Dumplings are a convenient, filling and easy-to-prepare product that can be found in almost every refrigerator. They are served as a main dish with or without broth, for lunch or dinner. You can also prepare dumplings for breakfast by frying them a little in butter.
The product can be stored for a certain period of time. The answer to the question “how long can dumplings last in the refrigerator” varies depending on how they were prepared, whether the dumplings are boiled or are still frozen.
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.
How to transport frozen food without a refrigerator?
The fish was washed, cleaned and gutted. The heads were also cut off for two reasons. Firstly, so that it takes up less space in the freezer (my mother’s freezer, as always, was already full), and secondly, fish, as you know, spoils from the head, and we didn’t know how it would survive the road and decided on heads get rid of.
We put the fish, two or three at a time, into food bags and froze them. The main thing is that the fish freezes well!
The next morning we wrapped it in three more new bags, each separately, then in several layers in a paper towel, it holds the temperature very well, and again in a bag. That is, we create multi-layering.
Mom had a piece of fabric with padding polyester, which she cut off when she turned an old quilted coat into a country jacket, and did not throw it away. I knew it would come in handy!
If you don’t have such a successfully preserved piece, then you can use a jacket with padding polyester. Let me remind you that our journey was not 3-4 hours, but two days! That's why there are such problems with packaging.
We recommend reading: Method for drying pine nuts in the oven
So, we put our fish, already packed in bags and paper, in a synthetic “jacket”, tie it tightly so that warm air does not penetrate, and into the refrigerator! Just kidding... There is no refrigerator!
Luckily, we always have a thermal bag in our car, the kind they sell in Metro or Auchan, and many other stores. I highly recommend always having such a useful bag on hand. It happens that you buy groceries, but you don’t get home right away, due to traffic jams or other reasons. An irreplaceable thing, especially in summer!
The motel where we stayed overnight also had a refrigerator with a freezer. So our fish, not defrosted at all after a ten-hour journey, went back into the freezer. Without a “jacket” and a thermal bag, of course.
In the morning, having packed the fish again, we moved on. I thought that I would have to cook the fish on the same day upon arrival. However, the fish survived the second day of the trip just as well as the first. So, at home, I went back to the freezer. The frozen fish trip was a great success!
Now we know how to transport frozen food without a refrigerator over long distances. I really hope that this information will be useful to someone! After all, in this way you can transport not only fish, but also meat and other products that require freezing.
At home we have another useful thing in the freezer, a cold accumulator, which can also be bought in many stores.
It can also be placed in a thermal bag with frozen and chilled foods. But, unfortunately, we didn’t have it with us. However, they managed without it.
So, it’s possible to transport food over long distances without a refrigerator, it’s been verified!
Yes, let me clarify, it’s October now, the temperature in the car was about 21 degrees, in the trunk, probably a little less. But in thirty-degree heat, you probably can’t do without a refrigerator or at least a cold accumulator.
I would be grateful if you could share your experience of transporting food over long distances without a refrigerator in the comments.
But I will tell you what I prepared from fresh Astrakhan fish in one of the following articles, don’t miss it.
Yes, let me clarify, it’s October now, the temperature in the car was about 21 degrees, in the trunk, probably a little less. But in thirty-degree heat, you probably can’t do without a refrigerator or at least a cold accumulator.
Storing homemade dumplings
When storing homemade dumplings, a number of conditions must be met. Their list varies depending on where they are planned to be stored - in the refrigerator or freezer.
In a refrigerator
If there is not enough space in the freezer for all the dumplings, they can be stored in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. Sprinkle a cutting board or baking tray with one layer of flour. Dumplings are placed at a short distance from each other. This is necessary so that they do not stick together. The dumplings are covered with cling film and sent to the refrigerator. The above rules are suitable for storing homemade minced meat products. If store-bought minced meat was used in production, then it is better to eat such dumplings right away. This is due to the fact that it has already been stored in the supermarket for some time. It is simply impossible to establish under what conditions in this case.
In the freezer
The shelf life of homemade dumplings in the freezer directly depends on the temperature:
- At a temperature of -12°C the product can be stored for up to 30 days.
- At temperatures from -12 to -20°C - from 1 to 3 months.
- At temperatures from -20 to -24°C, storage is possible for up to 9 months.
The procedure for freezing homemade dumplings is as follows:
- Sprinkle a cutting board or baking tray with one layer of flour.
- Semi-finished products are distributed at a short distance from each other.
- The product goes into the freezer.
- After freezing, the dumplings are divided into several parts. The optimal amount is the amount that can be eaten at one time.
- It is allowed to pack dumplings in containers or vacuum bags. In this case, you need to release all the air from them and add a little flour. This will prevent the dumplings from sticking together.
- Each package indicates the date and time the dumplings were made. The filling is being specified.
Compliance with these rules will ensure proper storage conditions for dumplings and eliminate the possibility of poisoning from a product that has already expired.
What may determine the shelf life of dumplings?
The shelf life of frozen dumplings is affected by the initial quality of the raw materials. It is important to use fresh minced meat. Onions and spices are added immediately before forming flour products. You cannot store the filled filling for a long time. The ingredients release juices, and the processes of fermentation and rotting begin. The same applies to storing rolls and sushi, various salads, and homemade jellied meat.
Freezing and preparing homemade or store-bought dumplings
Other influencing factors:
- transportation. We buy it and immediately put it in the freezer. You cannot walk around the city or market with packaging in a bag. Especially in the hot season;
- presence of additives. With preservatives and various spices, semi-finished products are stored much longer;
- temperature regime. Lower is better, but it is important to maintain a constant level. We try to avoid hesitation;
- air humidity. It is undesirable to exceed more than 50%. The problem is solved with high-quality packaging.
You can even freeze dumplings outside. In some regions, winter temperatures drop below -25 degrees. Only semi-finished products should be stored in the freezer.
Storing store-bought dumplings
When buying dumplings in a store, it is recommended to pay attention to several conditions:
- Storage conditions . It is allowed to set the temperature no higher than -12°C. The optimal temperature is -18°C.
- Shelf life . If the manufacturer indicated a shelf life of 9 to 12 months, then you should not buy such dumplings. They contain a large amount of soy and preservatives. Therefore, a long shelf life is established. There is no talk about the naturalness of the product. It is recommended to consume dumplings within the minimum expiration date. It is 30 days from the date of production. If more time has passed, the product is considered unfit for consumption.
- Appearance of dumplings . The color indicates the quality of the semi-finished product. It must be white. If the product turns gray, it means that the temperature storage conditions were violated. Also, improper storage conditions are indicated by sticky dumpling ears. Most likely, they were defrosted and re-frozen. It is not recommended to purchase such a product. Pink or yellow color indicates the use of dyes (mostly artificial) for the dough and filling in the production of the semi-finished product.
- Packaging integrity . If it is broken, you can store dumplings in the freezer after moving them into a container or bag with a tight zipper. In this case, the new packaging must be marked with the production date from the original pack. Additionally, the period during which the product must be used is indicated.
If the specified conditions were met, but during cooking it was discovered that the dough was spreading in water, this means that the manufacturer saved on flour and the number of eggs. When using low-quality filling, the manufacturer adds a large amount of spices to overpower the taste and smell.
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.
Freezing rules
The advantages of “dough ears” prepared by yourself cannot be overestimated: the use of high-quality ingredients, strict adherence to the recipe, strict sanitary conditions - this is not a complete list. In addition, every family keeps a “grandmother’s” recipe, and how long homemade dumplings can be stored is determined by the implementation of the following recommendations:
the molded “dough ears” are placed on a baking sheet, previously covered with a thin layer of flour, and after freezing, they are transferred to a bag, removing excess air from it;
- if minced meat from different ingredients is used, then the products for freezing and storage should be pricked separately;
- since a freeze-thaw cycle is not recommended, portion packaging should be done;
- cooling should be carried out immediately after modeling, at the lowest temperature possible in the freezer;
- Freezing takes at least 2 hours.
Important! Boiled dumplings should not be stored in the refrigerator, as well as certain categories of complex products that use meat, fish or their derivatives, for more than 6 hours. Serving is preceded by heat treatment or heating in the microwave.
