How to Store Pizza Dough

Well, hello there! My name is Michelle – thanks for stopping by. I’ve been baking and meal planning for the past ten years. One of the best things to make and bake later is pizza dough, and proper storage is key to ensuring longevity and a tasty crust!

Storing pizza dough is super simple. All you need to do is let it rise once. Then, you can store it by wrapping it in plastic wrap, placing it in an airtight container, or using a resealable bag. Place in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for three months.

If you’re considering meal prepping, I highly recommend doing pizza dough. Pizza dough isn’t exactly the quickest thing on planet Earth, so having some “ready to go” dough will save you time and hassle – and this article shows you how!

Let’s store some pizza dough!

How to Store Pizza Dough: Three Ways

Pizza dough storage is surprisingly simple and will save you a lot of time along the way. And, having plenty of pizza dough at the ready means you can make all kinds of goodies, from bacon and egg breakfast pizzas to creamy chicken alfredo delights. The possibilities are endless!

1. Storing at Room Temperature

Now, I don’t necessarily recommend storing your pizza dough at room temperature unless you plan to bake it soon. 

That’s because most pizza dough will only last up to four hours at room temperature. The exception is pizza dough with little yeast, such as Neapolitan pizza dough, which can last for up to 24 hours at room temp.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Roll the pizza dough into a large ball.

Step 2: Leave it on your workstation or place it inside of a big bowl.

Step 3: Brush the pizza dough with olive oil, so it does not dry out.

Step 4: Cover the ball with plastic wrap.

Step 5: Use within 4-24 hours, depending on the type of dough you’re using.

2. Storing in the Fridge

If you need a little bit more time, the next best choice is to store your pizza dough in the fridge. It’s just as easy – it just takes a bit more time and steps.

Step 1: Allow your pizza dough to rise once.

Step 2: Portion the ball into smaller sizes, depending on how big pizzas you’re planning to make in the future.

Step 3: Coat the pizza dough balls with a bit of olive oil to keep them from drying out.

Step 4: Wrap with plastic wrap, place inside a resealable bag, or place inside an airtight container.

Step 5: Store pizza dough in the fridge for up to five days.

When you’re ready to use your refrigerated pizza dough, simply remove the portion from the fridge and let it come to room temperature on the countertop. Most doughs should be ready in as little as 30 minutes to an hour.

3. Storing in the Freezer

Last but not least, you can store pizza dough in the freezer. This is my personal favorite because I like to make a large quantity of dough, portion it, and have plenty of dough for my upcoming baking adventures. Simply follow these steps:

Step 1: Follow steps 1-3 as above: let the dough rise once, portion it out, and coat it with olive oil.

Step 2: Place oiled pizza dough balls onto a baking sheet and freeze, uncovered, for about three hours.

Step 3: Place frozen pizza dough balls inside a resealable plastic freezer bag, ensuring all of the air is pushed out before sealing.

Step 4: Store inside of the freezer for up to three months.

When you’re ready to use the frozen pizza dough, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, take it out and place it on the counter for about an hour or until it comes to room temperature. Bake and enjoy as usual!

FAQs

Storing pizza dough is a cinch whether you need it for four hours or four weeks. If you still have some pondering questions, keep reading. I’ve picked out some critical FAQs you’ll want to know the answers to!

Can I refrigerate homemade pizza dough?

You can refrigerate homemade pizza dough for up to five days when stored properly. This means that it should be wrapped in plastic wrap or placed inside an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag. Don’t forget to brush the balls with olive oil!

Can I Prepare pizza dough in advance?

Yes, and I highly recommend doing so if you plan to make more homemade pizzas in the future! After all, kneading and shaping the dough and waiting for it to rise is a relatively time-consuming process, so having dough ready to be baked will make life 100% easier.

How do you wrap pizza dough in the fridge?

You can wrap your pizza dough in plastic wrap before storing it in the fridge for up to five days. Ensure that the pizza dough is coated with a thin layer of olive oil and securely wrapped in plastic wrap. Any areas uncovered could dry out, which affects the quality of your pizza.

How long should refrigerated pizza dough sit out before baking?

Pizza dough should only need to sit out for about 30 minutes to an hour before it’s ready to be shaped and baked. Test it by trying to shape it. If it snaps back aggressively, wait a little longer.

Does refrigerated dough need to come to room temperature?

Unfortunately, yes, pizza dough must come to room temperature before being used. That’s because cold pizza dough will have an overly rigid gluten structure that is challenging, if not impossible, to shape. It will snap back and cause you a lot of hassle!

Final Words

Storing pizza dough is a cinch. I recommend storing it in the freezer unless you plan to use the dough within five days. Keep in mind that pizza dough should not be left at room temperature for longer than four hours unless it contains minimal yeast; it can survive for up to 24 hours.

How do you store your pizza dough? Do you have any unique tips or tricks you’d like to share? We’d love to hear!

I have been a lover of sweets since day one. This led me on a self-taught baking journey starting at the age of 13. It's been over 10 years since the start of my baking adventures, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Now, people rave about my delectable treats, whether it’s a chocolate cake or a strawberry crepe.