Gnocchi is a great alternative to your usual pasta. When making a batch of these, it can be hard to get the amount you need just right. So, instead of wasting any extra – can you store gnocchi in the freezer or not?
Can You Freeze Gnocchi?
Yes, you can freeze gnocchi for up to 2 months. You should only freeze uncooked gnocchi to help preserve the texture. Freezing cooked gnocchi can cause them to turn mushy.
Do Does Gnocchi freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Gnocchi? No
How To Freeze Gnocchi
It isn’t too difficult to freeze any uncooked gnocchi, and if you are making a batch, it might be worth considering making extra just so that you can freeze them for a quick and easy meal later.
As soon as your gnocchi is shaped then you want to get them frozen:
- Flash Freeze: Grab yourself a baking sheet and place a piece of parchment paper on it. Put the raw gnocchi on the baking sheet in a single layer. Try to avoid them touching one another. Pop the pan in the freezer in a flat area and freeze.
- Transfer to Bag: Once the gnocchi has frozen or after about three hours you can transfer them to a freezer bag.
- Final Freeze: Label and date the bag and put it back in the freezer.
Flash freezing isn’t a necessary step, but it makes it far easier to grab the amount you need at a time. Refreezing gnocchi is not recommended which is why it’s great being able to grab a portion at a time.
Flashing freezing makes this possible, easily.
If you want to freeze gnocchi bake, simply cook it as you normally would, wrap it in cling film once cooled, and then place it in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat it, just unwrap it and place it in the oven until cooked.
You cannot freeze cooked gnocchi that has simply been boiled because it will become incredibly mushy once reheated. The exception is if you have cooked gnocchi in a baked sauce.
3 Tips for Freezing Gnocchi
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing gnocchi to have the best results:
Cook from Frozen
Do not defrost gnocchi before freezing as it will ruin the texture. Instead, grab a portion from the freezer and add it into a pan of salted boiling water. When the gnocchi float to the top, they’re cooked. It’s as simple as that!
Freeze on a Tray First
By flash freezing them on a tray first, you’ll be able to store the gnocchi in a bag without them sticking together. This will make it incredibly easy to grab a portion as and when you want them.
Bake It
If you’re still concerned about the texture then, once cooked, stir the gnocchi with pasta sauce, tip into a baking dish and top with mozzarella. Baking it will mask any slight changes to the texture.
How Long Can You Freeze Gnocchi?
Gnocchi isn’t a food item that lasts too long, even in the freezer, so if you have frozen raw gnocchi, you want to use it within 2 months.
This is quite a short window so don’t forget to use your frozen gnocchi before it goes bad!
Fresh gnocchi can be kept in their packaging for around 1 month. If opened, it will last for around 48 hours in the fridge.
How Do You Defrost Gnocchi?
When it comes to using your frozen gnocchi, you are actually best to cook it from frozen. If you defrost it, the individual pieces can lose their shape, start sticking together and become difficult to use.
To heat them up, take them directly from the freezer, pop them into boiling water, and allow the pot to come back to the boil and then cook as normal. You simply need to wait for your gnocchi to float to the surface.
That’s how you know they’re cooked. Drain quickly and then toss with your favourite pasta sauce such as puttanesca.
Can You Refreeze Gnocchi?
One of the key elements of good gnocchi is texture. If you were to refreeze them, you’ll ruin the texture.
This is why refreezing is strongly discouraged. Instead, flash freeze your gnocchi so you can easily grab a portion at a time without needing to refreeze it.
Do Gnocchi Freeze Well?
This is a tricky question. Unfortunately, this isn’t a food that freezes particularly well. You will find some texture change when compared to freshly made gnocchi; if it goes wrong you could end up with a mushy pile of gnocchi!
However, if you cook them from frozen and they have frozen well, they should still be good enough to eat.
Baked Gnocchi Freezer Recipe
This baked gnocchi recipe is simple to make, and easy to adapt for a vegetarian or vegan diet (simply omit the Chorizo and parmesan). Oh… And it’s perfect for the freezer too!
Freezer-Friendly Baked Gnocchi Recipe
6
servings20
minutes30
minutes50
minutesSimple, filling and packed full of flavour, this baked gnocchi recipe is both easy to make but also perfect for storing in the freezer.
Keeps the screen of your device ON
Ingredients
1tbsp Olive Oil
1 Onion, Finely Chopped
3 Garlic Cloves, Crushed
120g Chorizo, Diced (Optional)
2 Tins Chopped Tomatoes
1tsp Nutmeg, Grated
Large Handful Basil Leaves, Roughly Chopped
1tsp Caster Sugar
600g Gnocchi
50g Parmesan, Grated
1 Ball Mozzarella, Roughly Chopped
Salt
Black Pepper
Directions
- First, you need to get the sauce made. Fry the onion in the oil over a medium heat for around 8 minutes then add the garlic and chorizo in and fry for a further 5 minutes or so.
- Tip in the tomatoes, nutmeg, basil and sugar into the pan and then fill one tin with water and add to the pan then bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add in the gnocchi, turn the heat down and simmer for around 10 minutes until the gnocchi is cooked.
- Stir half of the chopped mozzarella and parmesan into the gnocchi then tip the mixture into an oven-proof dish. Top it with the remaining cheese before placing it under a hot grill for 3 minutes or so until the cheese has fully melted.
Notes
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing gnocchi or gnocchi in general, then these may help:
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.
Store-bought gnocchi can be frozen usually. Generally, when you buy gnocchi from the supermarket, it will list whether or not it is suitable for home freezing.
Gnudi are similar to gnocchi but are made with ricotta instead. The good news is that you can use the same method as above. Again, you’ll want to use them up quickly before the texture degrades.
Yes, vacuum-packed gnocchi will freeze well as it will be completely airtight. Don’t remove the gnocchi from the packaging. Instead, place the gnocchi straight into the freezer.
