Pierogi is a type of dumpling, and it can be an excellent addition to a meal or work as a snack on its own. If you like pierogi, you may already have a favorite brand.
However, you may be new to dumplings and unsure of what to buy. Consider the best brands out there to make sure you get the best possible product.
What Are the Best Pierogi Brands?
The best brands include Pierogies Factory and Pappardelle’s. Kasia’s, Mrs. T’s, and Alexandra’s are a few other companies that make good pierogi. Some grocery stores may sell other brands that you won’t find just anywhere.
Be sure to try a few brands until you find one you like. You can also consider things like availability, cost, and taste.
Best Pierogi Brands
Pierogi isn’t the most common stuffed food, but plenty of brands make and sell it. If you want to try some good pierogi, you need to know what brands to buy.
Of course, the brands you find may differ from store to store. However, some brands are still the best overall.
Consider the following companies when you’re looking to try pierogi.
Pierogies Factory
Pierogies Factory makes potato and cheese pierogi. You can prepare them by boiling, sauteing, or grilling. That makes it easy to prepare the food based on the texture you want or how much time you have.
Unfortunately, you can’t refreeze them after thawing them. That means you’ll need to be careful about how many you cook at a time. However, they can be easy to make, and many people love the taste.
They’re a bit expensive, so keep that in mind. Luckily, you don’t need to make a ton if you’re just feeding yourself or a couple of people.
Pappardelle’s
Pappardelle’s also makes potato and cheese pierogi. They’re a bit cheaper than the other brand, but you’ll also get fewer pieces. So that’s good if you’re serving yourself, but you’ll need more packages to serve a few friends.
You can either boil the pierogies then move them to a frying pan or boil them but for longer. That means you can get the texture you want. Some people say this brand is a bit dry and not as creamy as other pierogi brands, but some people may like that.
If you want a smaller pack of the dumplings, give this brand a try. You can always switch brands later if you want.
Kasia’s
Kasia’s pierogi costs a lot more than the prior brands in this list. But it’s made in Chicago, so you can get fresh pierogi, especially if you live in the Midwest. The brand makes sweet cheese, potato and cheese, and potato and onion pierogi.
If you have to order these online, you’ll get them in a nice insulated package. That can help keep them in good condition. You can then place them in your freezer until you’re ready to make some good pierogi.
Of course, some other brands don’t have as many flavors. If you’re not a fan of cheese, for example, you can get the potato and onion package.
Mrs. T’s
Mrs. T’s is another popular pierogi brand with multiple flavors. You can find potato and onion, potato and cheese, and even sauerkraut pierogi. Each box comes with 12 pierogi, which is a good number for most families.
If you order them online, though, you have to get them in bulk. That means they can be expensive, but you can freeze the boxes and pull one out at a time.
Compared to some brands, this one has a lot of varieties. You can try a few different flavors, and you can even accommodate different preferences within your family.
Alexandra’s
Alexandra’s specializes in making good pierogi. The brand makes over a dozen flavors, including classics like potato and cheese. However, you can also buy blueberry, cabbage, or meat pierogi.
Of course, the meat variety won’t fit a vegetarian diet. Be sure to consider your dietary preferences and those of others in your household.
If you can’t agree, you can always buy a couple of varieties. Then, you can make both, and people can choose the flavor they prefer.
Your Own
Maybe you can’t find any pierogi that you like. In that case, consider using a recipe to make pierogi from scratch. It will take time and plenty of ingredients. However, you can choose the fillings you add.
You’ll also have control over the flour and other ingredients. So if you or someone you know is gluten-free, you can use a gluten-free flour.
While this isn’t technically a brand, it can be fun to try. You may find you like homemade pierogi better than any store brand since it’s fresh.
Pierogi vs. Potsticker
You may wonder how pierogi compares to potstickers. Pierogi is generally a European or North American dish, and the dumplings are square or crescent-shaped.
However, potstickers are Asian and usually pan-fried. The ingredients can differ or be very similar depending on the brand and variety you select.
How to Choose a Pierogi Brand?
If you want to give pierogi a try, you need to choose a good brand. Some companies have more options than others.
Even the brands with fewer products can taste great and be easy to make. Consider the following factors to help choose the right brand for you.
Availability
You may only have one or two options based on where you shop for groceries. Pierogi is usually in the frozen section. Especially if your grocery store is small, there may not be that many options for pierogi.
Even if you shop at a larger store, they may not have every brand. Knowing what brands you can buy will help narrow your search for the best one. Of course, you can also shop online if you can’t find any good pierogi brands in your area.
Quantity
Another thing to keep in mind is how many pierogi you’ll get. The average serving is about four pieces, but it could be more or less for certain brands. If you’re looking to make food for yourself, you can get a smaller pack.
But if you have a family, you’ll want something larger. Sure, you can buy multiple packages, but you may not want to pay for that, especially if you only need a few more pieces. Consider if you’ll have a lot of waste and if you can save some of the pierogi if you won’t eat all of them.
Preparation
Next, you may want to review the packaging to see how you prepare the pierogi. Most brands are easy to make at home. However, some recommend boiling, while others say you can saute or grill the pierogi.
If you want crispier pierogi, grilling and sauteing can come in handy. Of course, you can ignore the directions and cook the pierogi how you choose. However, following the box will almost guarantee the pierogi will come out as it should.
Ingredients
Potato and cheese pierogi are pretty standard. But you can also find pierogi with just cheese or with potato and onion. There are also some varieties with meat, like bacon, or fruits, such as blueberry.
Consider what you want the pierogi to taste like. If you want to stick to tradition, go with potato and cheese. But you can also experiment with newer options. Of course, if you make your own, you can add whatever you want.
If you know what you’ll have with it, you can make sure to pair the right pierogi flavor. Luckily, you can get potato and cheese pierogi to have with most things.
Diet
Along with the ingredients, you should consider any dietary restrictions in your household. If you’re a vegetarian, for example, you can avoid meat pierogi. You’ll also want to do that if you keep kosher, especially if the brand includes cheese in its pierogi.
It’s unclear if you can buy gluten-free pierogi, but you can try to make your own. That can be nice if you or someone in your house can’t eat wheat or other products containing gluten. You’ll still be able to enjoy a nice meal.
Price
Of course, you need to make sure you can afford the food. If a variety is only available in bulk, you may not have the money to buy it. You also should avoid bulk options if you’ve never had pierogi because you don’t want to waste a ton of money in case you don’t like it.
Be sure to consider the price per ounce as well. Some larger packages may be a bit cheaper per ounce or per piece of pierogi.
Also, you’ll want to consider what else you’ll eat with the pierogi. Then, you can pay for the entire meal without needing to borrow money or make other sacrifices. Check your grocery store for any sales to help choose the best brand to try this time.
There aren’t a ton of pierogi brands, but some brands exist and are great. Be sure to consider Mrs. T’s, Kasia’s, and others. Think about the flavors you want, your dietary restrictions, and your budget. Then, you can make sure you enjoy the product.