How to steam frozen dumplings without a steamer

And it is very easy as well. There are some things you need to know about steaming in an Air Fryer but when you do this is a great way to steam any dumpling.

So, are you ready to learn how to make steamed frozen Air Fryer dumplings? Join me in the bistro kitchen!

Steaming In An Air Fryer

You may have read that just like cooking rice or boiling potatoes it is not possible to steam in your Air Fryer.

There are websites that state it is impossible to steam food using an Air Fryer and list all sorts of lists about things you can’t cook in an Air Fryer.

They explain that water can’t become hot enough to create steam or that your Air Fryer will break down when you use hot air.

Funny enough one of the methods to keep your Air Fryer clean is to add hot water to the Air Fryer bucket. So, it is recommended to use steam but for another purpose.

Well, I’m very excited because you can steam food like dumplings in your Air Fryer.

You can have them on the table in less than 15 minutes even. Another great set and forget recipe.

Air Fryer Dumplings Ingredients

To prepare steamed dumplings in the Air Fryer you only need a couple of ingredients.

Have the following ready when you start:

• Frozen dumplings like goya shrimp dumplings
• Sweet soy sauce
• Thai sweet chili sauce

How To Make Steamed Frozen Air Fryer Dumplings

To make this recipe you want a hot Air Fryer so start with preheating your Air Fryer to 400℉ for 5 minutes.

In the meanwhile, boil water in e.g. a water cooker.

Now take a pizza pan and a bamboo steamer. Line the bamboo steamer with Air Fryer parchment paper. These contain holes.

Put boiling water in the pizza pan then put the bamboo steamer on top of the pizza pan.

Add the shrimp dumplings into the bamboo steamer and cover the steamer completely with aluminum foil.

Do not put the original bamboo lid on top as you run the risk that it gets burned underneath the Air Fryer heating element.

Now put the pizza pan with the bamboo steamer on top of a grill pan and put that in the Air Fryer.

It is easier to put the pizza pan with boiling water and the bamboo steamer inside the Air Fryer using a grill pan as it has low sides.

Steam the dumplings for 8-10 minutes with thawed dumplings or until heated through. Add 2 minutes when you are using frozen dumplings.

Remove the foil and take the bamboo out of the Air Fryer. Serve immediately.

Can You Steam Frozen Dumplings In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can steam frozen dumplings in the Air Fryer. You do not need to thaw them first.

Just put the frozen dumplings in a parchment paper-lined bamboo steamer and cover it with aluminum foil.

Put the steamer over boiling water in a pizza pan. Then let it steam in the Air Fryer.

I Do Not Have A Bamboo Steamer Can I Use Anything Else?

If you have a pizza pan you can add the boiling water to the pan and put the pan inside the Air Fryer basket.

Then add your frozen or thawed dumplings on top of an Air Fryer rack and cover them with foil.

Put the rack on top of the pizza pan. That way the steam will stay enclosed and can heat the dumplings.

Follow the instructions on temperature and time.

Can I Cook Water From Cold To Steam In An Air Fryer?

It is not recommended to use cold water to cook in an Air Fryer. It is very inefficient and will take a very long time to warm through.

Most Air Fryers do not get to 420℉ which is needed to get water to boil.

However, if you use boiled water and use it immediately in your recipes you can keep the temperature of the water near boiling point.

You also need to preheat your Air Fryer to 400℉.

That is why you can also steam in your Air Fryer. Boil the water and use it straight away.

It is important to cover the dumplings with aluminum foil to keep the steam inside the bamboo steamer.

Why Do I Need Boiling Water To Cook In An Air Fryer?

Because it will take a very long time to boil water from cold in an Air Fryer.

It is also very inefficient to boil water from cold. You need at least 420℉ to boil water.

So, when I use my Air Fryer to get things to cook, I used boiling water.

In a water cooker, it takes about 2 minutes, the same applies if you have an induction stove (it all depends on the amount of water you are boiling).

So, get it to a boil before you add your ingredients. Cover it so the heat stays inside and set the cooking time.

How To Store Left Over Dumplings

When you cooked dumplings and you have leftovers you have several ways to store them:

• Refrigerator – you can store your dumplings in the fridge for up to 2 days depending on the type of dumplings. Vegetable dumplings can keep longer compared to fish dumplings. As a rule of thumb, I do not leave them longer than 2 days. Store them in an airtight food container
• Freezer – if you cooked your dumplings, you can also store them in the freezer. Let them cool completely and store them in a freezer friendly food container for up to a month

How To Reheat Leftover Dumpling

You have several ways to reheat your dumplings:

• Steamer – put a saucepan with water inside. Put a bamboo steamer on top with leftover dumplings. Heat for 4-5 minutes or until warm
• Air Fryer – you can also use your Air Fryer to reheat your dumplings. Want them soft put them in a bamboo steamer on top of a pizza pan filled with boiling water. Wrap the steamer with foil and heat for 5-6 minutes or until hot. If you want them crispy put them in a grill pan and heat in a preheated Air Fryer at 400℉. Let them warm for 5-6 minutes or until crispy
• Microwave – you can also reheat them in the microwave. Put the leftover dumplings in a microwave dish and cover them with plastic wrap. Heat for 30 seconds and check to see if the dumplings are warm else repeat. The dumplings can dry out in the microwave so this is not my recommended way to reheat

More Air Fryer Recipes

If you love cooking in the Air Fryer, take a look at all the things you can cook in an Air Fryer but thought you couldn’t.

A number of them contain:

• Cooking white rice in an Air Fryer
• Boiled potatoes
• Mexican rice
• Tomato sauce

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Top 15 how to steam frozen dumplings without a steamer edited by Family Cuisine