Got uncooked dumplings? Here is your guide on how to freeze dumplings and how to cook frozen dumplings.
I often receive dumpling-related questions on social media, and I want to gather and address them in a periodic series that I’m calling “Dumpling 101.” One of the most common questions I get is how to store uncooked dumplings.
HOW TO FREEZE DUMPLINGS
The best method is to freeze dumplings. I usually line pleated dumplings on a baking sheet that fits in my freezer (see photo above). You can also line the dumplings on large plates. Make sure that the dumplings do not touch each other. Otherwise, the dumplings will stick together into a large clump.
Then, I stick the baking sheet straight into the freezer. After several hours, the outsides of the dumplings will harden. At this point, you can remove the dumplings from the baking sheet and store them in a freezer bag, like you see below.
WHEN FROZEN DUMPLINGS GET STUCK TO THE PAN
It’s not unusual for me to forget about the frozen dumplings in the freezer. I’ll leave them on the pan overnight or find them after two days. When that happens, I inevitably find one or two dumplings stuck to the pan as I remove them. It’s not a big deal. I usually give them an extra tug, and they come right off.
You can also line the baking sheet with a sheet of parchment or wax paper before setting the dumplings on top. The dumplings definitely will not stick to the baking sheet when it’s lined. I don’t usually do this because I try not want to waste paper, if possible.
One important note about using glass containers: If possible, do not freeze dumplings directly on glass plates or baking sheets. For whatever reason, frozen dumplings tend to stick on glass and they’re very stubborn to remove. I found out the hard way at my in-laws’ house. If you are using a glass plate or tray for freezing dumplings, line it with parchment first.
Once bagged, you should eat the frozen dumplings in 2 or 3 months. If you store them for any longer, they may get freezer burn.
DO NOT REFRIGERATE UNCOOKED DUMPLINGS
One important thing to note: DO NOT refrigerate uncooked dumplings. Dumpling fillings tend to be moist. When you refrigerate uncooked dumplings, the moisture continues to seep into the dumpling skins, causing them to turn soggy. The next day, the dumplings can get stuck to your container or each other and lose their shape. This problem is even worse when you use thin dumpling skins. I can’t tell you how many messages I receive from people telling me that their uncooked dumplings turned soggy in the refrigerator. That’s why the best thing to do is freeze dumplings. (Additional note: Mama Lin insists that there are dumplings with certain fillings are okay to refrigerate uncooked. To be on the safe side, I would freeze them.)
NO NEED TO DEFROST DUMPLINGS BEFORE COOKING THEM
When you are ready to eat the dumplings, you do not need to defrost the dumplings. In fact, I would advise against it. The ice crystals around the frozen dumplings will melt as the dumplings defrost. When left unattended for a few hours, your dumplings might turn soggy and lose their shape.
If you are making wontons, just throw the dumplings straight into a pot of boiling water. If you are making potstickers, throw the dumplings straight onto the hot pan. The dumplings will need a few more minutes to cook, say an extra 1 to 3 minutes. When cooking potstickers with this method, you’ll notice that it takes an extra minute or two before they brown on the bottom. That’s completely normal.
I freeze batches of dumplings all the time. They are perfect for days when I don’t feel like spending much time on cooking dinner, which is often.
LOOKING FOR DUMPLING RECIPES?
- Chicken Potstickers
- Tofu Wontons with Yellow Curry Broth (a reader favorite!)
- Red Curry Wontons with Zucchini Noodles
- Curried Potato Fried Dumplings
- You can also visit my complete dumpling archives here.
- Pork and Pumpkin Potstickers (a recipe by Andrea Nguyen, who is one of my favorite cookbook authors!)
Ynah Quirante says
Hi, I would just like to ask if it is necessary to cook the dumplings i.e. steam it before freezing? Or is it okay to freeze the dumplings uncooked? Thanks!
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Ynah! Great question! You do not need to cook the dumplings first before freezing. It’s better if you leave them raw.
Yuvraj says
I live in a hot and humid place where the electricity is not stable so I semi cook/steam the dumplings before I freeze them and I do this commercially. So when customers take time to reach home the dumplings stay without becoming soggy.
One of the cons is that when you open the packet it releases a foul smell which doesn’t linger for much long but still if there’s a way to not have that it would be great. Regards
Jessica says
Great advice! I’ve learned to do this too from my mom; however, I’ve also found that those cheap, flexible cutting mats from IKEA work perfectly without worrying about the dumplings sticking to the pan. Keep posting more vegan dumpling recipes 🙂 I find it hard to make good vegan dumplings because vegetables have so much moisture that can’t be absorbed by ground meet.
Lisa Lin says
Thanks for the tip, Jessica! And I’ll definitely be posting more vegan dumpling recipes soon!!
Jenni Trinidad Teves says
Thank you for the great tip on how to store fresh dumplings. Anyway in some blogs i read that never freeze cooked dumplings. What is the reason behind? Thank you i hope i can get an answer.
Lisa Lin says
Great question, Jenni! It’s not that you can’t freeze cooked ones, but I think the dumplings wrappers will probably rip and fall apart when you reheat them, especially if you boil them.
Jasmine Ong says
Hi,
Thank you for the tips! I would like to know how to store if I am making a big batch? Say each time 150 – 200 pcs. I have a meat freezer at home but I think we cant stack the dumplings? I tried stacking – as expected, they clump together 🙁
Secondly, say nothing goes wrong in the freezing process… we run a hawker stall (and we do not have a freezer there, only chiller)… how can we keep our dumplings frozen? 🙁 any idea?
Jasmine
Lisa Lin says
Hi Jasmine, you need to let the dumplings harden in the freezer first before stacking them. That might mean you need to freeze them in batches. You can’t stack them while they’re still fresh because they’ll stick together. I don’t really have any great tips on how to keep the dumplings frozen outside of the home besides maybe storing them in coolers with a lot of ice. If you are storing a lot in there, I recommend alternating layers of ice with layers of dumplings (in ziploc bags).
Mary Lane says
Hi Lisa,
I have made a large quantity of vegetable dumplings which were in a freezer overnight. However power went off before dumplings froze, when problem was discovered they still felt cold. We’re in there for 26 hours. Are they safe to eat now when frozen?
Thanks
Mary
Anuuj Karoliaa says
Hi Lisa
Thank you so much for such great tips. I practiced them and they were really helpful. But I would really appreciate if you could help me with a different problem.
Actually I have a dumplings supply business. We first half steam the dumplings and let them cool completely before stacking them in the containers. And then, we give it to our clients who keep the half steamed dumplings in the refrigerator.
But sometimes when they resteam the dumplings in their steamer, some of them turns brown, not regularly but it happens sometimes. What could be the reason? Your help will be really appreciated. Thanks.
Lisa Lin says
So the entire dumpling turns brown or just parts of it? If so, which parts of the dumpling? I wonder if the parts that are brown are the parts that dried up before freezing.
Yolanda says
Hi, great advise! But I still don’t know the exact process:
1. Half steam, steam or boil the dumpling? How long?
2. Then, let them cool entirely, and freeze them.
3. How to unfrozen? Should I boiled them? Steam? How long?
Thank you!!
Lisa Lin says
Hi Yolanda, there are a few ways to cook frozen dumplings. You can boil them in boiling water for about 5 to 6 minutes and then pan fry until the dumplings are golden brown. If you don’t want to pan fry them, make sure the dumplings are fully cooked (might be something like 6 yo 7 minutes). You can also place them on a nonstick or cast iron skillet and pan fry until they are light brown on the bottom. Then, pour about 1/3 cup of water into the skillet and cover with a lid. Cook for another 5 minutes or so.
Jojo says
Hi Lisa, love your site! For some reason, my dumplings always crack when I freeze them. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Lisa Lin says
Yup, that will happen sometimes, especially if the skins you are using are relatively thin. If you are already storing this in a plastic freezer bag, you can try using a twist tie to get rid of excess air in the bag and prevent freezer burn. That said, don’t worry too much about the cracks, they should weld together when you cook the dumplings.
Steve says
Hi Lisa, great work here! What causes pot stickers (pork) to cook only on the bottom half and sometime stick to each other after steaming?
Lisa Lin says
Do you cover the potstickers with a lid when you make the potstickers? You need the steam to cook the tops of the potstickers.
Arcie Mari Rinaldi says
Great Tips Lisa, thank you! I made my first batch of dumplings from scratch this weekend and felt so prepared to tackle it with all your blog posts!! I decided to freeze some to share with family, and I followed all your tips. One thing I noticed was that all of my skins cracked. Maybe from the skin and filling expanding in the freezer? What’s the best way to avoid this in the future? We will still eat them and I’m sure they’ll fry up or steam just fine. But they’re just not as pretty..
Lisa Lin says
Hi Arcie! Don’t worry too much about the cracking. It happens to me too often because the freezer is a little too cold (usually because my freezer is packed with things and the freezer constantly pumps cold air to keep the temperature regulated). The cracks should weld together as the dumplings cook.
Anna Savoie says
These tips are invaluable, I have absolutely made the mistake of freezing dumplings improperly and ending up with a dumpling mass that needed to be cooked in one go. Still tasted good thankfully. But looked like hell.
Lisa Lin says
Thank you, Anna!