Reheat Pierogies – The Essential Guide
That sweet, savory goodness of a pierogi just can’t be beat. Filled with potatoes, meats, cheese, or some other delicious substance, there is no rival for this specialty dumpling. Until it comes to saving and reheating them.
The problem is, most people consider saving and reheating a simple fridge and microwave task, but sometimes it gets a bit more involved than that. That does not mean that it has to be a complicated process, but if you’re going to take the effort to store something as leftovers you want to be able to reheat it properly.
Can you save your pierogies and reheat them? Will reheating them make them soggy or require re-frying them? The good news is, reheating them is totally doable and it’s a pretty simple process. The better news is that there is more than one way to reheat your pierogi.
Pierogies are dumplings that are stuff with any type of savory or sweet filling. These dumplings were originally a Polish delight. The outer shell of the dumpling is typically unleavened dough while the insides can be anything. The most common fillings used to be cheese or potatoes, but now it can range from sweet fillings to meaty fillings as well.
No matter what is in the middle of your pierogi, we are quite sure that you want it to still be delicious when you reheat it. That’s why we’ve put together this essential guide that tells you everything you need to know about reheating your pierogies.
Keep reading to get a more detailed look. You won’t be disappointed, and neither will your taste buds!
The Essential Guide to Storing & Reheating Pierogies
Pierogies make great appetizers, finger foods, or side dishes. If you prefer, they can even be the primary piece of your meal. They are sol versatile since you can put whatever type of filling you would like in them.
Pierogies are most often cooked for the first time in either boiling water or a frying pan. This is mostly a matter of your own personal preference. If you prefer your shells to be crispy, we recommend the frying pan.
Spice up your pierogies when serving by accompanying them with a simple topping, such as sour cream, butter, peppers, and onions, or anything else of your choice. You can even change it up each time. That’s the beauty of these dumplings – they can totally be personalized to your tastes.
Pierogies are typically not very expensive. If you make them from scratch, it could take a bit of time due to making the dough for the shell as well as prepping and stuffing the filling. After compiling your pierogi, you also then have to cook it.
If you’re making your pierogies from scratch, we recommend simply setting aside an ample amount of time for prep, creation, and cooking. Don’t worry, you won’t be slaving in the kitchen for hours, but you also can’t just throw it and go.
I’m sure by now you’re wondering just what it takes to properly store and reheat your pierogies. Let’s start by discussing some of the ins and outs of reheating pierogies so you know what you can expect of the process. Here are some lists that go over the pros and cons.
The Upsides to Reheating Pierogies
- Stop tossing those leftovers! Store them up, reheat, and enjoy your pierogies all over again.
- Pierogi can be served at room temperature
- Reheating provides a quick and simple meal option
- Pull out this appetizer when you have unexpected guests and you’re covered
- Easy to reheat with more than one reheating method as a viable option
The Downsides to Reheating Pierogies
- When reheating in the microwave, you must watch closely so they do not explode
- If frozen, you must allow proper thawing time to avoid sogginess or extra heating time to work through the frozen properties
- May need a 2-step process if you want them to be re-crisped
- As always, fresh is always best but reheated when done right are still great
- Must be mindful of specific tips and procedures to avoid ruining your pierogies.
Now that we’ve shared some of the basic details and expectations, let’s get down to business and discuss the particular details for reheating your pierogies so that you can enjoy the savory treat again.
We’ve compiled a simple guide for you that has detailed instructions and tips so that you can experience the best results.
Detailed Guide to Reheating Pierogies
We mentioned previously but want to reiterate that reheating pierogies is a fairly simple process. You can reheat them on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave and you’re set to enjoy!
While pierogies are quite often used as an appetizer or side dish, you can use them for your main course or even your dessert depending on what you put into them and how you would like to serve them.
We recommend sticking close by when you are reheating. Pierogies are quite similar to dumplings and they could easily explode or crack open while reheating. You can even serve your pierogies at room temperature if you like.
How To Best Store Pierogies
Storing pierogies is also very simple. They can be stored in either the fridge or the freezer, depending on how long you plan to store them before reheating. If you do store them in the freezer, be aware of thawing times when you are ready to use them. However, if they are fried we recommend taking them directly to the heat from the freezer.
If you follow instructions and make the effort to reheat properly, your pierogies will be just as delicious the second time around!
- Place in an airtight container or bag and store in the fridge. You can store in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Store your pierogies in the freezer using an airtight container or a freezer bag. Seal your storage item well and place it in the freezer. You can store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Be sure that whatever method of storage you use is airtight and also make sure you allow your pierogies to fully cool before storing them to prevent added moisture buildup.
How To Best Reheat Pierogies
You stored your leftover pierogies recently but now you’re ready to reheat them so what’s next? Lucky for you, you have more than one option. You can reheat on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave. Each of these is detailed in the list below.
- Stovetop: warm a small amount of oil or butter in a frying pan on medium heat. Add your pierogies to the warm oil. Sautee the pierogies for 4-5 minutes or until they are warmed through. Be mindful of not overcooking so they don’t fall apart. Reheating on the stovetop maintains the crispness.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lay your pierogi on a baking sheet and cover tightly with foil. Bake for about 20 minutes or until warm all the way through. Again, be sure to check them to make sure they are not cracking and splitting.
- Microwave: the microwave is perhaps the best option for boiled pierogies. Boiled can be reheated in the oven or even fried but if you don’t prefer the fried style you should use the microwave.
Lay the pierogies flat on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 3 minutes. Check them and turn them every 30 seconds. If they appear to be done before time is over, do not continue to heat.
These varying methods allow you to take a versatile approach that will work for you. If you’re pulling your pierogies out of the freezer for a quick meal or unexpected guest and they are fried, you should take them directly to cooking which means no waiting on defrosting.
Related Questions
We hope that this essential guide for reheating pierogies has been useful to you and that you now feel prepared to reheat. If you have any further questions or would just like more information, we invite you to take a look at our question section below.
Can I Use These Methods for a Large Quantity, Like 100?
Thank you for your question. 100 pierogies is a significant number to reheat and would be quite burdensome on the stove or in the microwave. You may use whichever method you please, but for that amount, we would highly recommend baking them for quick and effective heating.
What is The Most Traditional Way to Cook Pierogies?
Pierogies were originally boiled at initial creation, but it is not uncommon in Polish tradition to boil the original serving and then fry on the stove when reheating the pierogies. This was a great way to enjoy them in more than one way.
The traditional pierogi was also typically made with a potato and cheese mixture and then served with butter and sour cream. We recommend you try the original version of pierogies at least once!
