Freezing Pizza Dough

Love to make a pizza but don’t have time to make the dough from scratch every time? So it leaves you a question, “can I freeze pizza dough?” The answer is Yes! Freezing is the perfect solution! Not only does it save you time, but it allows you to have fresh pizza any time you want.

Let us show you how to freeze pizza dough for later use. Plus, we’ll share our tips on defrosting pizza dough so that it is ready to use whenever you are!

First things, first – you will need some pizza dough on hand before learning about storing and freezing pizza dough.

You can buy fresh, premade dough at the grocery store (Trader Joe’s or Safeway).

Or, you can make your own by using one of our recipes. We have an easy basic pizza dough recipe and a sourdough pizza crust.

Looking for some fun pizza ideas?
Make spooky shaped pizzas (like a ghost shaped pizza, a spider, or a pumpkin for Halloween.

Storing Pizza Dough in the Fridge

Storing frozen dough in the fridge is the best way to keep it fresh for up to 2 days.

As it sits in the fridge, the dough will slowly rise. Then, when it has defrosted, it will be ready to bake!

The cold fridge also keeps the pizza crust from rising too quickly. Plus, it gives the crust a chance to develop more flavor.

TFN Pro Tip:
Take the crust out of the fridge at least 1 hour before baking. This way, it has enough time to come to room temperature before going in the oven.

Tips for Freezing Pizza Dough

After making your recipe of choice, it’s just a matter of wrapping it well to protect it from freezer burn.

• Form the dough into a ball shape, then lightly coat it with olive oil.
• Add the dough to a plastic storage bag (like a Ziploc) or store pizza dough in an airtight, freezer-safe container.

If you are using a plastic bag, be sure to squeeze all the air out before sealing. This helps prevent the dough from drying out. For an airtight container, make sure to leave some headspace, as the dough expands as it freezes.

• Remember to add a label with the date on it. Or use a Sharpie to write directly on the bag or container. This way, you will know how long it has been in the freezer.
• Your unbaked crust can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Frozen Pizza Dough Instructions

You can make it by rolling the pizza dough into a ball before freezing. This makes prepping thawed dough easier when rolling it out.

Depending on the size of your family, you can make multiple pizza dough balls so you always have some on hand. And then making a pizza crust is as easy as pulling a frozen dough ball from the freezer and thawing it in the fridge. 

Be sure to get your pizza dough recipe to freeze below!

Defrosting Pizza Dough

Some of you may ask “how long to defrost pizza dough?” The simple answer is, less than 12 hours. Defrosting pizza dough is pretty simple.

Just remove the frozen crust from the freezer, but don’t remove it from the bag or container yet.

First, let it sit in the fridge overnight. This ensures that it is completely defrosted all the way through, and will be less sticky when rolling it out.

How to quickly defrost pizza dough

Many of you are busy and don’t have the time to wait for slowly defrosting a pizza crust.

Here are some tips to quickly defrost pizza dough:

• Warm water method. Place the bag in a bowl of warm water for about 30 minutes.
• Thaw your pizza dough in a cold water bath. Place the bag of frozen dough in a bowl of cold water. It should only take about an hour or two for the dough to thaw by using this method.
• The fastest way is by putting it in a microwave. Put the frozen pizza dough on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with an inverted bowl. To avoid cooking the dough, set the timer for about 45 seconds on the defrost setting. Then, take it out and let it thaw for about half an hour before using it.

Pizza Dough You Can Freeze

You can freeze all types of pizza – unbaked pizza dough, pre-made pizza crusts, and homemade pizza dough. Just make sure to follow the freezing instructions above so that it will be fresh and delicious when you are ready to cook.

Preparing the Crust

After thawing the pizza dough, it’s time to start preparing the crust.

• The first thing you need to do is put flour on your work surface. This will prevent the dough from sticking while you’re rolling it out.
• Next, put the dough ball in the center of your floured surface. Then, using a rolling pin, begin to roll the dough out into a circle. You can also use your fingers to stretch it gently. If your dough is sticky, you can put flour on your rolling pin to prevent it from sticking.
• Once you’ve rolled your crust into a circle, transfer it to a greased pizza pan or baking sheet. Then, use your fingers, and press the dough down into the pan to cover the entire bottom.

Now add your favorite toppings and bake your delicious homemade pizza!

Frequently Asked Questions

For Storing and Freezing Pizza Dough, Renae Recommends

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