How long pizza dough keeps
Wrap the dough airtight, whether it goes in the fridge or the freezer.
| Fridge | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|
| Keeps for | 2daysat most | 2–3monthsat most |
| How to wrap it | Airtightcling film or a closed box | One ballper pizza, no air in the bag |
Leftover dough? Do not throw it away
Making pizza dough takes time, so it is a shame to throw away what is left. If you plan to make pizza again within two days, keep the dough in the fridge. Wrap it well, preferably airtight, and do not keep it there for more than two days.
Want to keep it longer? Then put it in the freezer.
How do I know if pizza dough is still good?
Dough that has gone bad smells or tastes musty, and looks dry or mouldy. You can usually tell by looking, smelling or carefully tasting.
Not sure? Then make a new batch. Eating bad pizza dough can make you ill.
Can I freeze pizza dough?
Yes, and it is easy. Make one ball of dough for each pizza and wrap it in cling film. Freezer bags or another airtight container work too.
- No air in the bag. Press all the air out before the dough goes into the freezer. This is the most important part.
- A stable temperature. Keep the freezer closed after you put the dough in, so it can freeze properly.
- Write the date on the bag, so you know how old the dough is.
There is no need to bake the pizza before you freeze it. Freezing the dough balls saves time and tastes much better.
How do I defrost pizza dough?
Take the dough out of the freezer about three hours before you want to make pizza: it takes two to three hours to defrost.
Defrosting works best at room temperature. Put the dough balls in a baking tin and cover them with a clean, damp kitchen towel. Once the dough has defrosted completely, shape your pizza and bake it as usual.