Leftover dumplings hold well in the refrigerator and are easily reheated to be enjoyed once more. Yet, you may be wondering whether you can simply pop cold dumplings into your mouth straight from the fridge or if you need to reheat them first.
You can eat dumplings cold if they’re cooked, as there’s no danger to it, yet you won’t have a pleasant eating experience. Dumpling dough becomes chewy when cold –especially if kept cold for a while– and prohibits you from tasting the richer flavors of the filling.
In this article, I will explain why you can’t eat cold dumplings unless freshly cooked and discuss how to reheat dumplings so they’re just as yummy as they would’ve been fresh. If you’re a fan of dumplings and don’t want to waste any leftovers you may have, keep reading.
Do You Have To Reheat Cold Dumplings?
It’s better to reheat cold dumplings before you eat them so that the dough becomes soft and chewy again. Otherwise, the dough will be too tough for you to enjoy eating the dumpling. When reheated, the dough softens, and you can taste the overall flavor of the dumpling.
Keep in mind that freshly cooked dumplings can still be enjoyed when cooled down. Since the dough has only been cold for a short time, it won’t be so chewy that it makes the dumpling impossible to eat. Only eating cold dumplings that have been in the refrigerator won’t be pleasant due to the chewiness of the dough.
Generally, it’s best to enjoy dumplings freshly cooked or reheated. Warm dumplings have better texture and mouthfeel than cold dumplings and are safer to eat. Luckily, you can reheat dumplings in various ways depending on the kinds of dumpling and your personal preference.
Can You Eat Uncooked Dumplings?
You cannot eat uncooked dumplings because the raw ingredients, such as meat fillings, pose health risks when consumed. For instance, raw dumpling dough contains uncooked flour or meat, that can make you sick.
Unfortunately, raw flour isn’t given the treatment to kill germs that cause food poisoning, such as E.coli. That means these germs can contaminate flour while it’s being made or even when still in the field. Usually, this isn’t a problem because the germs are killed when flour is cooked.
Therefore if you eat raw dumpling dough, the flour hasn’t been cooked and could contain something that will make you sick (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Perhaps a more significant issue is that most types of dumplings contain some sort of meat filling. Eating raw or undercooked meat can be dangerous, especially pork products.
Eating meat that hasn’t been cooked or is undercooked can lead to trichinosis, a food-borne illness that causes the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Headaches
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Difficulty breathing
In severe cases, trichinosis can lead to lifelong heart problems and even death (source: Cleveland Clinic).
Raw meat may also contain harmful bacteria, including salmonella, listeria, and E.coli. And if you eat an uncooked dumpling, you risk exposing your body to these bacteria. When the meat is cooked, these bacteria are killed. (source: NSW Food Authority).
How To Reheat Dumplings
To reheat dumplings that have been kept cold in a refrigerator or freezer, you can choose to fry, deep-fry, boil, bake, or steam them to warm them again and ensure the dough is the best texture for eating. For the best results, reheat your dumplings as you originally cooked them.
The following table outlines the best ways to reheat dumplings based on how you originally cooked them:
| Original Cooking Method | Reheating Options |
| Fried or deep-fried | Pan-fry Bake in oven Microwave |
| Steamed | Steam MicrowaveDeep-fry |
| Boiled | Steam Boil Microwave Deep-fry |
Reheat Dumplings in a Frying Pan
If your dumplings have thicker skin or were fried for the original cook, you can reheat them quickly in a pan. Simply heat a bit of water and oil in a frying pan, then add the dumplings. The oil works to get the dough crispy again while the water creates steam to help heat the filling.
Reheat Dumplings in a Steamer
A steamer is a great way to reheat dumplings. However, this method may take a bit of practice as over-steaming can make dumplings soggy, and under-steaming it means the insides will still be cold. This method works best for dumplings that were steamed initially or boiled.
Reheat Dumplings in Boiling Water
Another option is to boil dumplings for a couple of minutes. This easy method works best for dumplings you boiled originally. Keep in mind, the bigger the dumpling, the more time it’ll need in the pot of boiling water to be heated thoroughly.
Reheat Dumplings in the Oven
A quick reheating method for fried dumplings is to put them in the oven for about five minutes. You’ll need to put them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. My favorite parchment paper is this Unbleached Parchment Paper for Baking (available on Amazon.com).
Reheat Dumplings in the Microwave
You can microwave cold dumplings, but it’s important to remember that the skin isn’t going to get crispy in the microwave. In contrast, it’ll become soggy. Still, if you don’t mind a little sogginess, this is a good option. Just be careful not to overcook them, as the skin becomes stiff and difficult to eat.
Reheat Dumplings by Deep-Frying
Deep-frying cold dumplings is a great way to make them extra crispy. Plus, you only need to deep-fry them in the hot oil for a matter of minutes for the perfect crunch. This method is best for reheating when it wasn’t the original cooking process, as re-frying deep-fried food doesn’t always yield the best results.
Overall, it’s best to reheat dumplings before eating. Should you attempt to eat cold, cooked dumplings, the dough will be too chewy for you to enjoy the food.
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