Can You Freeze Gnocchi? How?

Here is the most comprehensive guide on how to freeze and store gnocchi for the long term. 

These methods and tips have worked splendidly for me. 

Let’s get right into it. 

How to Freeze Gnocchi?

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This is the most recommended way of freezing gnocchi. Freezing it uncooked helps retain its chewy quality and taste.

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Materials

• Gnocchi
• Baking Sheet

Tools

• Parchment Paper
• Ziploc Bag

Instructions

1. Prep and Air-Dry: Knead and make your favorite gnocchi dough. Roll it out, cut, and shape the gnocchi. Then let it air-dry for a couple of minutes.
   
   
2. Lay Out: Line up the gnocchi on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that they are not sticking to each other and are evenly spaced.
   
   
3. Flash Freeze: Leave the tray of gnocchi in the freezer for a couple of hours to let it set solid.
   
   
4. Pack and Seal: Transfer the gnocchi into a Ziploc bag and seal them in. Squeeze out all the extra air in the bag before sealing. You can use a straw to make this step easier.
   
   
5. Label and Freeze: Add a label on the bag with the best before date and you should be good to go for a couple of months.
   
   Check out this tutorial by “DIY Danielle” on YouTube to see how it is done -
   

Freezing Cooked Gnocchi

If you have cooked the gnocchi, this is the best method to opt for.

Cool and Lay Out

Separate the gnocchi from any sauce and then let it cool down to room temperature.

Then lay it out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure that they are not clumped together and are evenly spaced out.

Flash Freeze

Leave the tray of gnocchi in the freezer for a couple of hours to let it freeze solid.

Pack and Seal

Transfer the frozen gnocchi into a Ziploc bag or a freezer-safe air-tight container and seal them in. Make sure that the Ziploc bag has little to no air in it when you seal it.

Label and Freeze

Add a label with the best before date and you can freeze the gnocchi till you need it next.

Freezing Leftover Cooked Gnocchi

It is recommended to choose this method only if you have baked the gnocchi and if it hasn’t been mixed in with too much sauce.

Cool and Portion

Let the gnocchi cool down to room temperature. Then portion it into quantities that you are confident you can use up in one sitting.

Pack and Cover

transfer the portions of gnocchi leftovers into a freezer-safe air-tight container with some headspace to spare.

Then cover it with some parchment paper, making sure that the paper touches the surface of the gnocchi.

Seal Them

You can now seal it with a metal foil or the lid of the container itself. If you are using the metal foil, ensure that it is thoroughly covered.

Label and Freeze

Add a best before date on the container and you are all set to freeze the leftovers.

How to Freeze Gnocchi Dough?

If you have a leftover dough that you plan to work with later, you can freeze them using this method.

Prep and Rest

Once you make the dough and portion it out into quantities that you can use in one go, let it rest for a while on the counter.

Wrap and Flash Freeze

Wrap the dough with some cling wrap and leave it in the freezer for a couple of hours to freeze solid.

Pack and Seal

Transfer the frozen balls of dough into a Ziploc bag and seal them after making sure to squeeze out all the excess air.

Label and Freeze

Add a label with the date and you are ready to freeze the gnocchi dough for later.

How Long Can You Freeze Gnocchi? 

You can freeze gnocchi for up to 2 months. But they are best used sooner rather than later. The longer it stays in the freezer, the mushier it can get once it thaws. 

Gnocchi dough can also last in the freezer for a couple of months. But the same rule applies, and it is best used within a 1-month mark.

Cooked gnocchi or leftover gnocchi should be used up within a couple of weeks as it doesn’t fare all too well in the freezer.

How to Store Frozen Gnocchi? 

You can store frozen gnocchi in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag.

The key is to make sure that they are thoroughly protected from being exposed to air and that they don’t stick together. 

If you think flash freezing them does not do the trick of separating them, you can toss them in flour before you pack them in for the long term. 

Ziploc bags are your best bet if you are short on freezer space.

Especially in the case of gnocchi dough or huge batches of uncooked gnocchi, Ziploc bags can pack a lot more but take little space in the freezer. 

How to Defrost Gnocchi? 

If you are dealing with gnocchi dough or cooked gnocchi, you can defrost them in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight and let them thaw gradually.

But if you are working with uncooked frozen gnocchi, it is best to directly add it into boiling water and cook with it right out of the freezer.

You could also thaw the gnocchi dough on the kitchen counter. But in this case, be sure to use it up immediately to avoid any chance of bacterial buildup. 

Can You Refreeze Gnocchi? 

No, it is best recommended not to refreeze gnocchi. Once the gnocchi thaws it changes slightly in texture and this will only worsen with repeated freezing.

Especially with cooked or leftover gnocchi, they can get quite mushy once they thaw. 

So, it is best to use them up once they thaw. To avoid wasting gnocchi, you could portion them beforehand into easy-to-manage quantities and pack them separately. 

Or you would flash freeze and dust them in flour so that they separate easily.

This way you can grab just the right amount of gnocchi and reseal and freeze the rest of the batch. 

Does Gnocchi Freeze Well? 

Yes, uncooked gnocchi and gnocchi dough freezes well and can last for a couple of months in the freezer.

But the longer they stay in the freezer, their texture changes and can affect the taste of your recipe. 

However, cooked gnocchi or leftovers don’t fare well in the freezer. It is best advised to avoid freezing them.

FAQs

Bottom Line

I hope this article helped you freeze and store gnocchi for later. 

If you have any doubts or would like to share some freezing secrets of your own, it would be great to hear from you. 

Feel free to share this article with all your family and friends.