Microwaves are a fantastic way to reheat and even cook some foods, and if you’ve got one, the chances are you use it on a regular basis. Have you ever wondered if you can microwave pierogies?
Can you microwave pirogues? Yes, you can reheat pierogies in a microwave, but you can’t cook them in there. However, if you have frozen pierogies or leftovers from another meal, feel free to reheat them and enjoy them straight from the microwave.
How Do You Cook Pierogies?
Pierogies need to be boiled, baked, grilled, sautéed, or deep fried in order to be cooked properly. They are made of a dough a bit like pasta, and include things such as potatoes, fruit, and cheese. Cooking them in a microwave won’t work because the dough won’t cook properly.
If you want to cook pierogies, you need to do something like frying them. This is the only way to get the dough to cook. If you try and microwave it, the dough simply won’t cook or taste right, and you’re at risk of burning the food if you keep trying.
If you’re making fresh pierogies, therefore, you have to use some other cooking method. You have a lot of options, but the microwave isn’t one!
For cooked pierogies, however, the microwave is perfect, so let’s learn how you can reheat them in there so that you get perfect, hot, fluffy pierogies every time.
How Do You Reheat Pierogies in a Microwave?
Once your pierogies have been cooked, they will either be frozen or just chilled (whether you have cooked them yourself or bought ready-made ones from a store. Chilled pierogies are better fried, as microwaving them can produce slightly soggy results, but if you want to microwave, we’re going to cover how to do it.
Frozen Pierogies:
- Tip some pierogies from the packet into a microwave safe bowl, and put the rest back in the freezer (or discard the packet if it’s empty).
- Add water to the bowl until the dumplings are completely submerged beneath the surface. This will keep them from drying out and make sure they retain their shape and flavor. You can’t microwave them without water.
- Put some plastic wrap over the top of the bowl, or find a plate that fits on the bowl well. This will help to trap steam in and contain any mess.
- Microwave the pierogies for two and a half minutes on high.
- Rest them for about thirty seconds, and then microwave for another two and a half minutes on high.
- Take them out of the microwave, take off the plate, and then spear one with a fork. Touch the fork to your lips to check that the dumpling is hot through. If it isn’t, give them longer. Because microwaves can vary a lot, you may have to increase the heating time to ensure the pierogies are truly hot.
- Take the bowl out of the microwave, remove the wrap or plate, and then drain the pierogies and serve them. They are best eaten piping hot and should be consumed promptly.
If you have thawed your pierogies before microwaving them, you can reduce the cooking time and serve them as soon as they are hot through.
Refrigerated Pierogies:
- Lightly dampen your dumplings by flicking a little water over them. This will encourage them to steam in the microwave and prevent any chance of them singeing. You don’t need to add much water.
- Spread the pierogies out in a dish so that they are not on top of each other, but form a flat layer.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap or a plate, and then place it in the microwave.
- Microwave on high for thirty seconds, and then take them out and flip them over.
- Heat for another thirty seconds, and then flip them. Continue until they have had a total of three minutes’ heat, being turned regularly. They should then be ready to serve and enjoy.
If you are heating a lot of pierogies, increase the microwaving time, as it will take longer to cook. These guides are for a single person portion, rather than for large quantities of pierogies.
How Else Can You Reheat Pierogies?
If you would rather not microwave your pierogies, you have got other options. If you enjoy fried pierogies, this is a good way to reheat them and keep that nice, crispy edge to them. Alternatively, you can immerse them in boiling water.
You don’t want to cook already cooked pierogies again, so try to only reheat them lightly, and remember that this food can be eaten at room temperature – so you don’t need to do too much to make it enjoyable.
If you like fried pierogies, try tossing them in a frying pan lightly to heat them. Keeping the heat fairly low should stop them from burning or getting too crunchy, while still allowing them to get hot right through.
If you prefer boiled pierogies, you may find that they are best steamed or refreshed in boiling water. Again, you don’t want to overcook them. Plunge them into boiling water and let them simmer for a couple of minutes, and then spear one with a fork and test if it is hot in the middle. If not, give them another minute or two.
To steam them, stand them above a pan of simmering water and let the steam rise up and heat the pierogies. This will take longer than boiling them, but will ensure they don’t turn mushy. Again, use a fork to test whether they are hot in the center before serving them.
Microwaving is often the easiest option, but these alternatives should work if you don’t want to microwave them.
Final Thoughts
You can certainly microwave cooked pierogies as a way of reheating them or preparing frozen pierogies, but be aware that you can’t cook pierogies in the microwave. The dough will not cook properly and the pierogies will not taste right. Just as you wouldn’t try to bake bread in the microwave, you can’t fry or boil pierogies there.