TasteGreatFoodie - Easy Way to Freeze and Thaw Pizza Dough

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Do you prefer homemade fresh pizza rather than takeout but do not always have time to make pizza dough from scratch? Your solution is right here!

Prepare the dough whenever you have time, freeze it in the right way, and thaw the required amount when wished to be served.

Delicious Homemade Pizza Dough

A pizza dough that is ready to be freeze d and then thawed — Freshly made dough waiting to be transformed into a mouth-watering delight

Why You’ll Love Freezing and Thawing Pizza Dough

First and foremost, it is definitely a time saver! Prepare the homemade dough whenever you have time and divide it into smaller batches to freeze them. Then, whenever pizza is craved, defrost it, and it is ready to be baked.

In addition, the best way to keep pizza fresh is to freeze pizza dough leftovers.

Moreover, let us not forget that the pizza dough can remain in the freezer for almost 3 to 4 months if frozen in a proper way.

This means that “What should I eat today?” or “What should I feed the kids today?” worries can go away! Just grab your pizza dough from the freezer, defrost it, top it with your favorite toppings, and into the oven it goes.

The Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe

Nothing tastes better than a perfect crusty and golden homemade pizza dough.

This is one of the simplest recipes you will ever do and it only requires 6 ingredients which are dry yeast, sugar, salt, warm water, olive oil, and all-purpose flour or bread flour.

Check out the Best Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe for all the steps and tips and tricks of this recipe.

Prepare it ahead of time and freeze your pizza dough until the time you crave it.

Irresistible Pizza Topped with a Flavor Explosion

A round baked sliced pizza with different toppings — Savor the perfect slice with a delectable symphony of irresistible toppings.

Best Pizza Toppings

The number of options that can be used as pizza toppings are endless, but here are a few ones:

Starting with a classic, pepperoni makes a great topping on pizzas, as it is super easy to make. It is mainly made with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni slices.

Another option is our Quick Spicy Beef (Sujuk) Pizza which is a must-try! It consists of pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, sujuk, garlic powder, dried oregano, mushrooms, and black olives.

Also, the Lebanese Veggie Pizza (Pie) is unique and consists of parsley, onion, tomatoes, olive oil, dried mint, sumac, and some lemon juice.

BBQ chicken pizza is another great option, as it is not your typical pizza. The ingredients of this pizza consist of sweet barbeque sauce, diced chicken, red onions, peppers, cilantro, and loads of cheese.

Pineapple pizza, also known as Hawaiian pizza, is one of the most debatable topics among pizza lovers. Some believe that pineapples are perfect as pizza toppings, while others are completely against it.

What You Need

Pizza Dough, obviously. Prepare the pizza dough and let it rise, then prepare it to be stored and frozen.

Olive oil or baking spray. This is needed in order to coat the pizza dough lightly to prevent it from sticking.

Storage bags, such as plastic wrap, air-tight containers, freezer bags, and other items help store the dough perfectly and prevent freezer burns from appearing.

Freshly Prepared and Ready to Be Topped

a kneaded pizza dough to freeze and then thaw — Freshly kneaded and ready to rise, this homemade pizza dough promises a slice of perfection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refreeze pizza dough for the second time after thawing it?

No, so make sure that you only defrost the amount that you are going to consume.

How long can I keep the pizza frozen?

As long as it is properly frozen, you can keep it for up to 3 to 4 months.

How many days does the pizza dough last after thawing?

Once taken out of the freezer and defrosted, the pizza dough will last for almost 3 days before it is no longer suitable for eating.

Tips and Tricks

Always label the frozen pizza dough. We all tend to forget sometimes, so write on the sealed bag the date it was made in order to prevent using it after the suggested period of time.

Before you freeze the pizza dough, make it ball-shaped. This makes it easier when wanting to thaw it.

Double-wrap the pizza dough before freezing it. Wrap the dough with plastic wrap first then place it in an airtight container or aluminum foil or a freezer-safe bag. This way the dough will be perfectly stored in the freezer and will last the longest duration possible.

When thawing the pizza dough, prevent using hot water since it will cook the dough.

Cover the pizza dough with olive oil or baking spray from all of the sides before placing it in the airtight sealed bag, this will help prevent freezer burn.

How to Properly Freeze Pizza Dough

Freezing pizza dough is one of the simplest tasks ever!

Start by preparing the dough and letting it rise. You can use our Best Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe for delicious and mouth-watering pizza dough, our Ten Minute All-Purpose Dough, or our Gluten Free All Purpose Dough (Quick 10 Minute Dough) for all gluten-free lovers!

Then, divide the dough into separate balls that would make 1 pizza each.

Cover each pizza dough ball with a thin cover of olive oil or baking spray.

After that, place the dough in a freezer bag or an airtight container, making sure to remove all the air out since it helps the dough from drying out.

Finally, place the well-stored pizza dough balls in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Perfectly Pillowy Pizza Dough

a ready to freeze and haw pizza dough — Raw pizza dough ball and ready for transformation!

How to Properly Thaw Pizza Dough

There are different methods to defrost pizza dough:

In the refrigerator: This method requires at least 7 to 8 hours. Place the plastic-wrapped pizza dough in the fridge overnight. This method will allow the dough to soften and rise again. Then, place the dough at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes and it will be ready to roll out.

In a bowl of cold water: Let the dough be fully covered by the cold water for almost 1 to 2 hours and make sure the bag does not have holes in it so that the dough does not get water in. Then, put the plastic-wrapped pizza dough in a dry bowl for 30 minutes to warm up and it will be ready to be topped and baked.

In a bowl of warm water: Make sure the water is not hot or else it will cook the dough. After placing the wrapped dough in the bowl, change the water almost every 10 to 15 minutes since the frozen dough will cool the warm water in the bowl. Keep changing the water until the dough is soft and thawed.

In the microwave: This method is the fastest yet the riskiest method and it is only recommended when it is super urgent since it might cook the dough. When doing this method, place the dough on a plate and cover it with a bowl to protect it from direct heat. Then, place it in the microwave and choose the “defrosting” setting for almost 3 to 5 minutes. When soft and thawed, remove it from the microwave and let it sit for 30 minutes on the countertop and it will be ready for use.

On the countertop: This method requires almost 2 hours to defrost. Place the dough in a container that is large enough to allow it to expand.

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a floured surface with a pizza dough surrounded with cherry tomatoes, pizza sauce, and mozzarella cheese balls.

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How To Freeze and Thaw Pizza Dough

By: Lama

The easiest and fastest way to freeze extra unused pizza dough and the simplest methods to thaw it when needed.

Instructions

How To Freeze Pizza Dough

Prepare the pizza dough and let it rise.
Divide the dough into pizza dough balls, and lightly coat each ball with olive oil or baking spray.
Place the coated pizza dough balls in freezer bags or containers, squeezing out all the air from it to prevent drying out the dough.
Place in freezer for up to 3 months.

How to Thaw Frozen Pizza Dough

In the refrigerator: place the dough in the fridge overnight for at least 7 to 8 hours.
After that, place it at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour and it is ready to be used.
In a bowl of cold water: let the dough be fully covered with the cold water and make sure that the bag does not have holes in it in order to prevent water from entering the dough.
Place the covered dough in the water for almost 1 to 2 hours then remove it and place it in a dry bowl for 30 minutes to warm up.
In a bowl of warm water: make sure the water is not hot or else it will cook the dough.
Keep changing the water every 10 to 15 minutes until dough is soft and defrosted since the warm water will keep on getting cold because of the frozen pizza dough.
In the microwave: this is the fastest yet most dangerous way since the dough might be accidently cooked by the direct heat of the microwave.
Place the dough in a plate and cover it with a bowl to prevent direct heat. Choose the "defrosting" method in the microwave and put it for almost 3 to 5 minutes.
Then, let it sit in a dry bowl for 30 minutes and it will be ready for use.
On the counter top: this method requires 3 hours to defrost.
Place the dough in a larger container since the dough will expand again.

Notes

Make sure to double wrap the pizza dough, first wrap it with plastic wrap then store it with the thing of your choice.

Label the pizza dough with the date it was made since it can be only used for 3 months.

Make sure not to defrost with hot water since it might accidently cook the dough.

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Easy Way to Freeze and Thaw Pizza Dough