Dumplings are very delicious when you eat them with your favorite sauce. But you must steam dumplings properly to experience the best taste. You can cook them on a stovetop but it will take longer. So, you can steam dumplings in a microwave to get them ready in a few minutes.
The microwave is the best cooking gadget in present time. It can cook, reheat, defrost and steam all types of foods without any mess.
To prepare dumplings faster, you can microwave them. But you must know how to steam dumplings in the microwave safely to avoid overcooking issues.
How to Steam Dumplings in the Microwave
When you steam dumplings in the microwave oven, you need to be careful. It is true that the microwave steams dumplings faster than other cooking appliances. But it can also make dumplings dry which will not give a good taste when you eat.
So, you need to know how to steam dumplings in the microwave without drying. I am here to help you on this, just follow my instructions to microwave your dumplings properly. I have found 3 easy ways to steam dumplings in the microwave and I will share all 3 methods with you.
Method-1: Steam Dumplings with a Steamer
In order to microwave dumplings with a steamer, you should have a microwave-safe dish and a steamer insert. Make sure that the dish is a little deep and the steamer insert should fit in your microwave.
Here I provide 5 simple steps for steaming dumplings in the microwave with a steamer as follows.
- Add some water in the microwave-safe plate.
- Put the steamer insert in plate and put several dumplings in the steamer insert.
- Put the plate with steamer insert and dumplings in the microwave.
- Microwave dumplings at high power for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Get dumplings out of the microwave and enjoy eating them.
Thanks to the steamer insert, this method provides faster cooking of dumplings. If you have a high wattage microwave oven, it can steam the dumplings in 2 minutes or less time. You should check after 1 minute 30 seconds to know if dumplings are fully cooked. It will save you from overcooking the dumplings.
Method-2: Steam Dumplings without a Steamer [Plate and Bowl]
The steamer makes it easy to steam dumplings in the microwave oven. But it is possible that you do not have a steamer right now yet you can steam dumplings in the microwave.
For cooking dumplings without a steamer, you should have a microwave-safe bowl and a microwave-safe plate. The plate should be bigger than the bowl and both must fit inside the microwave oven.
I have cooked dumplings in my microwave without a steamer and I succeeded. Here I am going to share the step-by-step method for steaming dumplings without a steamer to help you do that safely and properly.
- Add some water in the microwave-safe bowl (fill it to half).
- Place the microwave-safe plate on top of the bowl.
- Put several dumplings in the plate.
- Put the bowl with plate in the microwave.
- Run the microwave at high power for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Get the dumplings out of the microwave and eat them.
The water filled bowl helps to steam the dumplings properly. You should fill up the bowl with fresh water up to half only. Never fill the bowl beyond half or to full as it can buildup pressure and lead to an explosion inside the microwave.
Method-3: Steam Dumplings with Water
In previous two methods, I have explained how to microwave dumplings using the water steam. But this time, I will tell you how to steam dumplings with water in the microwave oven. It means that the dumplings will come in direct contact with water.
In order to steam dumplings with water, you need two microwave-safe plates. One plate should be a little deep as you are going to add some water in it. The second plate should be of same size to fit snugly as a lid for the steaming process.
- Put several dumplings in a microwave-safe plate (use the deep plate).
- Make sure that one dumpling doesn’t touch the other dumpling in the plate.
- Add water in the plate to cover dumplings up to half.
- Place the other plate (flipped) on the first plate to use it as a lid.
- Make sure the lid/plate fits snugly on the first plate.
- Microwave dumplings for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Get the dumplings out of the microwave and eat them.
This method needs more attention when the dumplings are inside the microwave. The heat waves will soon bring the water to boil and your dumplings will be fully cooked. Thereafter you can serve them in your dinner plate with your favorite sauce.
How to Cook Frozen Dumplings in the Microwave
Everyone in my family loves eating dumplings, that’s why I buy them in bulk. I store dumplings in my freezer to cook them instantly when I want to eat them.
Cooking or Steaming frozen dumplings is more challenging than fresh dumplings because the dumplings can break down.
In order to cook frozen dumplings in the microwave, you can use the above given method-3 with a little change in the process. Here I provide some simple steps to microwave frozen dumplings in a safe way.
- Get a microwave-safe bowl and place several frozen dumplings in it.
- Add hot water into the bowl and fill it to cover dumplings up to half.
- Cover the bowl with a lid and put it in the microwave.
- Microwave frozen dumplings at high power for 2-3 minutes.
- Get the bowl out of the microwave and open its lid carefully.
- Remove water from the bowl or shift dumplings to other plate/bowl.
- Serve the dumplings instantly and enjoy eating them.
This is the easiest way to cook frozen dumplings without breaking or burning them.
How to Reheat Steamed Dumplings in the Microwave
The dumplings are easy to steam in the microwave but you can’t eat them all at once. You can store leftover dumplings in the fridge for 1-2 days. Put the dumplings in the freezer if you want to store them for longer.
You need to reheat leftover dumplings when you want to eat them. Just like steaming, you can reheat steamed dumplings in the microwave quickly and safely.
You should start reheating dumplings immediately after getting out of fridge or freezer. Don’t keep it at room temperature for longer as there is a risk of bacteria buildup in the dumplings.
Here I provide a few steps for reheating steamed dumplings in the microwave oven as under.
If Leftover Dumplings are Frozen,
- Place frozen dumplings in a microwave-safe plate.
- Spray or Add some water on dumplings.
- Defrost the dumplings in the microwave for one minute.
- Now, press “Sensor Reheat” button and wait.
- Get the dumplings out as the microwave stops.
- Serve the dumplings and eat them with your favorite sauce.
If Leftover Dumplings are Refrigerated,
- Place refrigerated dumplings in a microwave-safe plate.
- Spray or Add some water on dumplings.
- Put the plate of dumplings in the microwave.
- Press “Sensor Reheat” button and wait.
- Get the dumplings out as the microwave stops.
- Start eating the dumplings with your family.
In case your microwave doesn’t have “Sensor Reheat” button, I have a solution for it. Press “Reheat” button and set the timer for 4-5 minutes for frozen dumplings 2-3 minutes for refrigerated dumplings. Thereafter you can get the dumplings out of microwave and eat them as you like.
How Do I Prevent Dumplings from Sticking to the Plate/Bowl?
You should apply cooking spray on base of the plate/bowl to prevent dumplings from sticking to it. The reason for dumplings sticking to the plate/bowl is dryness. If you apply cooking spray or butter or oil, the plate/bowl won’t be dry anymore and the dumplings won’t stick to it.
After applying cooking spray (or butter or oil), you can steam dumplings in the microwave without sticking problem.
How Long Do I Need to Steam Dumplings in the Microwave?
You need to steam dumplings in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes only. The exact time of steaming dumplings depends upon the condition of dumplings and power wattage of the microwave oven.
With a 1000W microwave, you need to steam dumplings up to 3 minutes. If you have a 1200W or 1500W microwave oven then you should steam the dumplings for 1:30 to 2 minutes only.
- If the dumplings are filled with vegetables, you need to steam them for 3 to 4 minutes.
- If the dumplings are filled with meat or seafood, you need to steam them for 6 to 8 minutes.
- If the dumplings are filled with fruits or chocolates, you need to steam them for 1 to 2 minutes.
- If the dumplings are precooked, you need to steam them for 1-2 minutes.
For perfect steaming results, steam dumplings for 1 minute 30 seconds. Thereafter flip the dumplings and microwave them for 30 seconds and check if they are fully cooked. If not, microwave dumplings for another 30 seconds and check their condition.
How Do I Know If My Dumplings are Cooked Properly?
In order to know if your dumplings are cooked properly or not, you should check their condition. When the dumplings are fully cooked, they become soft and fluffy.
You should insert a fork into a dumpling. If the fork goes easily, the dumplings are fully cooked otherwise they need further steaming in your microwave.
For accurate results, you can use a food thermometer to check if your dumplings are fully cooked or not. You need to insert the food thermometer in the middle of a dumpling to check its inner temperature.
If you have steamed frozen dumplings in the microwave, the ideal inner temperature is 165°F. In case you have steamed fresh dumplings, the ideal inner temperature is 145°F. If the temperature has reached as stated here, your dumplings are completely cooked and ready to eat.
Can Steaming Dumplings in the Microwave Change Their Taste?
Yes, steaming dumplings in the microwave can change their taste compared to boiled or fried dumplings. An ideal way to cook dumplings is to boil them in water or fry in oil or air fry them. You can microwave dumplings to get them ready quickly but their taste is slightly changed.
When you steam dumplings in the microwave oven, they remain soft with zero crispiness. They don’t become fluffy as much as they appear after boiled or fried on the stovetop. The dumplings also lose some of their flavors when steamed in the microwave. As a result, you don’t feel the original taste when you eat microwaved dumplings.
The taste of dumplings is slightly changed in the microwave but they still taste good. The microwave change the taste of dumplings but it doesn’t ruin it. Many people enjoy eating soft dumplings that are steamed in the microwave oven.
Can I Eat Cold Dumplings?
Yes, you can eat cold dumplings provided that you have cooked them properly earlier. Some people like the taste of cold dumplings, while others like to eat hot/warm dumplings right out of the microwave/stovetop.
There is nothing right or wrong in eating dumplings, it’s just a personal preference. After steamed properly, you can eat dumplings hot, warm or cold with your desired sauce. If you steamed dumplings a day before and not put in refrigerator, you should check their condition before eating them.
Can I Make Crispy Dumplings in the Microwave?
No, you cannot make crispy dumplings in the microwave. It is a drawback of steaming dumplings in the microwave that it can’t make them crispy. With help of your microwave, you can cook the dumplings properly to make them soft and fluffy.
Many people prefer to steam dumplings in the microwave to save time. But I don’t recommend to microwave dumplings for people who love eating crispy dumplings. If you want crispy dumplings, you should fry them in a pan.
FAQs about How to Steam Dumplings in the Microwave
You can cook dumplings safely and quickly by putting them in the microwave. It will save your valuable time and let you enjoy eating dumplings with your family. Here I provide some necessary questions about how to steam dumplings in the microwave and their answers as follows.
Q.1 How do you steam dumplings without a steamer?
You can use a microwave-safe bowl and a microwave-safe plate to steam dumplings without a steamer. I have explained step-by-step process in method-2 above.
Q.2 What is the easiest way to cook dumplings?
The easiest way to cook dumplings is to put them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and they will be ready to serve.
Q.3 Can you reheat precooked dumplings in a microwave?
Yes, you can reheat precooked dumplings in a microwave using “Sensor Reheat” function. If that function is not available in your microwave, reheat dumplings at high power for 2-3 minutes.
Q.4 Can I cook frozen dumplings in the microwave without thawing them?
Yes, you can cook frozen dumplings in the microwave without thawing them. For that, you need to put frozen dumplings in a hot water filled bowl with lid and microwave them at high power for 2-3 minutes.
Q.5 How long do dumplings last?
The dumplings last for 1-2 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer. Some dumpling brands claim that their dumplings can last up to 6 months in the freezer.
Final Thoughts: Microwave Dumplings to Save Time
The dumplings are made with different fillings of fruits, chocolates, meat and seafood. Irrespective of variation in fillings, you can steam dumplings in the microwave to get them ready ASAP.
To help you in cooking dumplings in the microwave oven, I have explained 3 simple methods for it. I have also shared how to steam frozen dumplings in the microwave so that you can do it without any mistake.
You should add some cooking spray or oil to the plate to prevent dumplings sticking problem. I hope that my knowledge and experience of cooking dumplings will be helpful for you.
