The 3 Most Common Cooking Questions People Have About Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

I lived a happy Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi-free life for well, forever, until the internet, friends, and family told me otherwise. So of course I needed to investigate to see if my meals were missing something good. The bags are out of stock frequently since they’re so popular but when I last saw them, I grabbed a couple to see what all the fuss was about. I came home, heading into my kitchen, and realized I had some basic questions that needed answering. I have a feeling, if you’re a cauliflower gnocchi newbie like me, you might have them, too. Here are the 3 most common cooking questions answered.

1. How Do I Prepare Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi?

Here’s the thing. You can go by the bag of the bag — or you can take into consideration all the ingenious hacks home cooks from all over have devised. Figuring out the one that is best for you is going to be a matter of preference — mostly of texture. The back of the bag recommends three ways to prepare cauliflower gnocchi — for all of them, you do not thaw the gnocchi. Here are a few other methods to consider:

• Pan sauté: To pan sauté the gnocchi, empty the bag into a nonstick skillet with a splash of water, covering, and cooking on medium until heated through. Next add olive oil or butter and sauté. This gives you chewy, crispy gnocchi.
• Boiling: Add the gnocchi in a pot of salted water, just like pasta, then drain.
• Microwave: Cook for about 5 minutes until heated through.
• Roasting: Toss the gnocchi with olive oil and roast it on a baking sheet in the oven at 425°F, flipping halfway through, until crisp and golden, about 30 minutes. This gives you dense, crispy gnocchi.
• Air Fryer: Cook the gnocchi at 400ºF for 20 minutes, flipping the gnocchi at the 10 minute mark.

2. What’s the Easiest Way to Prepare Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi?

That really depends on what is easiest for you since all the ways to prepare Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi are relatively easy. Tossing it in the microwave may be the simplest but the texture might be compromised. If you’re willing to take out a skillet or turn your oven on, pan-frying or roasting is just as painless and results in the best texture.

3. How Do I Get Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi Extra Crispy?

That being said, what exactly is the best texture for Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi? The trouble most cooks face when boiling or microwave the gnocchi is it can become gummy and too soft. Instead, browned and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside is preferred here and the best way to achieve that is by either pan-frying, roasting the gnocchi, or using the trusted air fryer.