Can You Freeze Gnocchi?

Gnocchi is an interesting dish that is a great alternative to your usual pasta and it can be mixed with so many flavours and recipes that you will be spoilt for choice with how to cook and eat it. 

When you are making a batch of these it can be hard to get the amount you need just right. So, instead of wasting any extra – can you freeze gnocchi?

How To Freeze Gnocchi

It isn’t too difficult to freeze any uncooked gnocchi and if you are making a batch it might be worth considering making extra just so that you can freeze them for a quick and easy meal at a later date.

As soon as your gnocchi is shaped then you want to get them frozen:

1. Flash Freeze
   Grab yourself a baking sheet and place a piece of parchment paper down on it. Put the raw gnocchi on the baking sheet in a single layer. Try to avoid them touching one another. Pop the pan in the freezer in a flat area and freeze.
2. Transfer to Bag
   Once the gnocchi has frozen or after about three hours you can transfer them to a freezer bag.
3. Final Freeze
   Label and date the bag and put it back in the freezer.

Flash freezing isn’t a necessary step but it makes it far easier to grab the amount you need at a time. Refreezing gnocchi is not recommended which is why it’s great being able to grab a portion at a time.

Flashing freezing makes this possible, easily.

3 Tips for Freezing Gnocchi

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing gnocchi to have the best results:

Cook from Frozen
Do not defrost gnocchi before freezing as it will actually ruin the texture. Instead, grab a portion from the freezer and add it into a pan of salted boiling water. When the gnocchi float to the top, they’re cooked. It’s as simple as that! 

Freeze on a Tray First
By flashing freezing them on a tray first, you’ll be able to store the gnocchi in a bag without them sticking together. This will make it incredibly easy to grab a portion as and when you want them. 

Bake It
If you’re still concerned about the texture then, once cooked, stir the gnocchi with pasta sauce, tip into a baking dish and top with mozzarella. Baking it will mask any slight changes to the texture. 

How Long Can You Freeze Gnocchi?

Gnocchi isn’t a food item that lasts too long, even in the freezer, so if you have frozen raw gnocchi then you want to be using it within 2 months. This is quite a short window so don’t forget to use up your frozen gnocchi before it goes bad!

You Can Freeze Gnocchi for up to 2 Months

How Do You Defrost Gnocchi?

When it comes to using your frozen gnocchi then you are actually best cooking it from frozen. If you defrost it then the individual pieces can lose their shape, start sticking together and become difficult to use.

To heat them up, take them directly from the freezer and pop them into boiling water and allow the pot to come back to the boil and then cook as normal. You simply need to wait for your gnocchi to float to the surface.

That’s how you know they’re cooked. Drain quickly and then toss with your favourite pasta sauce such as puttanesca. 

Can You Refreeze Gnocchi?

One of the key elements of good gnocchi is texture. If you were to refreeze them, you’ll ruin the texture.

This is why refreezing is strongly discouraged. Instead, flash freeze your gnocchi so you can easily grab a portion at a time without ever needing to refreeze it.

Do Gnocchi Freeze Well?

This is a bit of a tricky question as unfortunately, this isn’t a food that freezes particularly well. You will find there is some texture change when compared to freshly made gnocchi and if it goes wrong you could end up with a mushy pile of gnocchi!

However, if you cook them from frozen and they have frozen well then they should still be good enough to eat.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing gnocchi or gnocchi in general, then these may help:

Can You Freeze Gnocchi Dough?

Gnocchi dough can be frozen but it’s not an approach we would advise as it can take the gnocchi dough a long time to thaw before you can shape them. Instead, shape the gnocchi beforehand and freeze ready-shaped.

This way, you can grab a handful from the freezer and cook it from frozen – no need to let it defrost!

Can Store-Bought Gnocchi Be Frozen?

Store-bought gnocchi can be frozen usually. Generally, when you buy gnocchi from the supermarket it will list whether or not it is suitable for home freezing. 

Can You Freeze Cooked Potato Gnocchi?

You can freeze cooked potato gnocchi but do be prepared for some textural changes. Where possible, try to freeze it uncooked so that you can cook it straight from the freezer. 

Can You Freeze Gnocchi Bake?

If you want to freeze gnocchi bake then simply cook it as you normally would, wrap it in cling film once cooled then foil and place it in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat it, just unwrap it and place it in the oven until cooked through.

Can You Freeze Gnudi?

Gnudi are similar to gnocchi but are made with ricotta instead. The good news is that you can use the same method as above. Again, you’ll want to use them up quickly before the texture degrades.