How to Store Pizza Dough in Your Freezer and Fridge

Love to make a pizza but don’t have time to make the dough from scratch every time? Freezing is the perfect solution. Not only does it save you time in the kitchen, butyou can have fresh pizza any time you want. Let us show you How to Store Pizza Dough for later use. Plus, we’ll share our tips on defrosting quick Neapolitan pizza dough recipe so that it is ready to use whenever you are!

An open container of frozen pizza crust sitting on a countertop with a bottle of olive oil in the background.

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, pizza dough recipe Bisquick recipe and a easy sourdough pizza crust.

An open storage container with a pizza dough ball sitting next to bottle of oil.

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How To Store Pizza Dough In The Fridge

Storing recipes with frozen bread dough in the fridge is the best way to keep it fresh. How long can you keep pizza dough in the fridge? 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.

A clear freezer safe container marked "frozen pizza dough".

How To Freeze Pizza Dough – Tips For Success

Lightly coat dough ball in olive oil.

This prevents the dough from drying out.

Two pizza dough balls laid out on a sheet of parchment paper.

Frozen Pizza Dough Instructions

After making your recipe of choice, it’s just a matter of wrapping it well to protect it from freezer burn.
Start 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.
Your unbaked crust can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

A pizza dough ball placed in a freezer-safe storage container.

Defrosting Pizza Dough

Good news- it takes less than 12 hours!
Just remove the frozen crust from the freezer, but don’t remove it from the bag or container yet.
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.

A rolled out circle of pizza dough from a frozen pizza dough ball.

How 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.

A rolled out circle of pizza dough laid on parchment paper.

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 the best way to roll out pizza dough. 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!

Baked pizza crust topped with spices, cheese, pepperoni and tomatoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Freeze Pizza Dough?

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.

Will pizza dough rise after being frozen?

Yes, your pizza dough will continue to rise a little after being frozen. Make sure to thaw it completely before cooking so that it cooks evenly.

How do you let the frozen dough rise?

After defrosting pizza dough in the fridge, you can let it rise in a bowl on the counter for 30 to 60 minutes before rolling and baking. During the rise time, the dough should double in size.

Can I refreeze thawed pizza dough?

Unfortunately, no. Refreezing previously frozen dough doesn’t work well because the defrosting and refreezing processes affect the texture and taste of the crust.