Reheating Pierogies - The Essential Guide

The sweetness and flavor of the pierogi are second to none. Filled with potatoes, meat, cheese or any other delicious substance, there is no rival for this specialty bun. Until it comes to storing and reheating them.

The problem is that most people consider storing and reheating them a simple fridge and microwave chore, but sometimes it gets a bit more complicated. That doesn’t mean it has to be a complicated process, but if you’re going to go to the effort of saving something as leftovers, you’ll want to be able to reheat it properly.

Can you save your pierogies and reheat them? Will reheating them make them soggy or have to be re-fried? The good news is that reheating them is entirely possible and is a fairly simple process. The best news is that there is more than one way to reheat pierogies. 

Pierogies are meatballs that are filled with any type of savory or sweet filling. These dumplings were originally a Polish treat. The outer casing of the dumpling is usually unleavened dough, while the interior can be anything. The most common fillings used to be cheese or potato, but now they can be anything from sweet fillings to meat fillings.

Regardless of what’s in the center of your pierogi, we’re sure you want it to still be delicious when you reheat it. That’s why we’ve put together this essential guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to reheat your pierogies.

Read on for a more detailed look. You won’t be disappointed, and neither will your taste buds!

The Essential Guide to Preserving and Reheating Pierogies

Pierogies make a great appetizer, appetizer, or side dish. If you prefer, they can even be the main piece of your meal. They are very versatile, since you can put any type of filling you want.

Most often, pierogis are first cooked in boiling water or in a pan. This mostly depends on your personal preference. If you prefer the shells to be crispy, we recommend the pan.

Spice up your pierogies by serving them with a simple topping such as sour cream, butter, peppers and onions, or anything else of your choice. You can even change it every time. That’s the beauty of these dumplings – they can be totally customized to your liking.

Pirogies are not usually very expensive . If you’re making them from scratch, it can take a bit of time due to the making of the dough for the shell, as well as the preparation and filling. After preparing your pierogi, you also have to cook it.

If you’re making your pierogies from scratch, we recommend that you set aside a sufficient amount of time for preparation, creation, and cooking. Don’t worry, you’re not going to slave away in the kitchen for hours, but you can’t throw it away either.

I’m sure by now you’re wondering what needs to be done to properly preserve and reheat your pierogies. Let’s start by talking about some of the ins and outs of reheating pierogies so you know what to expect from the process. Here are some lists that go over the pros and cons.

The Advantages of Reheating Pierogies

• Stop throwing away leftovers! Store them, reheat them and enjoy your pierogies again.
• Pierogis can be served at room temperature
• Reheating provides a quick and easy meal option
• Pull out this appetizer when you have unexpected guests and you’ll be covered.
• They are easy to reheat, with more than one method of reheating being a viable option.

The Disadvantages of Reheating Pierogies

• When reheating them in the microwave, you need to keep a close eye on them so they don’t explode.
• If frozen, allow adequate thawing time to prevent them from becoming soggy or overheating to undo the freezing properties.
• A two-step process may be necessary if you want them to creak again
• As always, fresh is best, but reheated, if done right, it’s still great.
• You should keep in mind the specific tips and procedures to avoid ruining your pierogies.

Now that we’ve shared some of the basic details and expectations, let’s get down to business and talk about the intricacies of reheating your pierogies so you can enjoy this tasty treat again. 

We have put together a simple guide with detailed instructions and tips so you can get the best results.

Detailed Guide to Reheating Pierogies

We’ve already mentioned this above, but we want to reiterate that reheating pierogies is a pretty straightforward process. You can reheat them on the stove, in the oven or in the microwave and you can enjoy them.

Although pierogies are often used as an appetizer or side dish, you can use them as a main dish or even as a dessert, depending on what you put in them and how you want to serve them.

We recommend that you keep them nearby when you reheat them. Pierogies are quite similar to meatballs and could easily burst or break when reheated. If you want, you can serve the pierogies at room temperature.

How to best preserve pierogies

Storing the pierogies is also very simple. They can be kept in the fridge or freezer, depending on how long you plan to keep them before reheating. If you store them in the freezer, take into account the defrost time when you go to use them. However, if they are fried, we recommend bringing them directly to the heat from the freezer.

If you follow the instructions and put the effort to reheat them correctly, your pierogies will be just as delicious the second time around. 

1. Place them in an airtight container or bag and store in the fridge. You can store them in the fridge for 2-3 days.
2. Store your pierogies in the freezer using an airtight container or freezer bag. Seal them well and put them in the freezer. You can store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
3. Make sure any storage method you use is airtight, and also make sure you let the pierogies cool completely before storing to prevent more moisture from building up.

How to best reheat pierogis

You’ve recently put away your leftover pierogies, but now you’re ready to reheat them, so what’s next? Luckily, you have more than one option. You can reheat them on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave. Each of them is detailed in the following list.

1. In the oven : Heat a small amount of oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the pierogies to the hot oil. Sauté the pierogies for 4-5 minutes or until heated through. Be careful not to overcook them so they don’t fall apart. Reheating them on the stovetop keeps them crisp.
2. Oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the pierogi on a cookie sheet and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for about 20 minutes or until heated through. Again, be sure to check that they don’t crack or split.
3. Microwave – The microwave is perhaps the best option for boiled pierogies. The boiled ones can be reheated in the oven or even fried, but if you don’t prefer the fried style you should use the microwave. Place the pierogies flat on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 3 minutes. Check them and turn them every 30 seconds. If it looks like they’re done before the time runs out, stop heating.

These different methods allow you to take a versatile approach that works for you. If you’re taking the pierogies out of the freezer for a quick meal or an unexpected guest and they’re deep-fried, you should take them right into the cooker, which means no waiting for them to thaw.

Related questions

We hope you found this essential guide to reheating pierogies helpful and that you now feel ready to reheat. If you have more questions or just want more information, we invite you to take a look at our questions section below.

Can I use these methods for a large amount, like 100?

Thanks for your question. 100 pierogies is a significant number to reheat and would be quite heavy on the stovetop or in the microwave. You can use any method you like, but for that amount, we highly recommend baking them for quick and efficient heating.

What is the most traditional way to cook pierogis?

Originally, pierogies were boiled at the time of their creation, but it is not uncommon in the Polish tradition to boil the original portion and then fry it in the oven when reheated. This was a good way to enjoy them in more ways than one.

Traditional pierogi also used to be made with a potato and cheese mixture and then served with butter and sour cream. We recommend that you try the original version of the pierogies at least once!