Freezing dumplings: A simple solution for quick gourmet meals
Although potato dumplings are a simple and inexpensive dish, their preparation requires some time and effort. Cooking and cooling the potatoes, making the dough, and cooking the dumplings in batches can easily take up an hour or two in the kitchen. That's why whenever I have a bit more time, I make a batch in advance and later pull them out from the freezer for a quick meal.
You can freeze both raw and cooked dumplings if they’re done correctly. Contrary to popular belief, freezing raw dumplings is easier because fully cooked ones, when thawed and then reheated or fried, can become tough.
How to freeze raw potato dumplings?
Unfortunately, you can't simply place them in a container and put them in the freezer, as they will stick together. Prepared dumplings should be arranged on a flour-dusted tray. First, ensure the tray fits in your freezer. When placing the dumplings, leave space between them. After about 2 hours, transfer the dumplings from the tray into a sealed container or a ziplock bag. Label the packaging with the current date and consume within 3 months.
To defrost these raw dumplings, just toss them into salted boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes from the time they float to the surface. Drop them in batches to prevent sticking, and use a slotted spoon to remove them.
How to freeze cooked potato dumplings?
If you want to freeze cooked dumplings, make sure they are not too soft. It's best to throw them into boiling water and take them out immediately after they float to the surface. After removing, place them for just a few seconds into a bowl of icy water to make them firm and resistant to damage. Next, arrange them on a tray and leave them to cool completely. Once cooled, coat them in oil and place the tray in the freezer. After they are frozen, transfer them to sealed containers.
You no longer need to cook these dumplings. Leave them in the fridge to defrost, then toss them into a pan with a small amount of heated fat. You can also put them in the oven to bake with parmesan or mozzarella. In this form, they are excellent with chicken in a creamy thyme sauce or a simple salad with roasted beets and goat cheese.
