Suet dumplings are a great addition to a beef or chicken stew. Add them to pork goulash or a sausage casserole. They make a hearty winter meal which will warm you up on the coldest of nights.
You can jazz the dumplings up by adding herbs. Basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, and marjoram are all great additions. However, perhaps you lead a busy life and need quick meals during the week. Is it possible to make suet dumplings in advance and freeze them?
The simple answer is yes. It is also possible to freeze stews so you will be able to have a delicious meal with very little bother. In this article, we will tell you how to freeze suet dumplings and how to defrost them.
How To Freeze Suet Dumplings
It’s not difficult to freeze suet dumplings but you should freeze them uncooked for the best results. If you have leftover cooked dumplings, you can freeze them, but be prepared for a change in texture. They could end up quite soggy so won’t be as delicious. However, it is still better to freeze them rather than throw them away.
This is the way to freeze uncooked dumplings:
1. Make the dumplings.
Use your usual recipe and then mold them into round balls.
2. Flash freeze the dumplings.
Put the dumplings on a baking tray that is lined with parchment paper. Make sure that the dumplings aren’t touching each other. This will ensure that when they are bagged up, they won’t stick together, meaning that you can remove only as many as you need for your meal. This saves on wastage. When you have laid them out, put them in the freezer for about two hours. They should be frozen solid by this time.
3. Put the dumplings in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag to stop freezer burn from occurring. The dumplings will still be safe to eat but they will lose their taste and texture and won’t be at all tasty. A zip lock freezer bag is a good idea as it is easy to open every time you need a few dumplings but remember to squeeze out the air again before you put the bag back in the freezer.
4. Put the freezer bag in the freezer.
Tips For Freezing Suet Dumplings
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. One way of doing this is to almost close the bag and then put a straw in. Suck the air out with the air and quickly close the bag.
- It is best to freeze the suet dumplings uncooked. However, if you have leftovers, you can still freeze them. Just expect their texture to deteriorate. If you do decide to freeze cooked suet dumplings, follow the same method as detailed for uncooked dumplings.
For How Long Can You Freeze Suet Dumplings?
As long as they have been kept airtight, you can freeze uncooked suet dumplings for up to six months. Of course, the sooner you defrost them, the better they will taste. When it comes to cooked dumplings, they probably won’t last as long, probably around four months.
How Do You Defrost Suet Dumplings
You can defrost them in the freezer. Just put them in a bowl and leave them overnight. However, you can cook them while they are still frozen. All you have to do is add them to your stew or casserole. They will thaw and cook quickly. However, they will take a little more time than if the dumplings had been defrosted in the fridge.
Can You Refreeze Suet Dumplings?
No, we don’t recommend that you refreeze suet dumplings. This is because ice crystals form every time you freeze food. These can make the suet dumplings mushy if you freeze them twice. There is also a greater chance of bacteria forming if you refreeze and you could become sick.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Suet Dumplings?
It is a good idea to freeze uncooked suet dumplings as long as you have made them airtight. They will taste great and there won’t be much difference in taste between fresh and frozen suet dumplings. Cooked dumplings will change in texture but once they’re mixed with the juices of your stew, you won’t notice much difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing suet dumplings but in case you have some questions, we have answered a few here.
What are suet dumplings made of?
There are only a few ingredients in suet dumplings, just flour, suet, salt, and cold water. You can add herbs and spices if you wish.
Can you freeze suet?
Shredded suet in a packet doesn’t really need to be frozen because it has a long shelf life. Keep it in a cool dark place for up to a year. Even when you have opened the packet, it will keep for many months as long as you keep it in an airtight container. It’s air that can make it spoil.
What else can I add to my dumplings to ring in the changes?
Greeted cheese is a good addition and so is grated carrot or cabbage. Spices such as sumin, coriander, chili, and garlic can be added if you want to serve them with chili con carne. You could also add a bit of mashed potato.
Can you freeze vegan suet dumplings?
Yes, you can. It’s not difficult to make vegan dumplings as it is possible to buy vegan suet. Add it to plain flour, baking powder, water, and salt and pepper. Parsley and thyme are good additions if you want to have a herby dumpling.
What else can you make with suet?
There is a whole range of desserts that you can make with suet such as jam roly poly, Sussex pond pudding, spotted dick, and the traditional British Christmas pudding. Clootie dumplings are a traditional Scottish dish that contains suet. When it comes to savory dishes, you can make bacon roly-poly and use suet in the crust of a pie, be it meat, fish, or vegetarian. You can also make a steak and ale pudding which is a classic British dish.
Can you freeze Atora dumplings?
Atora is a brand of suet. You can freeze dumplings made with Atora suet. In fact, you can freeze dumplings made with any brand of beef suet as well as vegetarian and vegan suet.
Can you freeze Chinese dumplings?
Chinese dumplings aren’t made with suet. Instead, they are a mixture of flour, eggs, oil, and water. Sometimes they are stuffed and sometimes they are served with a dipping sauce. The good news is that you can freeze them. Like suet dumplings, it is better to freeze them uncooked although you can freeze them cooked. You can freeze them in the same way as suet dumplings, that is, flash freeze them first, and then bag them up. You can cook them frozen. However, they only last for around three months in the freezer while suet dumplings last for six months.
