Gnocchi, such simple looking little pillows of potato… Must be a cinch to make right? Oh how wrong was I with that frame of mind. Turns out that my tendency to not follow or read instructions was not so helpful when I first started making these. So, I’m posting this homemade freeze ahead gnocchi to help make sure you not only have a supply of gnocchi in your freezer to enjoy whenever you have the urge, but also to help make sure that your gnocchi making adventures are more successful than mine and you can learn from my mistakes.
My first attempt at making gnocchi was a complete disaster. I’d got some rough measurements from a website and didn’t think much of it and threw it all together. It was a sticky mess. My worktop looked (and felt) like it was covered in glue with flour stuck to it. Never to be deterred by a unsuccessful recipe, I threw myself into some research. I believe there were 3 issues with my first attempt, which I’ve outlined here.
In the recipe instructions below I’ve given a detailed step by step to help you overcome the issues above. Please follow them! Don’t end up with a gluey counter and flour stuck all over the place, including your clothes and arms. Don’t be me!
However, you can easily freeze gnocchi. Once they’ve been formed into dumplings, lay them in a single layer on two baking sheets, cover with cling film and freeze until solid, then transfer to sandwich bags and keep for up to 2 months.
How do you freeze gnocchi?
When you’ve made your gnocchi you want to eat it or freeze it straight away. If it’s left too long then the pieces will start to stick together which you don’t want. To freeze spread the gnocchi on a plate and pop into the freezer for a couple of hours. Then remove the gnocchi and transfer the pieces into freezer bags and return to the freezer for up to 3 months. The best news is that you can cook the frozen gnocchi without having to defrost it! A winner for anyone who isn’t the greatest at planning ahead. When you cook it make sure the water is boiling furiously because when you add the gnocchi it will reduce the water temperature. When the gnocchi floats it’s done. It will take an extra minute or two to cook from frozen vs fresh.
Is homemade gnocchi healthy?
In essence, gnocchi is just potato mixed with flour and a little egg. Therefore it’s packed with carbs and doesn’t really offer any other nutritional value. However, it is arguably healthier than pasta which is grain, rather than potato, based. It’s important to consider that Gnocchi is denser than pasta. – so your portion size will look smaller. Bear this in mind and don’t be tempted to increase the portion size to make the dish look fuller – which is a trap that many people fall into. This recipe contains 340 calories per serving although it is low in fat.
Making gnocchi from scratch and freezing it! #WithCaptions
FAQ
Does homemade gnocchi freeze well?
How do you preserve homemade gnocchi?
Can you freeze and reheat gnocchi?
Should I defrost frozen gnocchi before cooking?
Can you freeze raw gnocchi?
This is a painstaking process, but it is well worth the time. Raw gnocchi, when frozen properly, will keep for weeks. Here’s exactly how to do it. To freeze your raw gnocchi the best way is to arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Then place the tray horizontally in the freezer and let the gnocchi freeze until they are hard.
Can gnocchi dough be frozen?
Gnocchi dough can be frozen, but it’s not an approach we advise as it can take the gnocchi dough a long time to thaw before you can shape them. Instead, shape the gnocchi beforehand and freeze them ready-shaped.
Should you flash freeze gnocchi?
When you flash freeze, it will prevent the Gnocchi from sticking with each other when transferring them to the freezer bags. Flash freezing also helps you to grab the required portion of Gnocchi whenever you need it. When you reheat the frozen Gnocchi, it might alter the texture.
Can you freeze cooked potato gnocchi?
Yes. You can freeze the cooked potato Gnocchi. But, you can be very certain about the altered texture after freezing. You can still prefer to freeze uncooked Gnocchi so that you can cook them directly from the freezer.