What Happens if You Eat Raw or Undercooked Pizza Dough?

Most people don’t wake up in the morning and think, “Today, I’m going to eat some undercooked pizza dough!” There’s really nothing appealing about consuming this sticky, slimy, odd-tasting dough in its raw state. But what happens if you do it by accident?

Raw/undercooked pizza dough doesn’t cause as big an alarm compared to other goods, but you still shouldn’t eat it. Raw or undercooked pizza dough can carry harmful bacteria, namely E.coli, that can make you ill. Ensure the pizza dough is thoroughly cooked before consuming it.

Hello! My name’s Michelle. I’m a baker with over ten years of experience. The last thing I ever want to do is end up sick from eating something raw or undercooked, which got me thinking about pizza dough and whether or not it’s OK to consume it when it’s not cooked through.

Let’s talk about raw and undercooked pizza dough!

Can You Eat Raw Pizza Dough?

Pizza dough doesn’t contain some of the main culprits of food poisoning, like dairy products and eggs. Therefore, some might think it’s perfectly fine to bite into raw or undercooked pizza dough – but they’d be incorrect.

Much like cookie dough (which you shouldn’t eat raw, either), the main concern is with the flour.

Flour is technically a “raw” food, even though it isn’t what we’d typically think of when hearing the term raw. However, crops from wheat fields are not treated before their ground into flour. So, if there are any harmful bacteria lurking around, they won’t be removed.

Unfortunately, you won’t see bacteria like E.coli (Escherichia coli) hanging around your tub of flour. That said, when you add a few cups of your preferred flour to the rest of your pizza dough ingredients and start kneading, you may be unknowingly massaging and maneuvering harmful bacteria.

If you take a bite of this bacteria-ridden pizza dough, you’ll end up with some adverse symptoms. 

What Happens if You Eat Raw/Undercooked Dough

Let’s clear something up real quick.

If you take a bite of raw or undercooked pizza dough that does not contain harmful bacteria, nothing terrible will happen to you. If anything, you’ll be very mad at the disgusting texture and flavor – but that’s not too critical.

If your pizza dough is infected, you’ll notice some pretty alarming side effects.

That’s because the most significant concern when eating raw or undercooked pizza dough is E.coli. 

E.coli can cause symptoms anywhere between one and four days after consuming the contaminated product. At this point, the consumer will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. This can lead to more severe issues like dehydration and kidney failure.

Should You Eat Raw/Undercooked Pizza Dough?

Just because you “might” be OK taking a small bite of raw or undercooked pizza dough, it doesn’t mean you should. 

It’s really not worth the risk.

To be honest, I can’t think of a time when you’d actually want to munch on raw or undercooked pizza dough. So, unless it’s an accident, keep raw and undercooked pizza dough out of your mouth – your taste buds will thank you.

Signs of Undercooked Pizza

I get it – you likely stumbled upon this article because you accidentally bit into an undercooked slice of pizza. Don’t worry; I’m sure you’ll be perfectly fine. But the best thing to do to avoid this situation in the future is to learn the signs of undercooked pizza, including:

1. Soggy Texture, Especially in the Middle

If you take your pizza out of the oven and move it onto your cooling rack only to discover that the middle part of your pizza is giving you some trouble, it may indicate that it’s not done baking yet!

Undercooked pizza dough will take on a soggy and unappealing texture. However, this isn’t always noticeable right away, as the sides may be perfectly baked, but the middle is still struggling with some sogginess.

Let your pizza bake all the way through. If it’s soggy, keep it in the oven until it’s done!

2. The Crust Looks Pale

Think about the last time you ate a perfectly baked piece of pizza. The crust was chewy and crispy with a golden brown hue, and the cheese was bubbling and calling your name.

Does your pizza crust send you to pizza heaven, or is it looking a little sad and pale?

If your crust hasn’t taken on the famous golden brown hue yet, it’s not done. Let it bake a little longer!

3. It’s the Wrong Temperature

Trying to check for doneness with your naked eye can be challenging, especially if you’re new to the world of pizza baking.

That’s why I always recommend having a thermometer on hand in the kitchen.

Thermometers take all the guesswork out of situations, whether pizza or otherwise. Simply slide the thermometer into the thickest part of your baked good and check the temp. For pizza, the gauge should read at least 165°F. 

FAQs

It’s pretty simple: raw or undercooked pizza dough is a no-go and should be kept far away from your mouth and digestive system. Want to keep learning more about this topic? I’ve answered a couple of frequently asked questions that might help you out.

What happens if pizza dough isn’t cooked properly?

If pizza dough isn’t cooked correctly, you open up the possibility of illness. Aside from the risk to your health, improperly cooked pizza dough won’t be very appetizing. It will have a gummy and slimy texture that doesn’t taste like pizza is supposed to.

What should I do if I ate raw dough?

If you only consumed a small amount of dough, you should be a-okay. The best thing to do is to look for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you notice any of these symptoms, you’ll need to be checked over by a professional.

Can you eat a little bit of raw flour?

You should never consume raw flour. Flour has not been processed the way other ingredients are, and therefore, may be harboring harmful bacteria, namely E.coli. 

Don’t Eat Raw or Undercooked Pizza Dough!

Although raw pizza dough isn’t as daunting as other items, such as raw cookie dough, there is still a risk if consumed. It’s best to avoid eating raw or undercooked pizza dough, as you can develop an illness from harmful bacteria. Always cook your pizza dough thoroughly until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Have you ever eaten raw or undercooked pizza dough? Did you get sick? Let’s talk about it!

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.