reheat gnocchi
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How to Reheat Gnocchi (And Gnocchi Dishes)

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Gnocchi is beloved all over the world, and there’s a good reason for that. Easy to make or storebought, gnocchi has an amazing taste and are a wonderful base for many fantastic dishes. If you too love gnocchi and want to be sure to reheat them the right way, you’ve come to the right place.

How to reheat gnocchi and gnocchi dishes? There are many ways, but the most used method involves placing gnocchi in boiling water. Gnocchi should be reheated directly from the freezer to avoid them from sticking together.

We’ve personally tested several methods, and we can say with full confidence that there are a few amazing ways to reheat your gnocchi in a way that makes them taste like on day one.

If you ever fell victim to eating leftovers that just didn’t taste right, it might not have been due to the food being spoiled.

Reheating plays a crucial role in the preparation of leftovers, and gnocchi respond very well to it – if it’s done right. Take a close look at our article and learn how to reheat gnocchi, actually, the perfect gnocchi dishes.

How to Reheat Gnocchi

Gnocchi is a wonderful dish because they can be frozen and reheated quickly and easily. (If you don’t know how to properly freeze gnocchi, make sure to check out my full guide.

If you, like many others, don’t have the chance to cook dinner from scratch every day, you’ve surely grown appreciative of cooking ahead and reheating. But do these meals taste as good as they would if made fresh?

The answer probably is “not always”. Many dishes are difficult to reheat in a way that maintains all the nutrients, and most of all, the taste. If you find your dishes taste a little bland after reheating, it might be that there’s a small step missing in your routine that has a huge impact on the end result.

The biggest, and most common issue when it comes to gnocchi is the fact that they tend to stick together, especially if not cooked directly from the freezer in plenty of boiling water.

reheat gnocchi

This is why the microwave may not always be an ideal solution – which is not to say you can’t use it at all. 

Preparing gnocchi is not terribly time-consuming, but it does require a fair amount of attention and using the right methods. Other than sticking together, they are pretty fragile in general. If cooked the wrong way, they might fall apart or disintegrate! 

As they are so tender, they truly require some extra attention. You won’t be spending much more time following our methods, but the end result will be mouth-watering. 

The methods of reheating gnocchi vary, depending on if your gnocchi is frozen or cooked. Read on below to choose the best one for you.

How to Reheat Frozen Gnocchi

Remember that this type of gnocchi has to be reheated straight from the freezer. Don’t leave your gnocchi to defrost first.

  • Using stove #1. This is the only method to cook frozen gnocchi – we definitely do not recommend trying to use the microwave or the oven.
    You should use a very large pot (or two pots for bigger amounts of gnocchi) of boiling water. Stir gently as you cook; be gentle. You can cover the pot if needed.
  • Using stove #2 – the gentle Chinese potsticker method. This is an extra method that should keep your gnocchi intact.
    You arrange gnocchi in a non-stick pan slicked with oil, then add some water and cover the pan. Cook until they have gone through the liquid and the steam, then remove the lid. Brown their bottom surfaces in the remaining oil and then turn them over.

How to Reheat Cooked Gnocchi

If your gnocchi has already been cooked and now you want to reheat leftovers, you will have a few more methods at your arsenal. 

  • Using a stove: you can reheat plain gnocchi pretty much the same way as if they were frozen. Toss them into a very large pot of boiling, salted water and stir gently as you’re cooking. 
  • Using a microwave: this method is especially recommended for gnocchi dishes that already include extras, such as a sauce. Place them in a microwave-proof container, then add sauce and some cheese if you want. Heat them at medium heat for a minute, then turn them over and repeat until they are warm throughout.
  • Using an oven: again, we recommend this method only for gnocchi dishes and not solo gnocchi. Place your dish in an oven-safe container, once again adding extra sauce or cheese if you want. Cover it with foil and reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

As you can see, there are many methods to reheat gnocchi, and they are all worth a little bit of extra time. If you used to throw your frozen gnocchi in the microwave, you will be amazed at the amount of taste that can be preserved through careful reheating.

While the above methods should guide you comprehensively, we have prepared a full step-by-step guide to truly show you how to reheat the best gnocchi dishes. Read on below to choose your favorite method.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reheating Cooked Gnocchi

We all know how to use an oven or a microwave, but do you remember that different dishes require different kinds of reheating?

cooked gnocchi

That is certainly the case with gnocchi. Depending on whether your gnocchi was frozen uncooked or cooked, or it has been kept in the fridge after cooking, you will have to choose the right option for your reheating needs.

Reheating Frozen Gnocchi

If you freeze your gnocchi prior to cooking or after cooking, the only methods to efficiently and safely reheat them involve using the stovetop.

Here’s how to do that:

  1. Your gnocchi must be cooked directly from the freezer. Do not defrost them prior to cooking.
  2. Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil. We recommend using two separate pots for this.
  3. Shake off all the excess flour from your frozen gnocchi.
  4. Gently split them between the two pots. Stir as you’re doing so.
  5. Once all the gnocchi are in the pots, you can cover them with lids to bring the water back to a boil as soon as possible.
  6. Cook for about 3 minutes.
  7. Drain thoroughly.

There is also another method, known as the gentle Chinese potsticker method. This method ensures that your gnocchi won’t fall apart when cooked.

Here’s how to do that:

  1. Slick a non-stick frying pan, such as this one, with oil.
  2. Arrange your gnocchi in the pan.
  3. Add a little water (or stock, if you prefer)
  4. Cover the pan and cook until the gnocchi have cooked through in the liquid and the steam.
  5. Remove the lid and brown the bottom surfaces of your gnocchi in the remaining oil.
  6. Turn them over to brown them on the second side too.

How to Reheat Cooked Gnocchi

In general, it’s recommended that you freeze your gnocchi uncooked, as soon as you can after shaping them. However, if you have a gnocchi dish that you want to reheat, here is how to do it.

Reheating By Boiling:

  1. Boil a large pot of salted water. I highly recommend this one from Amazon!
  2. Place your leftover gnocchi in a colander.
  3. Dip it into the boiling water.
  4. Let them heat for about 30-60 seconds. 
  5. Remove from the water, then toss with your leftover sauce and toppings.

If you don’t have a colander, you can just remove a pot of boiling water from heat and toss your gnocchi in it. Remove them after one or two minutes.

Reheating Gnocchi Using a Microwave

This method is recommended for leftover gnocchi dishes that include sauce and toppings.

  1. Place your leftovers in a microwave-proof container.
  2. If needed, add some sauce, cheese, or spices. Stir carefully.
  3. At medium heat, reheat your gnocchi dish for a minute.
  4. Stir them or turn them over, then repeat the process.

Reheating Gnocchi Using an Oven

Once again, this method is dedicated to gnocchi dishes and not solo gnocchi. Follow these steps:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Place your dish in an oven-proof container.
  3. Add extra sauce, spices, cheese, etc. You can also add some liquid (water or broth), but not too much.
  4. Cover with foil. 
  5. Heat up for 5-10 minutes.

Related Questions

There are many methods to successfully reheat gnocchi, and we hope that our guide has helped you find your way around them. However, if you’re still unsure about certain things, we’ve prepared a handy FAQ for you to read.

Can Gnocchi Be Reheated in a Pan?

They can – we covered this in our guide. You can even reheat gnocchi dishes in a frying pan, but we have seen the best results in terms of preserving taste by using a microwave or an oven.

However, if you do want to, you can always give it a try. Toss your gnocchi into a non-stick, slicked pan and add the sauce. Stir frequently as you’re frying.

How to Best Freeze Gnocchi?

We recommend freezing your gnocchi uncooked as soon as you’re done shaping them. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking pan.

Place the pan in the freezer in a level position. Leave them to freeze for about 3 hours, then gather them into resealable bags or air-tight containers. You can then store them for up to 6 weeks.

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