How To Store Gnocchi
Gnocchi is a type of pasta that originated in the Italian region of Piedmont. It is made from semolina flour and eggs, kneaded together to form small dumplings or pillows. It is very versatile. Hence, it is common in Italian cooking, and it can be served any time of the year, regardless of the events.
As such, we have listed down several tips on how to store Gnocchi in your home. To give you an idea, you will use either a fridge or freezer to keep it fresh for a long time. But before storing them, make sure they are properly cooked first.
What are the Types of Gnocchi
It is important to know the common types of Gnocchi to be knowledgeable about their proper storage and cooking instructions. Here are the common types of storage served in events:
1. Ricotta Gnocchi – These are soft pillow-shaped balls with ricotta cheese inside. They are usually baked but sometimes fried as well. The best way to cook these is by baking them in a hot oven until golden brown. You may also fry them if you want crispy ones.
2. Cheese Gnocchi – This one has more than just cheese inside. There are many types of this kind of Gnocchi, depending on what ingredients you add to it. Some examples include spinach, bacon, mushrooms, etc.
3. Potato Gnocchi – A classic dish that comes out during holidays like Christmas and Easter. In fact, potato gnocchi was invented when potatoes were scarce because people had to eat something else instead. So, they used up whatever vegetables they could find around. And since potatoes were abundant, they decided to use those too!
4. Pumpkin Gnocchi – Another popular variety of Gnocchi that uses pumpkin puree. It tastes great, especially when paired with sage butter sauce.
5. Gnocchi Parisienne – Also known as “French-style,” this version of Gnocchi contains only egg yolks and Parmesan cheese. It is often served cold after being boiled.
6. Cauliflower gnocchi
7. Sweet Potato Gnocchi
How to Store Gnocchi in Different Ways
As mentioned, there are two ways to store Gnocchi. First is the freezer, if you plan to keep it for more than a month. The second one is the refrigerator, which is great if you only plan to store it within several days. Below are the simple steps that you can follow in storing Gnocchi.
How to Store Cooked Gnocchi in the Refrigerator
Before anything else, you should store a cooked Gnocchi without any sauce or mixed ingredients to prevent it from getting spoiled easily.
1. Put the cooked and dry Gnocchi into an airtight container with a lid.
2. Make sure the container is airtight – This way, the moisture inside the container won’t cause mold growth.
3. Cover the container tightly and place it inside the fridge below 40° F temperature.
4. Label the container clearly with the date when you stored it and its expiration.
How long can you keep cooked gnocchi in the fridge? -3-4 days if covered. 
Can you keep uncooked gnocchi or gnocchi dough in the fridge? – Yes cover and store for 2-3 days
How to Store Cooked Gnocchi in the Freezer
Whether it is a homemade Gnocchi or a Gnocchi dough, freezing them will help prolong its shelflife for months. So, if you do not mind having a frozen Gnocchi, here are some things you should do:
1. Freeze the uncooked Gnocchi directly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Arrange in a single layer every batch of Gnocchi.
2. Once frozen, transfer the trays to Ziploc or a freezer bag and seal them tight.
3. Place the sealed Ziploc bag back into the freezer.
4. When ready to serve, thaw the Gnocchi in the microwave for 2 minutes.
5. Serve immediately.
How to Store Uncooked Gnocchi in the Refrigerator
Refrigerating uncooked Gnocchi is only best for few days to keep it fresh. Here are the steps on how to do it.
1. Dry the uncooked Gnocchi and coat it with flour to remove excess moisture. Pour a teaspoon of olive oil to prevent them from sticking to each other.
2. Place in an airtight container over a single layer.
3. Refrigerate for three days only.
How to Store Uncooked Gnocchi in the Freezer
If you have made your own fresh Gnocchi or Gnocchi dough, you can freeze it right away if you do not plan to cook it. Here’s how to do it:
1. Transfer the raw Gnocchi dough into a large bowl and leave it at ambient temperature around 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Dry the Gnocchi dough before freezing.
3. Coat using your excess flour and cut into your desired shapes.
4. Place the pasta on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
5. Place into the freezer until frozen.
6. Once frozen, transfer all the frozen Gnocchi dough into a Ziploc bag or an airtight container.
7. Freeze for about two months and label with the date when you stored it.
How to Store Leftover Cooked Gnocchi Dishes
Cooking Gnocchi dishes may be fun, but they take time and effort too. If you want to save those leftovers, here are some tips that might come in handy.
- Use leftover Gnocchi as filling for ravioli or lasagna.
- Add leftover Gnocchi to soup or pasta dish.
- Top off your favorite pizza toppings with leftover Gnocchi.
- Make a delicious salad by adding leftover Gnocchi to greens like spinach or arugula.
- Leftover Gnocchi can even be used as topping for bread!
- You can use leftover Gnocchi as stuffing for meatballs or chicken balls.
How to Defrost Frozen Gnocchi
Defrosting frozen Gnocchi is easy. Just follow these instructions:
1. Remove the frozen Gnocchi from their packaging and let them stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
2. Thaw the Gnocchi completely in the refrigerator overnight.
3. Use within 3-4 hours after defrosting.
How Long Does Gnocchi Last
It can last for to 3 months in the freezer, while Gnocchi mixed with your favorite sauce can only last up to a couple of days on the fridge. Gnocchi lasts longer than most foods because it has no water content. It does not spoil easily so long as it remains dry. However, once it gets wet, it loses its texture and becomes soggy. This means that you need to store it properly to avoid spoiling it.
How to Reheat Cooked Gnocchi
Gnocchi cooked in boiling water will lose its shape and become mushy. So make sure you reheat them carefully before serving. The following methods work well:
Microwave Method
Place the cooked Gnocchi onto a plate and cover with microwave-safe top and microwave for 1 minute. Check whether the Gnocchi still looks firm. If yes, continue microwaving for another 20 seconds. Repeat this process until the Gnocchi is hot again.
Boil Method
Put the cooked Gnocchi back into the saucepan and add enough cold water to cover the Gnocchi. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain any remaining liquid and serve immediately.
Stovetop Method
Pour 2 cups of salted water into a rolling boil. Add the cooked Gnocchi and stir gently. Set the stovetop heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
How to Prevent Gnocchi from Getting Mushy
If you have Gnocchi made with cheese, do not put them straight into the freezer. Instead, let them cool before freezing. You should also keep the pasta away from moisture, such as condensation. They tend to get sticky if exposed to humidity. In addition, you must remember to remove all traces of grease from the surface of the Gnocchi before freezing, even sprinkling a little semolina flour. Otherwise, the fat could stick them together make reheating difficult.
Is Store-Bought Gnocchi Good
Yes, store-bought Gnocchi is good. But there’s nothing wrong with making homemade ones either. Making fresh Gnocchi or homemade potato gnocchi takes more time and effort, though. And when you buy readymade Gnocchi, you don’t know how much salt was added to them. That makes them taste bland. On top of that, many commercial brands contain preservatives. These chemicals prevent food from going bad quickly. But they also affect our health negatively.
Best Sauces For Gnocchi
- pasta sauce – tomato sauce
- bolognese – gnocchi bolognese
- Pomodoro Sauce
- Burnt Butter sauce
- Pumpkin and Ricotta Homemade gnocchi sauce
- Pesto Poach Gnocchi sauce
Why should you freeze gnocchi while it is uncooked?
Gnocchi is best frozen when still uncooked as potato dumpling will get mushy and fragile if it is heated up then frozen and heated again.
If you have leftover cooked gnocchi, you can still freeze it – use a little flour which will stop the dumpling from sticking to each other.
Wrap Up
So now you know everything about storing Gnocchi! Make sure to use proper containers and labels to ensure safe storage. Also, be careful not to expose them to high temperatures since they are delicate. Lastly, always check expiration dates whenever possible. Happy cooking!