Pierogies, traditional Eastern European dumplings, consist of a pasta-like dough encasing a filling that can include anything from potatoes and cheese to sauteed vegetables to fruit. Fresh pierogies can be deep-fried, sauteed, baked, grilled or boiled, but they cannot be cooked in the microwave. As a time-saving alternative, purchase frozen pierogies, which can be microwaved straight from the freezer, or after thawing. For the most nutrition with the least added fat, look for whole-grain pierogies.
Microwaving Frozen Pierogies
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Step 1
Remove the package of pierogies from the freezer. Place the number of pierogies you want to cook in a microwave-safe bowl that can fit the dumplings easily. Return any remaining frozen pierogies to the freezer in an airtight bag or container.
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Step 2
Add enough water to the bowl so that the pierogies are completely submersed. Cover the top of the bowl loosely with plastic wrap.
Step 3
Cook the pierogies in the microwave on the high setting for approximately 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave, drain the pierogies in a colander or strainer and serve.
Microwaving After Thawing
Step 1
Fill a bowl or small baking dish with hot tap water. Put your desired number of frozen pierogies into the water, returning any leftover pierogies to the freezer.
Step 2
Drain the pierogies in a colander. Arrange them in a single layer in a shallow microwave-safe dish. Cover the dish lightly with plastic wrap.
Step 3
Microwave the pierogies on high, planning on around 2 1/2 minutes for five or six pierogies and approximately 3 minutes for up to 12 pierogies. Remove the plastic wrap carefully and serve as desired.
Things You'll Need
Frozen pierogies
Microwave-safe bowl
Plastic wrap
Colander or strainer
Bowl or small baking dish
Microwave-safe dish
Tip
Pierogies are traditionally served with sour cream. Look for low- or nonfat brands of sour cream to keep your saturated fat and cholesterol intake low.
Refrigerate leftover cooked pierogies promptly and eat within three days.
Warning
The temperature of the high setting on different microwaves can vary widely. Always start with the minimum recommended cooking time and increase as needed to prevent overcooking.