How to Reheat Dumplings Like a Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide

Reheating leftover food can be a difficult task. You need to make sure the food is heated evenly without affecting the texture or flavor. There is also a risk of overcooking the food, especially if it’s something with a doughy wrapper like dumplings.

These delicious dough pockets filled with meat and vegetables are best enjoyed when they’re still warm but the wrappers tend to get chewy fast. But what do you do if you’ve leftover dumplings that you want to enjoy later?

In this article, I’ll introduce you to several methods you can use to heat up dumplings.

@urphillypal This is how every Chinese person reheats dumplings at home. #foodporn #soupdumplings #dimsum #foodie #chinesefood ♬ Dim Sum Girl – The Notorious MSG

Can You Reheat Leftover Dumplings?

Yes, you can heat up leftover dumplings. The idea of reheating dumplings may seem like a difficult task, but in reality, they’re quite easy to do.

Depending on how the dumplings were originally prepared, there are several ways to reheat them dumplings based on the way they have been cooked. They can be boiled, steamed, fried, or even baked to warm them up.

When considering the best way to reheat dumplings it is important to keep in mind that the goal is to warm them up, not to cook them one more time.

What Is The Best Way To Reheat Dumplings?

Now let’s take a look at ways you can reheat dumplings.

How to Reheat Dumplings in Air Fryer?

If you have leftover dumplings, one of the healthiest ways to warm them up is by using an air fryer.

With the air fryer, the dumplings will be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Plus, reheating dumplings in air fryer only takes a few minutes.

Steps

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for 4 minutes
2. Lightly coat the air fryer basket with vegetable oil before placing the dumplings inside. Make sure the basket isn’t too crowded. There should be enough room to move the dumplings around and allow the air to circulate
3. Air fry the dumplings for 2 t0 3 minutes
4. Flip the dumplings and air fry them for another 3 minutes.
5. After reheating, serve the dumplings warm with your favorite sauce for dipping

How to Reheat Dumplings in Oven?

If you want to avoid getting soggy dumplings, reheating them in the oven or even an inexpensive toaster oven is a great reheating method.

While other methods of reheating dumplings like the air fryer or pan require oil, in the oven you’ll get crispy dumplings without using more oil. This method is great for reheating fried dumplings and only takes 5 minutes.

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 390 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Take a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper
3. Arrange the dumplings in a single layer and bake for about 5 minutes
4. Take the dumplings out and serve them with a dipping sauce

Related reading: How To Reheat Beignets?

How to Reheat Dumplings in Pan on Stovetop?

If you don’t have an air fryer or don’t want to use an oven, a skillet to warm up your dumplings is a good option.

This will warm up the dumplings in no time. We recommend reheating fried dumplings like potato sticks in a skillet to get them crispy again.

Steps

1. Take a pan of the size you want and add a little water or broth to it. Wait for the water to start boiling before you put your dumplings in.
2. Put the dumplings in the pan and cover them with a tight lid
3. Wait for the water to boil completely. By the time all the water has evaporated, the dumplings will be warm.
4. Take the dumplings out of the pan and set them aside
5. Add a tablespoon of oil to the pan and wait until the oil gets hot
6. Put the dumplings back in and turn them until they’re crispy on all sides

How to Heat up Dumplings in Microwave?

The microwave is the quickest way to reheat leftover food, including dumplings. It only takes a few minutes to reheat and is less cumbersome than other methods.

However, don’t expect to get great results when reheating dumplings in the microwave.

If you want your dumplings to be crispy, you’ll need to use other heating methods, as the microwave will only soften your dumplings.

Steps

1. Take a microwaveable container and put the dumplings in it.
2. Cover the dumplings with a damp paper towel. The damp paper towel will prevent the dumplings from drying out and keep the moisture intact
3. How long to reheat dumplings in the microwave? Heat the dumplings for about 45 seconds to 1 minute. The time may vary depending on how cold the dumplings are.
4. Take the dumplings out and serve them with your favorite dip

How to Warm up Dumplings Without a Microwave?

If you do not have a microwave oven at hand, then there are other methods to reheat the food. You can warm them up in a pan, an air fryer, or even an oven.

How to Reheat Steamed Dumplings?

For reheating steamed or boiled dumplings, you’ll be pretty much steaming them again. While steaming is the best way, this time it will be a little different than the initial cooking.

You can re-steam your dumplings in three ways: in a steamer, pot-boiling, and microwave.

Reheating Dumplings in a Steamer

If you have a bamboo steamer, you’ve won in life. They’re convenient for making East Asian recipes, and yes, you can use them to reheat your steamed dumplings.

You’ll need your bamboo steamer, a wok or skillet that is big enough to hold the steamer basket, parchment paper or cabbage leaves, and water.

Steps

1. Get your bamboo steamer and line its insides. Use the parchment paper or cabbage leaves you got for this. Lining the inside will prevent the steamer from absorbing the dumpling’s flavor. It will also make it easier for you to remove the dumplings later.
2. Cover the bottom of your wok/skillet with water and put them on the stove. Please bring it to a mild bubble before you put the steamer in.
3. Put your dumplings inside the steamers, stack up the baskets, and put them in your wok. Steam them over the boiling water until they’re nicely warmed up.

You can directly place the bamboo steamer in your wok too, but make sure to reduce the heat a little in that case.

Reheating by Boiling

It will require more caution than steaming. Because if you leave the dumplings in for too long, they’ll become even soggier or, worse, completely fall apart. Here’s how to do it.

Steps

1. Get a large pot and fill it with water. You don’t have to fill it all the way. Just make sure there is enough water to cover the dumplings completely and have a little extra.
2. Bring the water to a boil. When it starts bubbling, add the dumplings and reduce the heat to medium heat.
3. Boil the dumplings for 2-3 minutes max (do not go beyond that, or they’ll start falling apart), then take them out.

Reheating In a Microwave

Microwaving is probably the most convenient way of heating food. But for dumplings, it only works on steamed ones. And, of course, you’ll have to be careful when using a microwave to reheat dumplings.

Steps

1. Get a microwave-safe container and place the dumplings in it. Do not use foil or parchment paper.
2. Cover the container to retain moisture. Use plastic wraps or a damp towel to cover them.
3. Microwave the dumplings for 30-60 seconds. Start with 30 seconds and see if the insides are warmed through. If it is still cold inside, microwave for another 30 seconds. If the dumplings still aren’t warmed properly, use 15-second warming intervals.

How to Reheat Pan-fried Dumplings?

Pan-fried dumplings are easier to reheat because you won’t have to worry about them falling apart. The only problem is there aren’t many ways of reheating them.

You can reheat pan-fried dumplings in two ways. You can re-fry them again, or you can bake them.

Re-frying Dumplings

Re-frying dumplings is pretty much like frying them again. Cover the skillet’s bottom with a bit of water, add a few drops of oil, and then fry the dumplings again. For a detailed guide, check the pan-frying dumpling section above.

Baking the Dumplings

Baking works only for fried dumplings because it preserves their crispiness. So if you’re a fan of the crisp, it is best to reheat dumplings this way.

Steps

1. Preheat your oven to 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Get a baking pan and line it with parchment paper. It will stop the dumplings from sticking to the pan. Arrange the dumplings on the pan or tray, and make sure to leave a little gap between them.
3. Bake the dumplings for around 10 minutes. It should warm them up nicely but if the inside is still cold, bake them for a minute or two more.

Can You Reheat Steamed Dumplings in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can reheat your steamed dumplings in the air fryer.

Air frying is one of the healthier ways of making fried food like pan-fried dumplings. And you can reheat your dumplings using an air fryer, too, as I explained above!

How To Reheat Frozen Dumplings?

To reheat frozen dumplings, there are a few methods you can use.

One way is to steam them by adding water to a hot pan, covering it, and letting it simmer for 7-10 minutes.

Another method is to boil them in water for a few minutes.

You can also pan-fry them by heating oil in a pan and cooking the frozen dumplings for about 3-4 minutes.

Finally, you can microwave them by placing them in a microwave-safe dish with a little water and microwaving them for a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you reheat all types of dumplings?

Yes, you can reheat all types of dumplings, including soup dumplings, Xiao Long Bao, Baozi, Gyoza, and Guo Tie dumplings (potstickers).

Related reading: How To Reheat Samosas?

Conclusion

And there you have it, folks! Reheating dumplings is not as daunting as it may seem. With the methods and tips I’ve shared, you can enjoy your dumplings again and again without sacrificing taste or texture.

Remember, the key to reheating dumplings is to make sure they’re heated all the way through without overcooking them. Whether you’re steaming, pan-frying, or microwaving your dumplings, keep an eye on them and adjust the heat as needed.

Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with different dipping sauces or add-ons to spice up your reheated dumplings. Soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, or even a dollop of sour cream can take your dumplings to the next level.

So next time you have leftover dumplings or want to make a big batch to enjoy throughout the week, don’t hesitate to reheat them using the methods I’ve shared. Your taste buds will thank you!