How Long Does Pizza Dough Last In The Fridge?

Keeping pizza dough fresh saves time and money and knowing how to store pizza dough properly goes a long way. Pizza dough will stay fresh for about 3-5 days In the refrigerator. You can freeze it for up to 3 months if you want to keep it for a longer period.

When you’re ready to use the frozen dough, let it thaw in the refrigerator before rolling it out and baking it.

Figure 1- How long does pizza dough last in the fridge

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How Long Will Pizza Dough Keep Fresh?

Pizza dough can last anywhere from 3-5 days in the refrigerator if stored properly. Freezing the dough also increases its storage time by up to three months if done correctly.

Whether it’s homemade dough or store-bought, knowing how to store the pizza dough properly is a great way to save time.

Understanding Pizza Dough’s Shelf Life

To understand how to store pizza dough, you must first understand how the yeast raises the dough when cooking the pizza.

Yeast is a micro-organism that is used in breadmaking and also in pizza dough. It uses the fermentation process to make carbon dioxide, which raises the pizza or bread when cooking. Leaving the dough at room temperature for a long duration gives the yeast enough time to break down the sugar using its fermentation process. So the dough will not rise properly and have that airy texture.

That’s why keeping the dough in the freezer or the fridge keeps it fresh as it slows down the fermentation process of the micro-organisms.

When making the dough, it’s important to remember that adding more yeast will speed up the rate at which your pizza dough spoils. Homemade dough tends to spoil quicker than store-bought pizza dough.

How to Store Pizza Dough in Fridge Correctly?

To keep the dough fresh for 3 to 5 days, and use it, keeping it in the fridge is a good option. To store pizza dough in the fridge, follow the steps given below-

1. Prepare the Dough

Make your pizza dough and set it aside to rest. Allow the dough to ferment overnight in a large, airtight container or a plastic-wrapped bowl. Form your pizza dough into individual balls after the first rise is complete. Each dough ball should be the same size as the serving size of the pizza you intend to make.

2. Take Preparation to Keep It in Fridge

Prepare your pizzas for the fridge. Allowing the dough to sit at room temperature for too long can cause the surface to dry out. Coat the dough in olive oil evenly.

3. Store the Dough in the Fridge

Wrap your pizzas and store them. There are many ways you can store your pizza dough in the refrigerator. You can cover the surface of the dough with plastic wrap, or you can wrap the dough using plastic wrap. The dough can also be placed in a sealed plastic bag or an airtight container.

Simply take it out of the fridge and bring it to room temperature before making your pizza which can take up to thirty minutes.

Proper Ways to Store Pizza Dough in Freezer

Storing pizza dough in the freezer will allow you to keep them fresh for a longer time: up to 3 months. By the way, to freeze and store the dough, follow the steps given below-

Freeze your oiled dough balls in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper for about three hours
After removing the frozen dough balls from the baking sheet, place them in a plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible and tightly seal the bag. Proper storage keeps your dough fresh and last longer
You can keep the dough in the freezer for up to three months. Before making the pizza, you have to thaw the dough in a refrigerator or bring it to room temperature

The Dangers Of Eating spoilt Pizza Dough

Two issues can arise with frozen pizza dough. When kept for a long time, the raw dough contains harmful bacteria. Second, improper storage of flour can result in contamination.

If you eat pizza made with contaminated dough, you could develop severe Salmonella or E.coli poisoning that can occur within a few hours or even within a week. E. Coli is particularly harmful and, in some circumstances, can be fatal. The most typical signs are:

Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
stomach pain
Headache
Diarrhea
Aches in muscles and joints

Raw pizza dough should be avoided. The most serious issues are caused by bacterial toxins, particularly Shiga toxin, which results in watery diarrhea and potentially fatal dehydration.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know when pizza dough has spoiled?

You can tell if your pizza dough has gone wrong if you notice any bad odor, decreased texture or it seems extremely dry in appearance and feel or has gray flecks.

2. Can pizza dough go bad in the fridge?

Pizza dough can go bad when stored in the fridge as bacteria build up. This is extremely likely if you’ve added eggs or milk while making the dough.

Final Note

You can keep your pizza dough fresh in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. On the other hand, for longer-time freshness, you can opt for the freezer.

By the way, use the proper method to fridge the pizza dough. Don’t use the contaminated dough for making pizza after taking it out of the fridge or freezer. This can cause severe health hazards. Check the dough before making pizza after a long-day fridging period.

How Long Does Pizza Dough Last in the Fridge?