Have you ever wanted to cook frozen empanadas but aren’t sure how? You’ve come to the right place. Learn the different ways of how to cook frozen empanadas and choose which you prefer.
Empanada is a popular Latin American and Spanish dish. It is a puff pastry stuffed with various fillings and made in a round or half-moon-shaped dough.
When it comes to hors d’oeuvres, few things can be as convenient as empanadas. These pastries come frozen in plastic bags that you can cook right out of the freezer in a few minutes.
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Why Buy Frozen Empanadas
There are many reasons why you might want to buy frozen empanadas.
Maybe you want something to munch on for the Big Game but don’t have time to make your own.
Or you’re a busy mom, and you need a quick and easy meal to serve up for the family on a weeknight.
Or maybe, like many people, you live far from your favorite empanada shop and will do anything for a taste of home.
Whatever your reason for buying frozen empanadas, there’s no need to worry about how to cook them.
The process is quick and straightforward, and the results can be delicious!
How to Cook Frozen Empanadas: Top 3 WaysYou Have To Try
Empanadas are a filled dough pocket that can be baked or fried using vegetable oil.
They are often stuffed with ground beef, chicken, tuna, cheese, and vegetables like pierogies.
Like other frozen foods, these unbaked empanadas are quick and easy to prepare. There is no need to thaw them before cooking or season them further.
To cook the empanadas, we will review the different existing methods to choose the one you prefer.
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How to Cook Frozen Empanadas in the Oven
If you’re looking for an easy way to serve up some delicious food in less time, here’s how to cook frozen empanadas in your oven.
Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most frozen empanadas will need about 15 minutes of heating time, but check the side of the package for instructions or follow your recipe instructions.
Place your desired number of frozen empanadas on a baking tray with parchment paper. You can also use aluminum foil. Make sure that there is space between them to have room to bake correctly.
If you want the empanadas to have a golden crust, brush them with an egg wash made of a lightly beaten whole large egg before putting them in the oven.
Take them to the oven and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until they’re golden brown and hot all the way through.
To ensure even browning, rotate the tray a couple of times.
Bake the empanadas until they look well-cooked. The exact time will depend on your oven and the empanadas’ size.
Baking large empanadas will take more time than baking mini empanadas.
For large empanadas, you may need to add a couple of extra minutes.
Remove baked empanadas from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes before eating them.
How to Cook Frozen Empanadas in a Deep Fryer
Deep frying will give the empanada a nice golden color.
Step 1: Turn on the deep fryer, put in enough oil, and allow it to preheat to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Remove the empanadas from the freezer bag and place them into the fryer basket.
Step 3: Lower the basket into the deep fryer and cook for seven minutes or until golden brown.
Step 4: Transfer the empanadas to a plate with paper towels to drain off excess oil. Wait 5 minutes before serving your freshly fried empanadas.
Depending on the size of your deep fryer, you may have to fry the empanadas in batches.
You can keep batches warm on a baking sheet in a 200-degree oven while you finish frying the batch.
How to Cook Frozen Empanadas in an Air Fryer
Cooking frozen empanadas in an air fryer is a quick and simple process.
Here’s how to cook frozen empanadas in an air fryer:
Wait for the air fryer to preheat. Most models require 5 to 10 minutes of preheating.
Meanwhile, prepare your frozen empanadas by removing them from their packaging.
Place empanadas in the air-fryer basket.
Arrange them, so they are not touching each other or the sides of the air fryer basket. Make sure to leave plenty of space between them for hot air circulation.
Don’t overcrowd the basket; you may need to cook several batches depending on how much you are making and the size of your air fryer.
Close the lid and cook for about eight minutes at 350 °F (176 °C).
Flip them over once halfway through cooking time.
Remove when they are golden brown and crispy.
Frozen Empanadas in the Oven
Ingredients
- 12 Empanadas
- 1 Egg beaten
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Place your desired number of frozen empanadas on a baking tray with parchment paper. You can also use aluminum foil. Make sure that there is space between them to have room to bake correctly
- If you want the empanadas to have a golden crust, brush them with an egg wash made of a lightly beaten whole large egg before putting them in the oven
- Take them to the oven and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until they're golden brown and hot all the way through
- To ensure even browning, rotate the tray a couple of times
- Remove baked empanadas from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes before eating them
How to Reheat Empanadas
If you’ve already baked the empanadas and want to reheat them, you can do this quickly in the microwave.
But you have to be careful because the microwave reheating process can make your empanadas soggy.
Place a few empanadas on a microwave-safe plate or dish in a single layer to heat them.
Turn on your microwave at medium heat and give your empanadas a quick check after every thirty seconds.
FAQs about How To Cook Frozen Empanadas
What is the difference between cooking empanadas in the oven or deep fryer?
Baking empanadas takes longer than frying them. The fried version may give you the best results if you have a big batch of empanadas that need to be cooked quickly.
Empanadas need to cook for five to eight minutes using the deep fryer but take at least 15 minutes to bake thoroughly in a conventional oven.
How Long Last Frozen Empanadas
Empanadas in a frozen state should last up to 3 months if stored properly.
To help maintain quality and avoid freezer burn, you should put foods in plastic wrap or put them in an airtight container before taking them to the freezer.
Some foods may last longer than others; refer to the manufacturer’s instructions if they provide them.
You don’t even have to thaw frozen empanadas before baking them! You can cook frozen empanadas without thawing them first.
You can use your Instant Pot to make delicious homemade empanadas fillings.
But you can’t cook frozen empanadas in it.