How to cook dumplings — Old Country Food (2024)

Table of Contents
Top Tip Boiled Steamed Pan-Fried FAQs

Old Country Food dumplings dumplings have thin, tender pastry skins that burst in your mouth to reveal the tastiest fillings inside. While dumplings are traditionally boiled or steamed for the softest of skins, they’re also amazing pan fried to golden crispiness - a fast and full meal in just 15 minutes from freezer to plate.

Top Tip

Separate your frozen dumplings before cooking to allow for even cooking and to ensure the pastry doesn’t tear. Simply tap the tray of frozen dumplings on your worktop to split them apart. If some remain stuck together, smack the bases together to separate.

Boiled

  1. Bring a large pot of water to the boil.

  2. Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to stop the dumplings sticking together.

  3. Carefully drop frozen dumplings into the boiling water.

  4. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the dumplings are tender and rise to the surface.

Steamed

  1. Line the base of a bamboo or metal steamer with perforated baking paper.

  2. Bring a half full pot of water to the boil.

  3. Space frozen dumplings apart in the steamer.

  4. Place the steamer on top of the pot of boiling water and steam for 10 - 15 minutes until the pastry is translucent and the dumplings are cooked through.

Pan-Fried

  1. Add 3-4 tablespoons of cooking oil to a non-stick frying pan.

  2. Place the frozen dumplings in the pan with the crowns pointing up. Cook over a medium heat.

  3. When the bottom of the dumplings are browned add water to 1/3 of their height. Cover for 3 minutes.

  4. Uncover and bring to the boil until the rest of the water evaporates, and cook until the bases are golden.

How to cook dumplings — Old Country Food (2024)

FAQs

What are the steps of cooking dumplings? ›

Frying dumplings (pot-stickers)
  1. Heat a frying-pan over a medium heat. Coat pan with a little cooking oil.
  2. Place the dumplings on the frying pan, flat-side down and then turn the heat to high.
  3. Fry dumplings until the bottoms turn golden brown and crisp. ...
  4. Cook until water has evaporated and turn the heat to low.

How do you know if dumplings are cooked enough? ›

How do you know when dumplings are done? Most recipes will give you a time to cook them—the one I use says 10 minutes without a lid on the pot and then 10 minutes with a lid, so 20 minutes total in simmering soup broth. To test, take one out and open it up—if it's done in the middle, it's done.

How do you cook frozen dumplings? ›

How to pan-fry frozen dumplings. In a nonstick pan over medium-high heat, add ½ cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Place the frozen potstickers flat side-down and cover the pan with a lid for 8 to 12 minutes, until all the water has evaporated and the flat side of each potsticker is golden.

How long to cook dumplings on the stove? ›

Working in batches, add dumplings in a single layer and cook until bottoms begin to brown, about 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup water, cover and cook for 3 minutes; uncover and cook until the liquid has evaporated completely and the bottoms are crisp and golden brown, about 2 more minutes.

Do you cover the pan when cooking dumplings? ›

Cover with a lid, reduce heat to medium, and cook 4–5 minutes to allow slurry to evaporate. Remove lid—there will likely be parts of the slurry that haven't cooked yet and still look pale so move the pan around over the heat to cook until the entire base is golden.

How to pan fry dumplings? ›

In a large, non-stick pan, heat 1-2 tbsp. of oil over medium heat. Place the dumplings in the pan and fry on both sides until golden brown (you will need to do this in batches). Once golden brown, add a few tablespoons of water and cover with a lid to steam for about 3-5 minutes until the pork is cooked through.

How to cook frozen dumplings without a steamer? ›

Or, lay 2 chopsticks across a water-filled pot and place the dumplings on top of the chopsticks to steam. Alternatively, heat oil in a pan and steam-fry the dumplings until they're golden brown.

Do dumplings need to be frozen? ›

If you are making a large batch of dumplings, I recommend freezing them to have a longer shelf life. Freezing makes it last long for a few months, depending on the filling and how fresh it is made.

Do you cook dumplings on low or high heat? ›

Bring the water in your steamer/wok to a boil. Place the dumplings about 1-inch apart, giving them some room to expand. Once boiling, place the dumplings in, cover, and steam on medium to medium high heat for 8-10 minutes. The water should be simmering enough to generate steam.

How are most dumplings cooked? ›

A dumpling is a small mass of dough that can be boiled, fried, baked, or steamed. There are a ton of dumpling varieties out there, from pork- and cabbage-filled Chinese dumplings to cheesy Polish dumplings.

How to cook dumplings from the store? ›

Heat a pan on medium-high with a couple tablespoons of oil in it. Once hot, add your frozen dumplings. Cook in oil for about three to four minutes, turning once to sear multiple sides. Then add just enough water to cover dumplings about halfway, turn the heat down to medium-low, and cover with a tight-fitting lid.

What are the 6 ways to cook dumplings? ›

A dumpling is a small mass of dough that can be boiled, fried, baked, or steamed. There are a ton of dumpling varieties out there, from pork- and cabbage-filled Chinese dumplings to cheesy Polish dumplings.

How are dumplings usually made? ›

Dumplings are most commonly formed from flour or meal bound with egg and then simmered in water or gravy stock until they take on a light cakey texture. Many recipes call for herbs, onions, grated cheese, or chopped meat to be rolled into the dough before cooking.

How to cook dumplings from fresh? ›

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook dumplings in batches of about eight until they are cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the dumplings to a serving platter. Serve warm with the dipping sauce.

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