How To Cook Frozen Xiao Long Bao?
How to cook frozen Xiao Long Bao? The simplest way is to place the frozen dumplings into a steamer and cook for around 15 minutes.
Of course, as always, this isn’t the whole story. There are numerous other ways to make xiao long bao, and this article has them all neatly put together. So, grab your bamboo steamer and get ready to make some dumplings!
Table of Contents
How To Cook Frozen Xiao Long Bao?
The best way to cook frozen xiao long bao dumplings is by steaming them – here is how. Thawed they will take around 10 minutes, frozen around 17 minutes. If you do not have a bamboo steamer, do not worry – there are plenty of other options and tips below:
Can You Boil Xiao Long Bao?
It’s not really a question of possibility but a necessity. Cryptic notes aside, if you’ve planned on making dumplings, you’ll have to boil them first.
The good news is that you can do this in a lot of different ways – from steamed to pan-fried and even microwaved and all under 10 minutes!
The even better news? This article has all the details you’ll need and want for preparing dumplings, so be sure to check them out down below!
How Do You Cook Frozen Xiao Long Bao Without A Steamer?
You’ll often find that shrimp dumplings simply have to be cooked in a steamer basket. However, this isn’t entirely true, and as the culinary world is a place of endless possibility – it has found a solution on how to cook frozen dumplings without a steamer!
The simple solution is – make your own!
You heard me. If you don’t happen to have a steamer at home, the easiest solution is to make one. All you’ll need is a pot, a plate, and a few pieces of aluminum foil.
Oh, and the instructions for this culinary extravaganza? You’ll find them just down below!
How To Cook Frozen Xiao Long Bao Without Steamer?
- Bring a few inches of water to a boil over medium heat. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to a simmer.
- While you’re waiting for the water to boil, make a few, let’s say four or five, aluminum foil balls and place them into the simmering water.
- Rub a bit of sesame oil on a plate and arrange the frozen dumplings on top – make sure to not overcrowd the plate!
- Lower the plate onto the aluminum balls and close the pot with a lid.
- Let the dumplings simmer in your DIY steamer for 7 to 8 minutes before digging in!
How Do You Cook Frozen Xiao Long Bao?
If you’ve ever Googled frozen dumpling recipes, you’ve probably come across an abundance of steamer recipes. Don’t get me wrong; steamed dumplings are delicious. However, there are other culinary options, ones that will make you step out of your comfort zone, and today, I’m showing you precisely that – a pan-fry frozen dumpling recipe!
- Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in either a non-stick pan or a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
- Once hot, place frozen dumplings inside the pan in a single layer.
- Fry between 1 to 2 minutes while continuously swirling the pan – this motion creates a more even crust.
- Add water so that it covers half of the dumplings and increase the heat to medium-high.
- Seal the pan or skillet with a lid and let the dumplings cook through – for frozen ones, this should take between 6 to 10 minutes.
- The last step – remove the lid and cook until all the water evaporates.
Once the water evaporates, you’ve got some delicious shrimp dumplings on your hands!
How To Steam Frozen Xiao Long Bao?
Like I’ve said, if you go searching for a frozen dumpling recipe online, it’s inevitable you’ll run into a steamer basket or two – this article is (un)fortunately no different. Thus, for all those who love their steamer as well as those trying it out for the first time, here are the cooking instructions for steamed frozen dumplings!
- Line the steamer with perforated parchment paper liners.
- Bring the steamer water to a boil over high heat.
- Place the frozen dumplings into the steamer, making sure to leave 1/2 inch between them.
- Cover them with a lid and cook for 10 minutes – wait for the dumpling skin to become slightly translucent before taking them out.
- Last but not least – serve them immediately with a dipping sauce selection of choice!
How Long Does It Take To Steam Xiao Long Bao?
Dumplings are going to take between 6 to 10 minutes to steam. However, there are a lot of different sorts, and thus it would only be fair to give you the cooking times for each.
First up, chicken soup dumplings – these will take between 10 to 11 minutes in the steamer. Next up are, of course, pork soup dumplings, which require between 8 and 10 minutes of cooking. Last up is pork and shrimp siu mai which takes between 10 and 12 minutes to steam!
Don’t worry. Whichever ones you choose, they come out delicious!
How Do You Cook Frozen Soup Dumplings?
Remember when I talked about making dumplings with a steamer? Good.
Soup dumplings are best made using a steamer. The only thing to keep in mind is the last step in the cooking process. Once the dumplings are done, make sure you keep them in the steamer basket to avoid tearing during transfer.
For all the other details, make sure to check out the recipe above!
Where To Buy Frozen Xiao Long Bao?
Now that I’ve tickled your imagination with all the endless dumpling possibilities, the next logical question is – where on God’s green Earth do I get them?
In part, this is going to depend on your location. So, it doesn’t really make sense for me to recommend Trader Joe’s or something. Nevertheless, regardless of the country or region, you’ll probably be able to get frozen dumplings at your nearest grocery store. If not, try a shop specializing in Asian cuisine!
How Long Do You Heat Xiao Long Bao?
Although I feel like we’ve covered this already, it wouldn’t hurt to place all the cooking times in one place. Thus, here it is.
The fastest way of making dumplings is, of course – the microwave with a cooking time of 3 minutes. The next stop is the steamer which will require a whole 10 minutes of your time. Lastly, a pan-fry will last around 12 minutes, including both the fry and cook parts.
There you go – all the necessary information in just three simple sentences.
Summary
Since I’ve summarized the cooking time, it would seem it’s time for the general summary in which I tell you, you now know how to cook frozen xiao long bao! After you place the dumpling in the microwave, they’ll be done and ready in 3 short minutes!
Oh, and if you ever feel up for a culinary adventure, a make-shift steamer and pan-fry are just around the corner!
