You Can Freeze Pizza Dough, But Should You?

Keeping a frozen pizza on hand for those days you just don't want to cook is never a bad idea. But what if you make pizza on your own and want to save some extra dough for later?

In conundrums like these, the freezer, everyone's favorite kitchen time machine, becomes extra alluring. But what's the proper procedure for freezing pizza dough? And does anything happen to the dough in the freezer? Here's what to know about freezing, storing, and thawing homemade and store-bought fresh pizza dough.

Can You Freeze Fresh Pizza Dough?

Yes. While fresh pizza dough is easiest to work with and superior in quality, freezing it can be an advantage if you're in a pinch or have too much dough. You'll just need to store it properly, thaw it without cooking it prematurely, and give it time to proof.

Does Pizza Dough Freeze Well?

Freezing fresh pizza dough doesn't change its taste, though you may notice a change in texture. Extreme temperatures affect the gluten through a process called depolymerization, which makes it harder to deal with when you shape your pizza, according to journalist and pizza enthusiast Joe Rosenthal. With depolymerization, the protein chains that give dough strength become shorter and, therefore, weaker. Weak dough can break easily and yield an uneven crust, so it's not ideal. Nevertheless, fresh pizza dough freezes and thaws well.

Does Freezing Pizza Dough Kill the Yeast?

Like many other living things, yeast reacts to different temperatures. For example, if you store homemade pizza dough on the counter, the yeast would keep growing and eventually die. Freezing dough or chilling it in the fridge allows the yeast to go dormant without disturbing the integrity of the gluten, resulting in a nice, strong pizza crust.

How Long Will Pizza Dough Last in the Freezer?

Pizza dough will last up to three months in the freezer. When you extract pizza dough from the freezer, check for signs of freezer burn, like white spots or patches of ice crystals. You won't get sick from eating freezer burned dough, but freezer burn will alter the taste and may prevent the dough from cooking properly.

How to Freeze Pizza Dough

Fresh pizza dough will last up to three months in the freezer if you store it properly.

1. First, you need to activate and incorporate the yeast and give it time to rise.
2. Take the dough as you plan to freeze and roll it into a ball. If you're freezing the entire batch, divide it into at least two balls.
3. Add a light coat of nonstick cooking spray or olive oil to the dough, then wrap each ball in plastic wrap.
4. Place your dough ball in a zip-top bag and squeeze all the extra air out before sealing tightly. If you're working with multiple dough balls, you'll need multiple bags.

How to Thaw Pizza Dough

Thaw pizza dough in the refrigerator, or speed up the process using cold water or the microwave. Thawed pizza dough will be fresh for about three days in the refrigerator.

In the Refrigerator

When you're ready to thaw your dough, put it in a bowl large enough for the dough to expand as the yeast activates again. Cover it and let place it in the fridge overnight or for at least eight hours. When you're ready to cook with the dough, remove it from the fridge and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes.

In Cold Water

With this method, keep the dough in the zip-top bag, but make sure your pizza hasn't been punctured with holes that could let water in. Next, plunge the bag of dough into a large bowl of cool to lukewarm water, letting it sit for an hour or two. Transfer the dough to a dry bowl, and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes.

In the Microwave

If you need to thaw the dough as quick as possible, use the microwave, but be careful not to cook the dough. Transfer the dough from the zip-top bag to a plate and cover it with a large bowl, which will give it room to rise and keep it from cooking. Heat it on the defrost setting for one minute and 30 seconds. Wait two minutes before opening the microwave, flip the dough, then heat on the defrost setting for one more minute. Transfer the dough to a dry bowl, and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes.

What to Do After Thawing Pizza Dough

Dough should come to room temperature before you work with it. If rolled into an extra big ball, give it more time to warm up on the counter.

1. Let the dough proof for about an hour or until it doubles in size.
2. Press down on the center of the dough with your fist, then fold the dough over itself about five times.
3. Lightly coat a surface with flour, then roll the dough to the size you want.
4. Add sauce and toppings to the dough, then bake it using your preferred method.

Related:

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• How to Make Pizza at Home That's Better Than Takeout
• How to Use Your Home Pizza Oven