In the stress of life, there can be comfort in the kitchen, especially for those who grew up immersed in the aromas of home cooking. Sometimes, all we need is the perfect chicken and dumplings recipe to fix a bad day! As a devoted parent, however, you might crave those traditional meals without feeling you have the time to make them.
Modern conveniences can make it feel like you’re straying from how your grandma made the same recipe, but being resourceful has always been a part of traditional cooking. To enjoy dumplings on a moments’ notice, you can freeze them and then reheat them when you want a delicious meal.
Freezing dumplings is a straightforward and effective way to preserve both taste and quality. Whether they’re lovingly prepared with a family recipe or filled with new, healthier ingredients, dumplings are a perfect choice for home cooking!
How to Freeze Dumplings
Just as it’s important to know how to tell when dumplings are done, it’s important for any cook to know how to freeze them. The key to freezing dumplings lies in their preparation.
When making dumplings, set aside a portion for freezing. This way, you’ll have a delicious, fresh meal, as well as leftovers to freeze for another time. It’s important to freeze your dumplings uncooked because this is the best way to preserve flavor and texture.
Arrange the dumplings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they don’t touch. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the dumplings are frozen–this is a key step that prevents the dumplings from sticking together. Once they’re frozen, you can transfer them to airtight containers or freezer bags.
Defrosting and Cooking
When you’re ready to enjoy your dumplings, there’s no need to defrost them. Simply cook the dumplings as you were planning to, adding an extra minute or two to the cook time.
Frozen dumplings are just as good steamed, boiled, or pan-fried, making them a perfect fit for any busy schedule. If they’re frozen correctly, dumplings should last for up to two to three months.
If you’re ready to learn slightly more advanced techniques for resurrecting home cooking, you can learn how to reheat chicken and dumplings.
Tips for Perfection
While freezing dumplings is largely straightforward, there are a few things to keep in mind, such as the types of fillings and how you freeze them; this can impact their ability to freeze and reheat well. Certain fillings, particularly those with high water content, might not freeze as well as others, so it’s worth experimenting to find recipes that your family loves but also freeze well.
Another aspect to consider when saving dumplings is their wrapping. Though this part is always important, ensuring dumplings are well-sealed before freezing them will prevent freezer burn and help them maintain their quality.
Balancing Nutrition and Practicality
Parents are always on the lookout for their family’s health, and dumplings are a delicious way to further that goal. Finding the perfect recipe and making dumplings from scratch can take time, but once you’ve frozen a large batch of them, preparing a quick and healthy meal becomes a snap.
Bringing Tradition to Life
Making dumplings from scratch can bridge the past and the present, creating space for you to share memories about cooking with your family while giving your children memories that will last forever.
Freezing dumplings makes reliving these moments even easier. When you have a batch of dumplings waiting in your freezer, you and your family are always moments away from the delicious smells and tastes that remind you of your time together!
