I usually suggest freezing at least one batch of pizza dough. It’s a godsend when you want pizza for breakfast, lunch, or supper but don’t have time to bake your own dough. To be successful, you must first understand how to defrost frozen pizza dough.

Hello there! My name is Shea, and I like pizza. I love making pizza for any occasion! I’ve lately dabbled in the realm of morning pizzas, and my kids couldn’t be happier. Regardless, having frozen pizza dough on hand at all times is essential.

It’s simple to thaw pizza dough. Whether it’s thawed in the fridge or on the counter, the important thing is that it’s still covered. This is required for the second rise of your pizza dough, which prepares it for toppings and baking.

What exactly are we waiting for? Let’s take a look at how to defrost frozen pizza dough.

How to Thaw Frozen Pizza Dough

Did you know there are several methods for thawing frozen pizza dough? There is a way that will work for you and your timetable, whether you need it in an hour or 24 hours. The following are the top five methods for thawing frozen pizza dough.

1. Thaw in the Fridge – Slowest (12 Hours)

The fridge is the slowest method to defrost frozen pizza dough. If you need the pizza dough for supper tomorrow night, this is an excellent option. Simply do the following to defrost in the fridge:

• Remove the pizza dough from the airtight bag.
• Place the dough in a basin big enough to contain it as it expands.
• Cover with some parchment paper or wax paper.
• Set the dough out on the counter for an hour to come to room temperature before using it. Do not attempt to add toppings to cooled dough!

2. Thaw in a Bowl of Cold Water – One to Two Hours

Do you need it within a few hours? Not to worry. You’re good to go as long as you have a big enough basin to hold the ball of dough and enough water to cover it. This is how you do it.

• In a large mixing basin, place the dough. Make sure the dough is in a tightly sealed bag. The dough will be ruined if it becomes wet.
• Pour cold water over the dough. Because the dough will keep the water cool, you won’t have to throw it out and refill the basin.
• Allow the dough to rise for a few minutes. After an hour or two in the bowl, the dough should become soft and begin to rise.
• Allow the dough to rest on the counter for an hour before using. Again, make sure the dough is at room temperature before adding the toppings and baking.

3. Thaw on the Counter – Two+ Hours

If you don’t want to mess with water and prefer the traditional approach, just place your pizza dough on the countertop and wait. There are no extra measures necessary for this method of thawing frozen pizza dough. Simply do the following:

• Unwrap pizza dough and place in a large bowl.
• Wrap the pizza with plastic wrap, such as parchment paper.
• Wait.

The time it takes for your dough to defrost depends on a variety of variables, including the temperature in your kitchen. I prefer to keep my house about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which is very cold. However, it may fall below 70 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the winter.

As a general rule of thumb, the colder the kitchen, the longer it will take to defrost. Even so, you shouldn’t let your pizza dough to defrost for more than a few hours.

4. Thaw in a Bowl of Warm Water – Fastest (About an Hour)

If you don’t want to wait an hour or two with cold water, you may use warm water instead. Because of the heat, warm water will work considerably faster than cold water. However, avoid using very hot water. You don’t want to mistakenly boil the dough. Instead, do the following:

• In a large mixing basin, place the dough. Again, make certain that it is completely sealed and that no water may enter.
• Pour warm water over the dough. The focus is on warmth.
• Every 10 minutes, replace the water. The frost from the frozen pizza dough will cool the water. Replacing the water every 10 minutes ensures that the temperature is appropriate for thawing.
• Wait until it reaches room temperature before topping and baking!

5. Not Recommended – Microwave or Oven

Thawing frozen pizza dough in the microwave or oven will be the quickest method. But do I suggest it? Nope. I would avoid it unless you have extensive expertise thawing frozen pizza dough in this manner.

The problem with thawing frozen pizza dough in the microwave or oven is that it might mistakenly burn it, rendering your pizza dough unusable. If you still want to give it a go, here’s how.

• Microwave. Keep the pizza dough wrapped in an airtight container (not tinfoil). Cook in 25-second increments. Then, for three to five minutes, use the thaw setting. The duration of thawing will be determined by the size of the dough ball. Keep an eye out for it.
• Oven. Use the lowest possible setting (100F) or the bread proofing option (if available). Place the bread on a large baking sheet and bake for approximately an hour. If it is still not entirely thawed, throw it in the oven for another thirty minutes.

FAQs

Thawing pizza dough is a straightforward process. Whether you use the fridge, the counter, or a basin of water, the key is to ensure that the dough has enough area to rise and is adequately covered. If you have any more queries, please continue reading.

How long does pizza dough take to thaw?

It is dependent on the strategy you are using. If you use the refrigerator, it might take 12 hours or more, depending on how cold your fridge is. Simply place the pizza dough in a basin of warm water and change the water every 10 minutes for an hour or less.

Will pizza dough rise after being frozen?

Yup! When yeast is frozen, it becomes dormant. However, when the dough thaws, the yeast activates and starts to ferment the flour, producing the essential gasses for rising. That is why it is vital to maintain coverage.

Why did my frozen pizza dough not rise?

Have you coated the dough? If not, this is most likely the cause of your frozen pizza dough not rising. That, or the original recipe was not followed, or the recipe was flawed. Next time, try this simple bread recipe!

Final Words

Frozen pizza dough is really useful to have on hand. I suggest putting it in the fridge overnight to defrost. If you need it right away, a bowl of cold or warm water will suffice. Alternatively, just leave it on your counter for a few hours!

How should you defrost frozen pizza dough? How much time does it take? Do you have any suggestions?