How Long Does Pizza Dough Last in the Fridge?

You can put pizza dough in the fridge for later use for sure. But the question is, how long is too long before the dough turns bad?

And how can you know if your dough is no longer safe for baking pizza? Those are the questions I will try solving for you in this short guide.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

How Long Does Pizza Dough Last in the Fridge?

In my experience, you shouldn’t use dough that has been in the fridge for more than 5 days. Or, if you want to stay safe, lower the threshold to 3 days maximum. Preferably 2 days.

For sure, your pizza dough will spoil just like any other food. The reason is that after a long period of being refrigerated, the dough will probably dry all its resources out. And it won’t rise when you start baking your pizza. The dough will have a somewhat funny smell as well, like rotten cheese, when it goes past its prime time, so, keep that in mind.

Also, different types of dough will have different expirations. And here are two of the most well-known types you must be aware of:

Homemade Dough

Raise your hands if you usually make homemade pizza dough with eggs.

You do, right? I know I do.

And eggs are one of the main culprits why you can’t keep your dough in longer than 3 days at most in your fridge. Of course, other ingredients such as yeast, oil, flour, water, etc. do play some parts as well, but mostly, it’s the eggs that are troublesome.

And if you keep this type of dough at room temperature only, then prepare to throw it away after 24 hours maximum.

Par-Baked Dough

Have you ever asked why these store-bought dough packages can last a few long months on the shelf?

What kind of magic did that? Well, the answer is, they’re all par-baked.

That means if you throw them into your fridge, they can last even longer. But that’s when you leave the package untouched. If you, however, open the package, then even this par-baked type of dough can only last up to 7 days at most in refrigeration.

If you keep it at room temperature, then the time window will be 3x shortened. Keep that in mind.

How to Tell If Pizza Dough Has Gone Bad

Even if the dough has only been in the fridge for a day or two, it’s best to check for signs if it’s gone bad.

That way, you can toss the dough out if you feel like it’s no longer safe for consumption. Here are some clear signs that your pizza dough has gone bad.

Smell

Like I said earlier, if the dough projects a strong funny smell like rotten cheese or eggs, then it’s time to toss it away. Even when you know that the storage time is still within the allowed timetable of under 3 days.

Texture

A freshly made dough will usually be elastic. You can feel the bounce it possesses. But when it goes past its prime time, the dough will get tough and crusty. You will barely recognise the lovely dough you made just a few days ago. What a pity, I know. But it’s time to say goodbye.

Colour

Is it starting to look a bit grey? Yep, you got it right, the dough doesn’t feel well, i.e: it’s spoiled! The natural colour or usable dough is often cream and beige-like tint. Seeing greyish spots or orange film on your dough is a sure sight to throw it away and start fresh.

Mould

This is self-explanatory. Mould is perhaps the easiest sign of spoiled dough. You see it, you trash it. Simple as that.

Taste

If you don’t see any of the signs above but suspect that the dough might have gone rogue, then you can try a bite. Dare to do that?

Anyway, if you bite and the taste seems off, it’s better to stay in the safe lane and trash the dough. Don’t worry, our tongues and brains are programmed to spot the taste of spoiled food pretty accurately. So, you will know when you taste it.

Freezer Burns

If you kept your pizza dough in the freezer for too long, you might notice freezer burn or ice crystals on the surface of the dough. This doesn’t mean it’s spoiled, but while it’s safe to eat, it will probably taste unpleasant.

FAQs

What Happens When You Eat Bad Pizza Dough?

Eating bad pizza dough is very dangerous as it puts you at risk of food poisoning or contracting a food-borne disease. Spoiled pizza dough has a lot of dangerous bacteria that you should try to keep out of your system as much as possible.

How Long Should Pizza Dough Ferment in the Fridge?

Cold fermenting your pizza dough can help you get more complex and deep flavours. To do this, you have to store your dough in the fridge for between 3-5 days. That said, any longer than five days won’t do your dough much good, so don’t let it cold ferment for too long.

How Soon Should I Use My Pizza Dough?

If your dough has been sitting at room temperature for a few hours, it’s best to use it right away. For the best experience, we recommend using your pizza dough right after you take it out of the fridge. That way, you protect yourself from eating spoiled food.

Conclusion

Pizza dough can stay good in the fridge for 2-5 days. However, if you have par-baked pizza dough that has been unpacked, it can last up to a week in the fridge. 

Before eating pizza dough that’s been in the fridge, it’s best to check if it’s gone bad. That way, you can immediately toss out the pizza if you feel like it’s spoiled or gone bad in the fridge.