Like pizza? I sure do love it as the majority of people also love the happiness that comes in it’s round shape! When we are talking about pizza, one of the most important parts is the crust & dough. Which begs the question how long is pizza dough good for? Some people enjoy a thin crust due to the crunchiness, but then we have people who believe in the thick crust like a good Sicilian pie. But if the dough and the crust are not fresh – It can directly translate to a pizza that doesn’t taste good at all.
If you are like most people, it can be hard to figure out whether that pizza dough is still good enough, or you will need a new one! Today, we look at the tips that make it really easy for you to get answers to a lot of questions related to the pizza dough!
Signs of Pizza Dough Gone Bad
You can actually tell about the current condition of dough by looking at the following physical signs:
- A texture that appears diminished.
- If you have some grey color in the dough which actually shows the dead yeast cells and freezer burn.
- The dough feels and appears more dry than normal.
- A sour type of smell originating from the dough.
- After day 4 the dough begins to lose it’s integrity
How long is Pizza Dough good for?
When you are dealing with the dough, then freshness is the key, and you should never compromise on that. Whenever you make fresh dough, you need to remember the date to ensure that you get the best taste and maximum life:
Dough Balls: They can easily last for a minimum of 90 days if frozen. In some cases, they can even last for almost 180 days in frozen form. But if you keep the dough refrigerated, then it will only last for 2 to 4 days at best. A major contributing factor to consider is your refrigeration. Ideal temperature should be 42 degrees or below. Higher temps. will accelerate the fermentation process.
Live Dough Products: From the date of manufacture, it can stay fresh and safe to use for around 120 days and, in some cases, up to 180 days (6 months).
Par-baked Products: Just like the live dough products, they also stay fresh for around 180 days (3 months) from the date of manufacture. In some cases, it can stay fresh for 1 whole year. As you can see, you can easily attain the maximum lifespan of dough and related products if you store them correctly. But generally, it is best to consume the dough as quickly as you can because the more time you wait, the quality will also diminish.
How long to allow Pizza Dough for proper Proofing?
If you do not pay enough attention to proofing, you may end up losing the quality of the pies.
For pre-made dough balls, you will need to complete the fermentation process, which is basically allowing the yeast bacteria to digest the sugar content. As a result of this process, CO2 (carbon dioxide) is produced in the dough, which increases the bulk (volume) and workability. On the other hand, live dough or par-baked doesn’t require any proofing.
Once again, timing plays a very important role when it comes to attaining the ideal proof. Generally, everyone agrees that a time period of around 24 hours to 48 hours (1 to 2 days) is enough for the proofing. As long as you follow these practices, you can get the best proofing which will result in a fine and delicious pizza & lots of happy people (those who will end up eating it).
Can you freeze Pizza Dough?
As mentioned earlier, frozen pizza dough can last for up to months, while refrigerated dough only lasts for a couple of days.
So the short answer is: Yes, you can freeze pizza dough.
You will need the following items to complete the freezing process:
- Resealable Plastic bags
- Parchment or wax paper
You can use plastic bags with the resealable ability to freeze the pizza dough balls. Use wax paper or parchment paper to keep the pizza dough balls separated and store them in plastic bags. Now place the bags into your freezer and jot down the date. When you need to use the pizza dough again, you can thaw (defrost) it by placing the dough balls in the refrigerator for around 12 hours.
When to refrigerate Pizza dough?
Experts agree that pizza dough can be refrigerated at any step, but for the best results, you should refrigerate it after the first rise. In the refrigerator, the dough will stay good for around 3 days max.
Actually, the pizza dough’s flavor increases and becomes more enhanced if it is placed in the refrigerator for 1 day. But if you keep it refrigerated for long, the yeast present in it will cause it to deteriorate, and it will eventually go bad.
How to Store Pizza Dough
If you are not planning to use the pizza dough right away, then it is best to store it in either the refrigerator or freezer. Choosing the one option between the freezer and the refrigerator depends on how long you need, before you use it.
If you plan to use it within few days, you can refrigerate the dough by putting the dough balls in air-tight plastic bags. But if you plan to store the dough for few months, you will need to store it in the freezer.
When to store the Dough
As mentioned earlier, you need to use the pizza dough right away once it is ready to use. Otherwise, the yeast will continue to perform its action of expanding if left at room temperature – As a result, over-fermentation of the dough will take place, which will give a bad taste when used.
If the dough were just left at room temperature, on your kitchen counter, for example, the yeast would continue to expand the dough, causing the dough to over-ferment and giving it a foul odor and bad taste. In fact, the yeast will actually die if it is left at room temperature for too long.
How long to leave Pizza Dough “sit on the counter”?
Once you are ready to make the delicious and tasty pizza, you only need to let the pizza dough sit on the counter for around 30 minutes (half an hour). Once it is allowed to sit on the counter for 30 minutes, the dough will be ready for use.
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