How to Freeze Potstickers

Fold dumpling

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

When you're making homemade potstickers for a large crowd, it's often easier to prepare them ahead of time and cook them later. By assembling beforehand and freezing, you'll save yourself a lot of time on the day of your next party.

You can apply this method to any of your favorite potsticker recipes—all you need to do is make the dumplings up to the point where you normally would cook them. Instead, stop the process there and store them in your freezer. Now you have the convenience of taking the potstickers out of the freezer at a later date to finish the cooking for your meal, gathering, or party. You can prepare and freeze potstickers up to three months before you intend to cook and serve.

This technique works with both meat and vegetarian potstickers. It's an easy process that takes only 45 minutes.

Supplies You'll Need

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper or aluminum foil (exclude if using silicone baking sheet)
  • Freezer bags
  • Freezer

Steps to Freeze

  1. Follow your favorite recipe for potstickers until you reach the cooking step.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place the potstickers on the baking sheet and place in the freezer. Be sure the edges are not touching, otherwise they will stick together.
  3. Once the potstickers are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag. Label the bag with the contents and freezing date. You should also note a "best used by" date for three months from when you freeze.

Cook the potstickers by steaming or pan-frying as usual, without thawing. Just be mindful that the cooking time will be a bit longer than when you start with room temperature potstickers.

Homemade Potstickers Recipes

By making your own potstickers, you will avoid the many food additives and preservatives found in store-bought varieties. You can also adjust recipes to eliminate any ingredients for those with food sensitivities and preferences. If you're avoiding gluten, be sure to use tamari rather than regular soy sauce and you may be able to find gluten-free dumpling wrappers at the market.

  • Basic Pork Potstickers Recipe: This classic variety is made with lean ground pork, Napa cabbage, and green onions. If you like to make everything from scratch, this recipe is a great choice as it includes directions for potsticker dough and a dipping sauce recipe.
  • Cantonese Pork and Mushroom Potstickers: This similar recipe adds mushrooms and uses prepared dumpling wrappers for convenience. These potstickers are topped with a ginger-soy dipping sauce.
  • Potstickers with Prawn and Cilantro: This is a popular and delicious recipe for potstickers—just be sure to label what's inside when serving as some people have a seafood allergy and others may have a strong aversion cilantro.
  • Vegan Potstickers with Mushroom and Tofu: If your gathering will include people who are vegetarians or vegans, this recipe uses block tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and Napa cabbage instead of meat.