How Long is Cookie Dough Good for in the Fridge

Chilling cookie dough is an essential part of most cookie recipes. Besides, it’s always good to just have cookie dough in the fridge ready to go. But how long can you leave this deliciousness in the fridge? 

Generally speaking, cookie dough can last two to four days in the fridge. Exactly how long depends on whether there are raw ingredients in the dough and whether it’s store-bought or homemade.

I’m Angie, I’m a self-taught baker who’s been baking for 10 years. I love baking all sorts of treats, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, you name it. In my baking journey, I’ve tried so many baking recipes and learned that most dough is better chilled and then baked. 

Today, I’m gonna share with you how long cookie dough is good for in the fridge so you can maximize the longevity of your cookie dough. 

Let’s get rolling!

Why Put Cookie Dough in the Fridge?

As much as you might not want to wait any longer to bake and eat your cookies, most cookie recipes will tell you to chill your cookie dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before baking them. Sometimes even longer.

Chilling your dough will help stiffen it and make it easier to shape before baking and also slow down the spreading of the cookie. Furthermore, chilling your dough can also intensify the flavors in the cookie. Your cookie will also become moister as the starches will have time to absorb the fat slowly. 

Storing your cookie dough in the fridge will also prolong its shelf life, not as much as freezing them would, but definitely longer than if you were to just leave them on the countertop. 

How Long Can Cookie Dough Last in the Fridge?

Generally speaking, cookie dough is good in the fridge for three to five days. 

Homemade

Homemade cookie dough usually doesn’t have any preservatives added and therefore will have a slightly shorter shelf life compared to store-bought cookie dough. 

Stored in the fridge, homemade cookie dough is good for up to five days preferably stored in an airtight container.

Store Bought

Store-bought cookie dough is intended for longer storage. Depending on the brand, shelf life is different, but keep in mind that we are talking about store-bought frozen cookie dough. 

Most cookie dough has a shelf life of 12 months in the freezer and will probably be safe to eat even up to a month or two past its best-by date.

However, once thawed, moisture from condensation will cause your cookie dough to spoil quicker. You should bake your cookie within a week after thawing it. 

How to Best Store Cookie Dough?

The best way to store cookie dough is by freezing it. It’s best to roll out your dough balls or scoop them out on a flat tray before freezing the dough because the dough will become rock hard and you will have to let it thaw, and mix again before being able to shape the cookies again.

You can freeze your cookie dough for up to three months.  

FAQs

The following are some commonly asked questions about cookie dough in the fridge, I’ve answered them for you below. 

1. Does cookie dough really expire?

Cookie dough does expire and should not be ingested past its expiry date. The shelf life of your cookie dough depends on a few different factors. Is it edible cookie dough or is it raw? What kind of fresh ingredients are in your cookie dough?

Raw cookie dough containing raw eggs and flour should not be baked and ingested past its expiration date or you can get food poisoning. 

2. How can you tell if cookie dough is bad?

You’ll know your cookie dough is bad if it begins to smell bad or acidic. Visually, you will know your cookie dough is bad if you notice the presence of mold. 

3. Can I use cookie dough that was left out overnight?

Generally speaking, you cannot use cookie dough left out overnight. Harmful bacteria may grow out of raw eggs and any dairy products incorporated into the dough. It’s okay if it’s a couple of hours, but overnight cookie dough is likely to make you sick. 

4. Can you put cookie dough in the freezer to chill?

You can put cookie dough in the freezer for a short period of time to chill – about 15 minutes. This will help stiffen up the dough and help you scoop them out or roll them into dough balls. Chilling it for longer, however, will result in an overly stiff dough that you will not be able to manipulate. 

That said, you can roll your dough into balls and then freeze them. Cookie dough freezes well and will also give your cookie height when baked. 

Final Thoughts

Finding cookie dough in the fridge is like finding leftover Halloween candy in your pocket, always a delicious surprise. 

That said, after reading this article, you know better now than to store your surprise in the fridge! Instead, try the freezer and you’ll have cookies for months if you don’t finish them all in one go.

I hope I’ve answered your questions about cookie dough in the fridge. How do you generally store your cookie dough and what’s your experience like? Did they spoil? Let us know in the comments below. 

I am a self-taught baker. I’ve been baking for over 10 years and started my own home baking business as a side hustle. I was born in Hong Kong and spent a pretty big chunk of my life in Canada. If you’re ever looking for me, I am probably there whisking vigorously away in the kitchen.