How To Reheat Dumplings

Reheating leftover food is not always easy as it seems. If you don’t do it the right way, you risk ruining the flavor and texture of your food. This is especially true when it comes to soft foods such as dumplings. This food can break into pieces if you’re not careful while reheating it. Moreover, you also need to make sure that your dumplings are not overcooked, or they may become chewy and hard. 

While it is definitely not easy to reheat dumplings, there are several ways you can do it. For example, you can reheat them by re-steaming, deep-frying, and even by baking them. Today, we will look at how you can reheat dumplings to get the best results. 

What is the Best Way to Reheat Cold Leftover Dumplings?

Cold leftover dumplings are not appetizing at all. They can be chewy and kind of tasteless. The only time cold dumplings taste good is when they are still fresh. In case you’ve kept them in the freezer overnight, you’ll definitely want to reheat them before you can eat them. So, what’s the best way to reheat them?

Reheating dumplings is a little tricky because you want to ensure they are fully warm inside and out. For that, you’ll have to take several things into consideration, like the wrapper’s thickness, how they were originally cooked, etc. Dumplings are prepared in several ways, like steamed, fried, boiled, and deep-fried. It’s always best to reheat them the way they were cooked, except when you want to change things up. 

That said, there’s not one best way to reheat dumplings. There are several ways. Let’s look at them:

• Steaming: The best way to reheat steamed dumplings is to steam them again. All you need is a bamboo or metal steamer. You just have to be careful not to over-steam them, or they can become soggy. 
• Boiling: For dumplings that have been prepared by boiling, you can reheat them again in boiling water. All you need to do is cook them again for a short period, and they’ll be as warm as you want them to be. 
• Pan: Using a pan is also a great way to reheat your leftover dumplings. However, don’t use a pan to fry dumplings that have thin wrappers, or they may fall apart. It is only suitable for fried dumplings that have thick, crispy skin. 
• Oven: An oven is also a great way to reheat your dumplings if you want a crispy wrapping without soaking them up in oil. It is also relatively easy to reheat with an oven and does not take a lot of time, either. 
• Microwaving: Microwaving leftover dumplings is perhaps the fastest way to reheat them. It is also very easy and efficient. However, they are not a good option if you want crispy wrapping for your dumplings. Microwave tends to make all crispy food wet and soggy. 
• Deep-Frying: You can choose the deep-frying method to reheat both fried and steamed dumplings. Deep-frying steamed and boiled dumplings can help you turn soft dumplings into crispy ones if you want to try something different. However, avoid deep frying large frozen dumplings as they usually remain cold outside even when the outside becomes crispy. 

Which Method Should You Choose?

While there are several methods to reheat, you should always choose the method that was used to originally cook the dumplings. This will give you the best results. 

Here is a step-by-step guide to reheating all kinds of dumplings. 

Steamed Dumplings

To reheat steamed dumplings, you simply need to reheat them again. It’s as simple as that. Steamed dumplings are normally very delicate, so you will ruin them if you don’t do it the right way. Here’s how you should reheat steamed dumplings:

• First, get a steamer, either bamboo or metal. Place them on top of a pot with boiling water. 
• Place a piece of parchment paper in the steamer with some gaps around the edges. 
• Place your dumplings on the parchment paper in the steamer and close the lid tightly. 
• Reheat for a few minutes or until you’re satisfied with the temperature. 

Fried Dumplings

If you have leftover fried dumplings at home, the best way to reheat them is by using a pan. This method can not only reheat your fried dumplings but also bring back the crispiness. Here are the steps:

• If you’ve stored your leftover fried dumplings in the refrigerator, you should first let them come to room temperature. 
• Now place the dumplings on the pan and pour a small amount of water. 
• Let the water boil and place the lid over the pan tightly. 
• Once the water completely boils off, the dumplings will be warm enough.
• The next step is to add oil to the pan to bring back the crispiness. 
• Now flip the dumplings until they are crispy on all sides.