The freezer section offers numerous choices. What brand should you choose?
If there’s one freezer staple That reliably rescues dinners (as well as lunches and snacks), frozen dumplings come to the rescue. These adaptable, small packages are incredibly handy and satisfying—no matter if you choose to steam, boil, or pan-fry them, you can get a tasty meal on your plate quicker than it takes to place an order for delivery.
Over the past few years, the freezer aisle has exploded with options, offering everything from Japanese gyoza to Korean mandu. There’s no shortage of options, ranging from imported brands and private-label ones at popular grocers to newer entrants to the market from restaurants like Dumpling Daughter and Mimi Cheng’s .
Given the plethora of readily accessible brands and varieties, selecting the optimal choice can be quite daunting. To assist you in choosing among the myriad of frozen dumplings, I consulted with five specialists who recommended their preferred supermarket options. One particular brand stood above the rest. Continue reading to discover which brand now holds pride of place in the freezer compartments used by culinary professionals and food writers alike.
The Food Pros and Chefs I Asked
- Cynthia Christensen : Chef and recipe developer behind But First We Brunch
- Kate Itrich-Williams Recipe creator and lead editor at Anova
- Bill Kim : Chef at Urbanbelly and The Table at Crate
- Ji Hye Kim : Founder and chef of Miss Kim
- Myo Quinn Associate Editorial Director at SimplyRecipes
The Top Store-Bought Dumpling Brand as Chosen by Culinary Experts
Bibigo stood out as the top choice for our group of specialists, who commended aspects ranging from its taste to its user-friendliness.
Myo depends on Bibigo for providing a fast and convenient lunch option for her children, particularly favoring the square-shaped Japchae Potstickers. "These flat-bottomed dumplings become nicely crisp from all angles when cooked. They heat up quicker compared to crescent-shaped ones due to their thinner profile." Additionally, she values the convenience of locating Bibigo items across various stores such as Kroger, Costco, and surprisingly, even outlets like the Dollar Store.
For Cynthia, a second-generation Korean American, Bibigo’s dumplings most closely resemble the homemade ones of her childhood. “My mother started letting me help fold mandu Almost before I could walk, (Korean dumplings) were already familiar to her," she remembers. The Bibigo versions "resemble the ones I used to make with my mother in both appearance and flavor."
Chef Bill is another dedicated admirer who points out that the wrapper-to-filling proportion of the Japchae Potstickers is "ideal." He remarks, "As you take a bite into these dumplings, you can observe all the components. It’s just the right balance of meat, noodles, and veggies."
Kate was equally impressed by Bibigo’s wrapper, noting, "It remains consistently tender and strong, with a smooth texture even when heated in the microwave."
Chef Ji Hye appreciates Bibigo for its dependability and consistently high quality. However, regardless of the brand you choose, she offers a useful piece of advice to ensure you get top-notch frozen products. "Pick up the package; you ought to sense separate frozen dumplings instead of finding one large icy mass," she recommends. "If you encounter only one solid lump, chances are they have been thawed and refrozen at some point." She emphasizes this with a laugh: "Attempting to cook an entire block of ice-filled dumplings would certainly not work!"
How to Prepare Frozen Dumplings as a ProfessionalChef
Our experts concur that there's no incorrect approach to savoring frozen dumplings. Both Cynthia and Ji Hye prefer the steamed-fry technique without defrosting them first. "My go-to method involves frying them in a small amount of oil over medium heat for about two to three minutes until the bottom turns crispy and golden," explains Cynthia. She continues, "After flipping them, pour a little water into the pan, place a lid on top, and allow them to steam for another five to seven minutes or until they're thoroughly cooked."
She'll also incorporate dumplings into other dishes for added volume. "I also enjoy putting frozen dumplings right into soups, such as my Mother’s classic Korean Lunar New Year’s soup." tteokguk , to enhance its richness and flavor.
On the contrary, Bill likes to swiftly boil his dumplings and stresses the importance of having a good dipping sauce. He says, "I enjoy eating them with my incredibly quick dipping sauce—a blend of soy sauce, scallions, freshly minced garlic, sesame oil, and distilled vinegar. This adds an excellent layer of flavor."
For additional insights into our methodology for product suggestions, please refer to HERE .
Read the initial article on Pawonation.com
Post a Comment