Shelf life of dumplings. How long can dumplings be stored in the freezer or refrigerator?

The shelf life of dumplings is not infinite, even if you store them in the freezer at the proper temperature. It is necessary to comply with all terms and conditions established by both the manufacturer and GOST. If you do not comply with certain conditions, the product may deteriorate and become unfit for consumption.

The period of time when the product is suitable for consumption depends not only on you, but also on the conditions in which the semi-finished products were stored in production, during transportation and at the retail point.

Optimal conditions for preservation

Today, dumplings are considered a national Russian dish.
The inhabitants of the Urals first learned about dumplings from Finno-Ugric nomads and quickly took note of the recipe for preparing such a tasty, simple and satisfying dish. Until now, Siberians, Urals and residents of other regions with harsh winters prepare dumplings for future use, the shelf life of which is long at sub-zero temperatures, so that they can be boiled at any time in just a few minutes. But the dish is also available to residents of the southern regions, since it can be frozen in a special compartment of the refrigerator and stored there.

The shelf life of dumplings according to GOST should not exceed a month from the date of manufacture at a temperature of at least -10 °C, and no more than 3 months at a storage temperature not higher than -18 °C.

But the timing also depends on other factors, these are:

use in the preparation of food additives and seasonings;
the presence of soy and preservatives in the product;
composition of dough and minced meat;
humidity in the freezer is not higher than 50%.

Storing cooked dumplings

It often happens that the cooked dumplings are not eaten. To extend their “life”, you need to do the following:

Grease the dumplings with oil (vegetable, butter).
Place them on a plate, cover it with a lid or wrap it in film.
Place the plate of dumplings in the refrigerator.

Storage of cooked semi-finished products is allowed for 6 hours at temperatures below +5 degrees.

Repeated freezing of already cooked dumplings is not allowed. During cooking, they lose their structure, the dough becomes like rubber.

If there is no refrigerator, but it is necessary to preserve the dumplings, then they are also laid out on a plate, treated with oil, covered with a lid or wrapped in film. Temperature regime - no higher than +10 degrees. The storage period is reduced and does not exceed 3 hours.

You cannot leave dumplings in the water in which they were cooked. The dough will swell and become unusable.

Differences in storing store-bought and homemade dumplings

Homemade dumplings, as a rule, are not made in large quantities. Their maximum quantity does not exceed a week's supply. This is the main difference between dumplings prepared at home and those made industrially. Therefore, the storage procedure for the product varies.

When producing dumplings industrially, the rules of GOST 33394-2015 are applied. According to them, the filling volume cannot be less than 45%. The thickness of the dough should not be more than 2 mm. There are no similar requirements for dumplings prepared at home.

When producing the product industrially, blast freezing is used. Homemade dumplings are frozen in a more gentle way (by gradual cooling).

More information about the storage conditions for home-made and store-bought dumplings will be discussed in the following sections of the article.

A little history

Homemade dumplings are usually prepared not by the bag, but so that they can be eaten within a week, and therefore the shelf life differs from industrial scale. And the very name of this dish is so stable in our language, as are the conditions of its storage, which have not changed for decades. In Preobrazhensky’s etymological dictionary, the word “dumpling” takes its name from the word “pelnyan” or literally “dough ear”. The very idea of the dish was given to the inhabitants of the Urals by the Finno-Ugric peoples, who moved from Altai to the West, showing how meat and fish fillings could be hidden in the dough. And the name for such a product has already been invented by the local residents of the Urals - the Udmurts and Permians.

According to GOST 33394-2015, the mass fraction of filling in dumplings should not be less than 45%, and the thickness of the dough should be no more than 2 mm. If these standards are not met, the finished product should be labeled as "ravioli". What fundamentally distinguishes dumplings from ravioli is the composition of the filling. In a classic Russian dish, it should be exclusively meat (sometimes fish), but the Italians even make ravioli with mozzarella, that is, they put whatever their heart desires into the filling.

It is worth noting that the combination of dough and meat filling makes dumplings a very high-calorie dish, which was prepared in the cold regions of the country to replenish energy in a harsh climate. So, in Siberia, dumplings were prepared in large batches and frozen for the winter in bags and stored in cellars or in snowdrifts; in a harsh climate they could remain frozen for a long time.

The calorie content of dumplings ranges from 180 to 280 kcal per 100 grams of finished dumpling, depending on the type of filling (chicken, beef or pork). Dumplings are eaten with sour cream, vinegar, ketchup or mayonnaise, as well as butter, generously seasoned with black pepper and fresh herbs to taste.

What determines the shelf life of frozen dumplings?

There are several factors that affect the shelf life of dumplings in the home freezer.

Humidity is optimal below 50%.
Origin - their storage conditions are well known, unlike store-bought ones.
Manufacturer's integrity: if the product was stored in less than ideal conditions before reaching the supermarket, even in permafrost its days are numbered.
Quality of ingredients.
The sealing of the packaging (in a torn bag, the “ears” will quickly dry out and begin to crumble).
The place where dumplings wait in the wings is the freezer in the refrigerator, a frosty street or a complete absence of cold.

How to freeze products so they don't stick together

We started making dumplings - we are preparing a place in the freezer. We will not share recipes. It’s better to tell you the rules of freezing. Products should not stick together. Therefore, the procedure always takes place in two stages. First turn on the camera to the lowest temperature. We prepare flat boards, trays, plates.

Usually semi-finished products are stored in plastic bags. Can be replaced with plastic containers. It is necessary to maintain friability. Therefore, we shift it very quickly. Otherwise, the surface will melt, get wet, and the dumplings may stick together.

Step-by-step instruction:

We stretch cling film onto flat boards. Or sprinkle with a thin layer of flour.
As you prepare, place the dumplings in one layer. They shouldn't touch.
We put it in the freezer. Let stand for at least 3 hours. There is no need to freeze on ice. Bring to a solid state.
We take it out, quickly pack it, and return it to the freezer.

Before putting it in the freezer, we mark the bags with the date of preparation. Don't forget to check stocks periodically.

How long do dumplings last in the freezer?

To ensure that your favorite treat does not bring harm, but pleases you with its excellent taste, before putting a pack of frozen semi-finished product in the shopping cart, you need to find the “date of birth” on it.

It will be useful to know that the shelf life of store-bought dumplings according to GOST is only 36 days.

That is, they can spend a little more than a month “on the road” from the conveyor of the cold storage plant, where they were frozen, to the plate. And this is at a temperature no higher than -10 oC.

Even a schoolchild knows that in warm conditions meat quickly deteriorates and turns into a dangerous source of a wide variety of infections. The conclusion follows from this: the higher the temperature in the place where dumplings are stored, the shorter the time they retain freshness becomes.

Thus, products made from fresh natural products, which do not contain artificial preservatives, are safe and healthy for up to 30 days at a temperature of -18 oC.

If, in the depths of a store refrigerator, you suddenly come across a package of dumplings, the lifespan of which has been officially extended to 6 months, then the presence of bread in the minced meat is not the biggest drawback of these same “ears”, and they are stuffed with artificial preservatives.

It’s not worth talking about an even longer shelf life, because such frozen dumplings made from natural products contain only flour and salt.

Correct technology for storing/freezing dumplings

Store-bought dumplings

When purchasing a ready-made frozen semi-finished product you need:

Check condition and packaging. The dumplings inside should be whole, smooth, and not stuck together. This suggests that they were not defrosted and were stored correctly.
Pay attention to the temperature in the refrigerator display case where the products are displayed. It should not be higher than -12°C. If you feel that the chamber is not cold enough, it is better to refuse to purchase the products contained in it.
Check the expiration date on the packaging. According to GOST, dumplings can be stored for up to 9 months provided they are not lower than -24°C. In store refrigerators, the temperature does not exceed -10-18°C. Under such conditions, frozen dumplings can be stored for no more than 3 months.
Place the dumplings in the freezer for an hour or they will stick together. Keep them at a temperature no higher than -10°C, focusing on the minimum expiration date on the packaging.
An open pack of dumplings should be tightly closed and kept in the freezer for no more than 1 month.

Find out how many dumplings can be made from 1 kg of minced meat, etc. Read more…

Boiled dumplings

Boiled dumplings that remain uneaten can be kept in the refrigerator or in a cool place for no more than 3-6 hours.

See also: Why do dumplings float when cooked?

For this:

Place the cooked items on a plate and lightly brush the top with oil. This way they won't stick together or wrinkle.
Cover the top of the plate with a lid. Can be wrapped in cling film.
Place the closed container in the refrigerator for no more than 6 hours.

It is not recommended to store cooked dumplings in broth. This way they will lose their taste due to the swelling of the dough.

To store dumplings in the freezer, you need to dry them a little so that they do not become covered with frost. Then wrap it in a tight bag or pack it in a container so that the dumplings do not absorb other odors.

Homemade dumplings

This is the best and healthiest type of semi-finished products, since you know exactly what they consist of and when they were prepared.

Dumplings are often prepared for future use for further freezing according to the following rules:

Divide the formed products into portions. Place them in a single layer on floured plates, cutting boards or baking sheets.
Set the freezer temperature to maximum. Place the container with dumplings there for about 2 hours.
After 2 hours, remove the dumplings and place them in airtight bags or containers with a lid.
Store them at a temperature not exceeding -10°C.

Frozen homemade dumplings are best stored in vacuum bags. This way they will retain their taste properties for a long time and will not become saturated with foreign odors.

Devices for freezing dumplings [video]

How long do homemade dumplings last in the freezer?

In this case, the same principle works: the colder it is in the refrigerator, the longer you can keep dumplings in it without losing their quality and taste.

Shelf life of frozen dumplings

So, if the thermometer in the “permafrost” of the refrigerator consistently shows -24 oC, you don’t have to worry about their quality for the next 9 months and can safely cook even for children.
The temperature fluctuates between -18 and -12 °C - the reserves will be edible for 3-4 months.

Terms of store products

The first thing you need to pay attention to when buying dumplings is their storage conditions, and the temperature in the freezer should be no higher than -12 °C. Under such conditions, the natural product is good for a month from the date of manufacture.

If the product contains a lot of preservatives and antioxidants, the shelf life will be up to six months. If the manufacturer indicates a product shelf life of 9 to 12 months, then it is better not to buy such a product, since it contains few natural ingredients, but a lot of soy.

How to properly store homemade dumplings

Most housewives try not to abuse purchased semi-finished products, because the usefulness of such a product is often questioned. Or homemade dumplings, made from selected products with your own hands. When preparing a family dumpling feast, thrifty housewives try to make more dough ears with meat filling. The remains of the cobbled together batch are frozen, turning into a convenient semi-finished product. You will learn further how to do this correctly and how long you can store homemade dumplings in the freezer.

Storing store-bought dumplings

A store-bought ready-made semi-finished product saves time but can pose a health hazard. Poor quality dumplings cause food poisoning. To prevent the possibility of health problems, certain rules are followed. Supermarkets and stores have a fairly extensive selection of ready-made dumplings, so it is difficult to buy a quality product. When purchasing, they focus not only on the shelf life, but also on the composition of the store-bought semi-finished product. To buy quality dumplings follow these recommendations:

In a store environment, it is virtually impossible to maintain a temperature at -24°C, but freezing equipment is required to maintain temperature values no higher than -12°C.
The best option is when the temperature in the freezer is maintained at -18°C and below; under such conditions, the shelf life of the products is 30 days. However, the manufacturer has the right to specify a different period. The presence of antioxidants and other preservatives in the composition extends the shelf life of semi-finished products to six months, and with an increased presence of soy, the shelf life of dumplings reaches 9-12 months.
It is advisable to pay attention to the appearance of semi-finished products; when the “ears” are stuck together, then the storage conditions for a particular product were inadequate and it is better to refrain from purchasing these dumplings.
When choosing fresh store-bought dumplings, the color of the dough plays a significant role. High-quality products are always characterized by a uniform white tone. When the dough is grayish, this indicates a violation of the storage temperature conditions. A yellowish or pinkish color indicates the use of artificial or natural dyes in the filling recipe or the dough itself.

In winter, delivering purchased dumplings to your home is quite simple, since the temperature outside remains, if not sub-zero, but quite low. But, in the summer, they are transported in a specialized thermal package, since otherwise, due to the high air temperature outside, the semi-finished products will melt in an hour, and the dough will stick together.

You must keep dumplings from the store subject to the minimum shelf life that the manufacturer prescribed on the packaging of the frozen semi-finished product, that is, no more than one month. After this period, the product will not become spoiled. However, it will partially lose its original taste characteristics. In the freezer, the temperature for storing store-bought semi-finished products must be at -18 C or lower.

Attention! When the integrity of the factory packaging of dumplings is compromised, they are poured into a container or ziplock bag and sent to the freezer. This package must contain the date of manufacture (indicated by the manufacturer of semi-finished products on the original package), the day the specific product was sent to the freezer and the time frame by which it must be eaten (plus 30 days from the start of storage).

Low-quality dough reveals itself when cooking store-bought semi-finished products - when the shell spreads in water, this indicates that the manufacturer is saving on the type of flour and the number of eggs. To disguise low-quality minced meat (fish), manufacturers increase the volume of spices, herbs and other, often synthetic, flavor enhancers.

Is it possible to eat expired product?

If you eat dumplings whose expiration date expired one day ago, then nothing bad will happen. But it is better not to use a product that has long expired. It may contain different types of bacteria, which will subsequently affect your health.

Although some argue that after the expiration date, the appearance does not change, nor does the taste. Only they become very frozen and take longer to cook. It’s best not to take risks, since manufacturers write expiration dates for a reason. This means that something is still happening to the product, even though there are no differences in appearance.

When you come to the store, you should not take the first dumplings you come across, as they may turn out to be of poor quality. There are several signs by which you can identify a product of poor quality:

Complex composition. High-quality dumplings have a simple composition, since they do not contain a large number of additives and preservatives. The ingredients are arranged in descending order, so the meat should come first.
Sticky dumplings. This can be easily seen even through the packaging, but if the product is hard to see visually, you can touch it. It is also easy to determine by touch whether they are stuck together or not.
The dough is gray. High-quality dumplings have a white dough. Even in poor lighting you can see the differences.
There are cracks on the surface. If the product is well made, then this should not happen.
You can see the minced meat protruding beyond the edges of the dough. This indicates poor quality sculpting.
If at least one sign is present, you should not buy such a product.

Thus, you should be very careful when choosing dumplings. It is better to spend more time reading the ingredients and looking at the manufacturing date than choosing low-quality products. After all, no one wants to eat foods with a lot of additives and preservatives.

It is also necessary to remember about proper storage, because its shelf life depends on this. It is worth remembering that after the expiration date has expired, it is better not to eat dumplings, since the meat may contain various types of harmful bacteria.

Manti and their storage at home

Manti is a rather unique dish and therefore there are some concerns about freezing them. However, if done correctly, the taste and appearance of the semi-finished product will not be affected. In order for manti to be frozen correctly, certain conditions must be observed, which include the following points:

It is permissible to freeze a semi-finished product only once, since repeated freezing leads to damage to the taste and quality characteristics of the dish.
Manti made at home, after cooking, is either boiled or sent to the freezer raw. A baking sheet, flat dish or cutting board is covered with cling film, the manti are evenly laid out with a small distance between them, and sent to a low-temperature chamber.
After freezing the manti for a short time, it is permissible to put them in a plastic or vacuum bag; a food container is also suitable.
Manti are packaged in containers in portions, so that the prepared volume of the semi-finished product in one container or bag is exactly enough for one time use.

It is not recommended to freeze manti after boiling, since their taste is significantly reduced with this storage option. In the case of freshly baked semi-finished products or store-bought products that contain the addition of potatoes or other products in the filling, they can also be frozen - the rules and shelf life in this case are no different.

Boiled dumplings

What is the shelf life of dumplings that have already been boiled but could not be eaten in one sitting? No more than 12 hours at a temperature below 5 °C.

It is not recommended to freeze boiled products, as this will make the dough hard. Before putting the dumplings in the refrigerator, grease them with butter and wrap them in cling film. In the future, the dumplings will only need to be heated in a microwave oven or fried in a frying pan.

Storing khinkali, ravioli and dumplings with meat

The principles of maintaining the quality and freshness of ravioli, khinkali and dumplings with meat are actually no different from the rules for storing manti or dumplings. These products with meat, and less often other types of fillings, are also kept in a low-temperature chamber and boiled frozen. The process of freezing these types of semi-finished products also does not differ in any way from the instructions given above. Such products are stored at temperatures below -12֯ C, the optimal thermometer values are down to -18֯ C.

Reference! Khinkali becomes ready after all the products are turned over during boiling with the place where the dough is rolled up.

Results

Any food product or dish, even the highest quality, cannot remain fresh indefinitely, regardless of how it is stored. Dumplings in the freezer also begin to lose their original qualities over time, and if left in a low-temperature chamber for too long, they can deteriorate. The longest permissible storage period for such preparations, regardless of whether they are prepared at home or purchased in a store, is 12 months, and after a year they must be disposed of. Similar storage conditions also apply to manti, ravioli, khinkali, dumplings and other similar semi-finished products with meat filling.

Video: dumplings for freezing

Dumplings for freezing

Watch this video on YouTube

Video: dough for freezing dumplings

Dough for freezing dumplings, dumplings, which does not crack / from the chef / Ilya Lazerson

Watch this video on YouTube

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How and how long can boiled dumplings be stored?

Hot dumplings are incredibly tasty, but the cold mass stuck together will not bring any pleasure. It's best to cook them one at a time.

If there is a small amount of boiled dumplings left after lunch, they need to be greased with butter and put in the refrigerator.
Don't forget to cover the container with a lid or cling film, otherwise the dough will dry out quickly.
Store the finished dish for no more than 6 hours at a temperature no higher than 5 °C.
Before use, reheat in the microwave or fry in a frying pan.
You should not freeze boiled dumplings - the dough will become rubbery.

Broth is also considered not the best storage for ears; swollen dough will discourage even a strong appetite.

Do you know that…
Some people do not recognize freshly cooked dumplings. They boil them in advance, allow them to cool, and then fry them in a frying pan until golden brown.

If you want to save time on preparing dinner, then make a batch of homemade dumplings ahead of time. A small strategic reserve will save you hassle and protect your health. If you don’t have free time, you can buy a pack of dumplings, but it’s better to do this based on the recommendations from the article.

Storing on a refrigerator shelf

If after lunch some of the raw dumplings remain unclaimed, and there is no room in the freezer, they can be placed in the refrigerator for 1 - 2 days.

The dumplings are laid out on a cutting board, lightly sprinkled with flour, at some distance from each other and covered with cling film.

Homemade minced meat will not spoil for 2 days at temperatures up to +4°C. It follows that you can store homemade dumplings in the refrigerator for 2 days.

Minced meat bought in a store has already been stored there for some time, so it is better to use semi-finished products with such filling right away.

How to extend the shelf life of dumplings

Food cannot stay in the refrigerator forever, but you can improve storage conditions as much as possible so that it stays fresh and tasty longer.

To do this you should:

use only high-quality ingredients in production;
Place homemade dumplings in portioned bags and indicate the date of production and freezing on them;
It is good to close the opened package or pour the dumplings into a more airtight container;
store stocks at the lowest possible temperature;
Maintain the temperature in the storage area and do not allow it to rise.

Store-bought dumplings last longer due to the antioxidants and flavoring additives added to them. The shelf life of such products can be up to 6 months.

How to recognize spoiled dumplings?

Damaged packaging may also indicate that storage conditions were violated. And lastly, pay attention to the color of the dumplings. If they are gray in color, then this indicates that the dumplings have definitely been re-frozen and are definitely spoiled.

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