch. Place a clean cookie sheet or wax paper on a tray. I usually use a cookie sheet. It serves to keep the dumplings from sticking to the tray. Line your fresh potato dumplings on the baking sheet individually. Make sure they don’t touch each other as they stick together and form a lump. 

Step 2:

Place the large tray or dish in a freezer (uncovered) until completely frozen After the designated time, carefully take them out and place them in a zip lock bag. Don’t forget to label and date them. To prevent potato dumplings from freezer burn, be very careful to wrap them in an airtight freezer-safe bag. Do not use a regular ziplock sandwich bag as most ziplock bags are not completely airtight and over time air molecules will seep into the bag and ruin sensitive foods.

With a freezer-safe ziplock bag, potato dumplings can last up to 3 months and will still look fresh when cooked.

Can You Freeze German Potato Dumplings?

My favorite type of dumplings is German potato dumplings. They can be frozen as well. Place the dumplings on the tray, so that they do not touch each other, on a cookie sheet until they are frozen. Then place it in a freezer bag making sure to get rid of all the air. 

Do You Freeze Potato Dumplings Cooked or Uncooked (Raw)?

I freeze dumplings fresh. I think it is better because it retains its texture and is less likely to disintegrate when cooked. If you want you can freeze cooked potato dumplings. The freezing method is almost the same.  

Cook potato dumplings in the salted water. Let the dumplings cool completely, then place them on a baking sheet.

They must not touch each other. Leave them in the freezer for 3 hours.

Once frozen, transfer them to resealable bags (recommended) or air-tight containers.

How Long Do Frozen Dumplings Last?

Once frozen, potato dumplings will keep for about 3 months, but my advice is always to consume them within a month to not lose their flavor. 

How Do You Defrost Frozen Potato Dumplings?

Just take the desired quantity of dumplings and dip them into boiling water. Exactly! So frozen! You absolutely must not defrost them! I often get asked ‘how do you cook frozen potato dumplings?’

Cooking potato dumplings is quite simple:

1. You have to throw them in plenty of boiling salted water,
2. wait for them to come to the surface, and after a few seconds drain them.

In addition, there are 3 other ways to cook potato dumplings: steam, fry, or microwave.

My favorite way of cooking dumplings is steamed because that way the food retains all its nutritional properties but, I will introduce you to all the ways you can cook dumplings.

How to steam potato dumplings?

Heat water in your steamer. Don’t fill it so full that the water touches any of the meatballs. You just want the water to create enough steam to cook the meatballs.

Place your potato dumplings in the steamer.

Steam for about 15-20 minutes.

How to steam fry potato dumplings?

 How to make potato dumplings, but with crispy ones?

1. Fry the frozen potato dumplings in oil.
2. Add a little water to the pot and cover it to trap the steam.
3. Wait for the water to evaporate.
4. Fry the same potato dumplings again. The ultimate frying gives you the extra zest and oomph factor, that the inside is kept soft and fluffy by the steam.
5. This is a non-traditional way to cook potato dumplings, but for those of us who love a little more texture, this method will leave you salivating for more.

How to cook potato dumplings in the microwave?

The ultra-fast method for cooking frozen potato dumplings.

1. Take frozen potato dumplings and place them individually in one layer on a microwave-safe plate.
2. Add water so the potato dumplings are half submerged.
3. Cover the dish with another microwave-safe plate.
4. Heat the dish in the microwave over high heat until the potato dumplings are cooked through, about three minutes.
5. Take the pot of potato dumplings and drain off any remaining water.
6. Next, place the potato dumplings in a skillet or skillet over medium heat.
7. Flip them a couple of times just to add a little browning and color to the meatballs.

Can You Refreeze Potato Dumplings?

Freezing, thawing and re-freezing food is a practice that is not strongly encouraged by nutritionists, doctors and anyone who is even the least familiar with the so-called “cold chain” useful for reducing the spread of bacteria; in fact, its interruption generates a resuscitation of bacteria.

What To Serve With Potato Dumplings?

With walnuts, breadcrumbs, thyme and marjoram you can prepare a really tasty sauce to dress the potato dumplings. Your walnut sauce will be a perfect accompaniment to serving potato dumplings.

Potato dumplings with fresh tomato and basil are one of the simplest toppings for this much-loved traditional dish, and also my favorite. When the tomatoes are in season you can easily prepare a quick fresh tomato sauce.

Questions I’m Often Asked 

Conclusion

Don’t avoid freezing dumplings. Once frozen properly, you have nothing to worry about, just don’t forget about them in the freezer.

I’d love to hear how you freeze your potato dumplings or how you defrost potato dumplings. Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments section. Check out more of my articles if you liked this one.