Name: Exactly How To Reheat Potstickers
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 4 min
Ingredients: 1 portion potstickers

Table of Contents

Too many potstickers? I don’t buy it.

For most of us, it’s practically impossible to have enough of these delicious, succulent, crispy-bottomed treats.

But, if somehow you find yourself with leftovers, you may be wondering if it’s possible to reheat them.

Having faced the same problem a few times, I decided to experiment with a few different reheating methods to find the best one.

Ready? Let’s go.

A note on my experiment

I ordered in a few (dozen) potstickers from my favorite takeout place.

Practicing super-human self-restraint, I stored some overnight in the fridge to use for my experiment.

The next day, I tried out four different reheating methods before settling on the best way to reheat potstickers.

These included:

In a pan (best method overall)
In the microwave (not too bad, but not crispy)
In the oven (okay results and good for large quantities)
In the air fryer (also okay, but a little dry)

I was looking for a method that softened the hardened skin, and re-crisped the bottom of the potsticker.

Pan-frying was definitely my first choice, leaving my potstickers tasting almost as good as new.

I was pleasantly surprised by the microwave method, having expected very little but ending up with alright results.

The oven method was okay and got some crisp back into the potstickers’ bottoms.

The results from the air fryer were similar but a little drier, especially around the edges.

Reheating potstickers in a pan

Lightly coat a pan with oil and set it over medium-high heat. Fry your potstickers (once the oil is hot) for 1 to 2 minutes until their bottoms turn crisp. Next, reduce the heat to medium-low and add 2 to 3 spoons of water to the pan. Cover the potstickers and steam for a minute before serving.

If the bottoms of your potstickers are not yet crispy, you can fry them for a further 30 seconds.

How to reheat potstickers in a pan:

Lightly coat a skillet with cooking oil. You only need enough to ensure the potstickers won’t stick to the pan.
Set a stove plate to medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, place your potstickers bottom-side down into the pan and fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until they turn crispy on the bottom (use tongs or chopsticks to lift and check them).
Then, reduce the heat to medium-low.
Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to the pan.
Cover the potstickers to steam them for 30 to 60 seconds.
Optional: Fry for a further 30 seconds if the bottoms are not quite crispy enough.
Serve immediately.

Ensure that the oil in your pan is hot before frying your potstickers.

If not, they may soak up some excess oil while sitting in the pan and turn greasy.

The steaming process is crucial for adding moisture back into the potstickers’ wrappers.

Steaming also ensures that the filling is evenly warm.

However, be mindful not to leave them for too long, or you risk them turning mushy.

The same goes for frying – no one wants burnt bottoms!

My verdict

I 100% recommend this as the best and most authentic way to reheat potstickers.

Frying my potstickers kept their bottoms crispy while the steaming process warmed the fillings and kept the pastry moist.

They didn’t taste exactly freshly-made, but they were extremely close.

Reheating potstickers in the microwave

Spread out your potstickers on a microwave-safe plate. Cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave your potstickers in 15-second intervals until piping hot. At each stop, feel how warm they are to avoid overcooking them. Serve immediately.

The steam from the damp paper towel locks in moisture, keeping your potstickers tender.

How to reheat potstickers in the microwave:

Spread out leftover potstickers on a microwave-safe plate.
Cover them with a piece of damp paper towel.
Microwave in 15-second intervals, feeling how warm they are in between.
Once hot, serve immediately.

It shouldn’t take more than 15 to 30 seconds to warm your potstickers, depending on the strength of your microwave.

Be careful not to bite into them straight away because the steam inside the potsticker will be very hot and could burn your mouth.

My verdict

Don’t go into this expecting crispy bottoms because you’ll be sorely disappointed.

However, that is my only complaint. I was pleased by how much moisture my potstickers retained and (obviously) by the ease and convenience of this technique.

They were ever-so-slightly chewier than the other methods I tried but completely edible.

This microwave is definitely worth a shot if you’re in a hurry.

Reheating potstickers in the oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Preheat a baking tray simultaneously as the oven warms up. Once hot, spread out your potstickers on the baking tray (crispy side down) and heat them for 3 to 5 minutes. When your potstickers are warm, serve them immediately.

You can also use a wire rack as an alternative to a baking sheet.

How to reheat potstickers in the oven:

Set your oven to 350°F (180°C).
Place a baking tray in the oven to warm as it heats up.
Once hot, spread out your potstickers on the baking sheet crispy side down. Or if you want to use a wire rack, you can spread the potstickers out however you want.
Heat them for 3 to 5 minutes or until warmed through.
Serve immediately.

Preheating the baking tray helps warm and crisp the bottoms of your potstickers.

You can coat the tray with a bit of cooking spray for extra measure.

(sadly the crisping won’t be as effective as with frying)

If your potstickers have gone a bit dry in storage, you can revitalize them with a few sprinkles of water.

Cover the damp potstickers with foil before putting them in the oven to steam them lightly and return some moisture.

My verdict

This wasn’t my favorite method.

My potstickers were still tasty, but they lacked crispiness and the wrappers were still dry in places.

It’s an okay choice for reheating large quantities at once, but otherwise, nothing to write home about.

Reheating potstickers in the air fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 300°F (150°C). Spread out your leftover potstickers in the air fryer basket. Heat them for 2 to 4 minutes or until warm. Check them at the halfway mark to make sure they’re not overcooking. Once hot, serve immediately.

Make sure to leave space between the potstickers for airflow so that they can heat evenly.

How to reheat potstickers in the air fryer:

Set your air fryer to 300°F (150°C).
Spread out your potstickers (not touching) in the air fryer basket.
Heat for 2 to 4 minutes, checking halfway.
Once warm, serve immediately.

A lower heat and a slower pace reduces the risk of dry pastry with a cold center.

I initially experimented with 350°F (180°C) but found it dried out the pastry while leaving the filling lukewarm.

This method requires careful monitoring as it’s easy to burn pastry in the air fryer.

My verdict

I have mixed feelings about this method.

The harsh, direct heat of the air fryer turned the edges of the wrapper dry and crunchy.

The unusual texture meant you could tell the potstickers weren’t fresh, but some people might light a bit of crunch!

How to store potstickers

Before storing, cool your potstickers to room temperature. Line an airtight container with a piece of paper towel or parchment paper. Spread out your potstickers and seal the container tightly before putting it in the fridge. Consume within 3 to 4 days.

The paper towel soaks up any excess moisture in the container and prevents soggy, damp wrappers.

Never place potstickers directly onto paper while they’re still warm, or they’ll stick to it and tear.

Potstickers will dry out in the fridge, so try to reheat them sooner rather than later. If you want to lock in as much moisture as possible, wrap each potsticker in plastic wrap.

Note: You cannot store uncooked potstickers in the fridge. Their fillings will seep into the pastry and turn potstickers soggy, limp, and messy.

You should freeze them instead.

Related: How To Store Bao Buns

Can you freeze potstickers?

You can freeze potstickers, but they don’t fare particularly well in the freezer once they’re cooked. They tend to turn soft, and their pastry becomes difficult to rejuvenate. If possible, freeze them in their uncooked state instead. Either way, use them within 2 to 3 months.

You can use the same method for freezing both cooked and uncooked potstickers.

How to freeze potstickers:

Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Spread your potstickers out on the tray, not touching.
Freeze for an hour or two or until they turn hard.
Transfer your flash-frozen potstickers into a zip-lock freezer bag.
Remove excess air (or vacuum seal) and close it tightly.
Mark the bag and use within 2 to 3 months.

Freezing each potsticker individually prevents them from sticking together in the bag and makes it easy to grab the portion you want for reheating.

Use a straw or submerge your bag in water as you seal it to remove excess air.

This helps prevent freezer burn and helps maintain the best quality for as long as possible.

How to reheat frozen potstickers

There is no need to thaw frozen potstickers. Reheating them from frozen reduces the chance of soggy, mushy pastry. Use the pan-frying method for best results. Fry the potstickers crispy side down for 2 to 3 minutes before adding water to the pan. Steam (covered) for a further minute and serve.

In a rush? You can also use the microwave method. However, you won’t get that crispy bottom, and the pastry will likely turn a bit chewy.

How long do potstickers last?

There’s no need to waste potstickers. The following guidelines will tell you how long you can store them for:

Room temperature: You should store any cooked food within two hours of it reaching room temperature. The same is true for potstickers, especially if they contain meat products.
Refrigerated: You can store potstickers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Frozen: Use your frozen potstickers within 2 to 3 months of freezing to retain optimum quality.