Even though we all miss the convenience of having frozen pizza dough in the freezer at home, it’s a good idea to know how to defrost pizza dough properly. This information will surely come in handy when you’re having an unexpected dinner guest and you don’t have time to order a pizza.
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How To Defrost Pizza Dough (Thawing Frozen Pizza Dough)
Frozen pizza is delicious and a quick way to feed yourself or your family. However, if you find yourself lacking the time to prepare a fresh pizza but have a frozen one in your freezer it can be a nuisance.
It’s not always the most fun having to wait for a pizza to cook and that crust can do without being warmed up to room temperature. I’ve found a couple ways on how to thaw frozen pizza dough, which I’ll show you below.
Defrost Pizza Dough In The Refrigerator:
Take the frozen pizza dough out of the freezer and place it in a storage bag. Normally, it is kept in an airtight bag. You may place it in a bowl large enough to allow it to grow. Put it in the fridge and let it there overnight.
In the morning, you should notice little bubbles develop on the dough. Overnight, the dough will soften and rise. Remove the dough from its storage bag and let it aside on the counter for about an hour. It will be ready to use at this point.
Give The Frozen Pizza Dough A Cold-Water Bath:
A cold-water bath is another excellent option for defrosting pizza dough. This procedure will not injure the dough or cause it to overcook. When you take the pizza dough out of the freezer, leave it in its storage bag and place it in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Fill the basin halfway with cold water, making sure the pizza dough is thoroughly submerged. Place the pizza dough in a bag and submerge it in cold water for one to two hours. You’ll notice that it’s soft, and it’ll start to rise.
When the dough is finished, you should be able to see little bubbles on it. Remove the pizza dough from the bag and set it aside in a dry bowl for about an hour. It will be ready for you to bake your pizza at this point.
Defrost Pizza Dough In A Bowl Of Warm Water:
You must exercise caution when using warm water since you do not want to partly cook the dough, but this process will have your pizza dough ready in no time. Place the pizza dough in an airtight plastic bag. Seal the bag after removing as much air as possible.
Fill a medium-sized bowl halfway with warm water, then add the dough. Because the dough will cool in that time, you will need to change the water every 10 minutes. It is required to change the water until the dough has thawed.
Using a Microwave:
In the event where you have a pizza dough that has been frozen for a long time and you need to use it, worry not because you can unfreeze it easily. You just have to follow some simple guidelines that would help you do this without harming the dough. Here are some of the ways to thaw a frozen pizza dough using a microwave:
- Step 1: Firstly, place the frozen dough on a microwave-safe plate.
- Step 2: Then, set the power level of your microwave to medium.
- Step 3: Next, microwave the dough for about 30 seconds.
- Step 4: After that, turn over the dough and repeat the process again.
- Step 5: Finally, continue turning over and microwaving the dough until it gets back to room temperature; this should take less than three minutes.
Using An Oven:
If you are in a hurry and need to thaw frozen pizza dough quickly, you can use an oven to thaw it. The high temperature of an oven will quickly bring your pizza dough to room temperature. To thaw frozen pizza dough using an oven, follow these steps:
Preheat the oven at the lowest possible temperature. This is usually set around 100 degrees F. Place the frozen pizza dough on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Let it sit there for around 10 minutes or until the dough is soft enough to handle. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it cool down.
Once it has cooled down, put some flour on a clean surface, place the dough there and knead it for a few minutes until it becomes smooth and soft.
Leaving Your Pizza Dough on the Counter:
If you want to thaw a frozen dough and don’t have much time, the best way is to leave it on the counter. However, this method can be tricky. The dough may rise and will then fall when it falls below room temperature.
If your dough does this, it’s still usable. It’ll just require some extra work on your part. Follow these directions for thawing a frozen pizza dough on the counter: Place the frozen pizza dough out of its packaging and onto a floured surface or a large plate.
Cover with a towel and place in a warm place (such as near your oven). Allow the pizza dough to sit at room temperature until it has risen to its original size. This can take up to 12 hours, depending on your kitchen temperature. If desired, you may re-shape your pizza dough into its original ball shape once it has risen. It will be slightly more difficult than usual because of its temperature and lack of elasticity.
How Do You Use Defrosted Pizza Dough
After defrosting your pizza dough, punch down and knead the dough again to smooth it out and to get rid of any air bubbles. It can be used to make bread sticks, little rolls, bread bowls, cinnamon rolls, etc. The dough can also be refrozen if you don’t plan to use it right away.
If you’re making a pizza that requires a sauce that needs to be cooked — such as if you make your own marinara sauce or your own pesto — do that first, so the pizza toppings are ready to go when your pizza dough is ready.
Tips On Freezing Pizza Dough
Here are tips and tricks for getting your dough ready for the freezer:
One way is to roll out the dough into a thin crust and place it on a baking sheet, cover it with plastic wrap and freeze it. Once frozen, transfer the crusts to a zip-top bag.
You can also shape your pizza dough into balls, then transfer them to a zip-top bag, before placing them in the freezer. This method will take up less room in your freezer.
If you don’t have that much counter space for rolling out dough, you can always divide your batch of pizza dough into smaller balls and freeze each one individually.
How Long Can Pizza Dough Last In The Freezer?
Before someone can even bake a pizza, the dough has to be made correctly. While there are many ways to make pizza dough, one of the most popular is making it from scratch. However, not every pizza is going to be eaten as soon as it’s made. Sometimes people will make it and freeze it for later use.
Most people want to know how long they can keep pizza dough in the freezer before they have to throw it out.
Pizza dough can last up to 6 months in the freezer if it is stored properly. When pizza dough is frozen, it will keep well for a long time, but you need to store it right. If you don’t store your pizza dough right, then you are asking for a freezer burn or for your dough to go bad sooner rather than later.
The best way to keep your dough from getting freezer burn is by using a vacuum sealer or a food saver machine. The process of using these machines sucks all the air out of bags or containers and seals them tightly closed so no air gets in. The lack of air keeps bacteria and germs from growing on your food while also keeping freezers burn away.
Ways To Keep Or Use Leftover Pizza Dough
Freeze Dough:
You can freeze pizza dough in a sealed container or a freezer bag. Frozen, the dough will keep for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using, or let it come to room temperature and let rise for an hour if you’re short on time.
Refrigerate Dough:
You can refrigerate pizza dough for up to three days in a sealed container or a freezer bag. Rise on the counter for an hour before using.
Make Some Garlic Knots:
Just cut little pieces of dough, roll them into balls, then tie them into knots and bake at 425°F until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Brush with melted butter and garlic as soon as they come out of the oven.
Make Breadsticks:
Roll out your pizza dough into two long rectangles, brush with oil and sprinkle with coarse salt and fresh herbs. Bake at 425°F until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
FAQs to Defrost Pizza Dough
Does freezing pizza dough ruin it?
Yes, it can; although freezing doesn’t ruin pizza dough by default. If pizza dough is frozen correctly, it will keep its flavor and texture.
The best way to freeze pizza dough is to wrap the dough well in plastic wrap or an airtight container. Dough can be frozen up to 6 months before the quality starts to deteriorate.
If the dough isn’t wrapped well and air gets into the freezer bag or container, it will cause freezer burn, which creates spots that are dry and taste bland. Freezer burn can also make the dough crumble when you try to thaw it.
Will dough rise after being frozen?
This is a two-part question. First, will dough rise after being frozen? Second, will dough rise in the freezer?
The answer to the first question is yes. Just thaw the dough and then let it rise. You will need to give it more time than you would if you were not freezing it.
The answer to the second question is no. Dough will not rise in the freezer or refrigerator. This is because yeast becomes dormant below 40 degrees F (5 degrees C). The colder the temperature of your dough, the longer it will take to rise.
Do I freeze dough before or after it rises?
Should I freeze my dough before it rises or after?
It depends on how long you want to store it. If you know you’re going to be using your dough within a few days, there’s no need to put it in the freezer – just keep it in the fridge in a covered bowl. Let it rise, then punch it down, cover and refrigerate.
If you want to store your dough for longer than that, freezing is the way to go. The best way is to freeze your bread dough BEFORE the first rise. This is called “proofing” your yeast and is something that many people do with bread machine recipes.
You basically let the yeast rise once, then punch down the dough and shape into loaves or rolls or whatever else you have planned, put in a freezer bag or bread pan and freeze at this point. When you are ready to use it, thaw overnight in your refrigerator and let rise again before baking.
How can I tell if my frozen pizza dough is bad?
If you suspect that your dough has gone bad, don’t eat it!
If you thaw your pizza dough and notice it seems sticky, gummy, or slimy, toss it. If the dough is hard and dry, this is also an indication that it’s not good to eat. The same rules apply if you notice a bad smell coming from the dough.
It’s not easy to tell when pizza dough has gone bad while it’s still frozen. Storing frozen pizza dough properly can help prevent freezer burn and off-odors. If you do find yourself wondering if your frozen pizza dough is still good, examine the packaging carefully for signs of freezer burn or damage.
If the package looks secure with no holes or tears in the plastic wrap or exterior box, your pizza dough should last for at least a few months past its printed date.
Once you’ve noticed that your pizza dough is starting to go bad, it’s best to toss it out so that you don’t risk getting sick from eating it.
Can you freeze homemade pizza with toppings?
Yes, you can freeze pizza with toppings on it. It’s a good solution if you want to make several pizzas at once and eat them later.
To freeze pizza with toppings, just be sure that all the ingredients are cooked and cooled first. Then add the toppings and flash freeze the pizza before putting it in a freezer container. This will keep the cheese from getting rubbery and the crust from getting soggy.
You can also freeze homemade pizza dough by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then again in foil. Stored this way, it should keep for about 6 months.
Just don’t forget to label your package so you know what’s inside when you’re ready to cook it!
Conclusion to Defrost Pizza Dough
Hope this article show you the efficient ways as well as tips on how to thaw your frozen pizza dough. Thanks for reading and stay tund for more interesting article coming your way.