Last Updated on July 4, 2022 by Amanda P. Brown
Many foods clearly showed notable signs (like- mold, bad smell, curding, etc.) when they’ve gone bad. But pizza dough is not like other foods. So, it is pretty challenging to say if your pizza dough has gone bad.
Again, if this dough is without a package with no precise expiration date, it will be more challenging to say if pizza dough is terrible. But there are two ways to realize that your pizza has gone bad. One is color, and another is texture. Sometimes you can also find a bad smell from this dough.
As it is harder to understand when your pizza dough has gone wrong, I have brought some easy ways to know when your pizza dough is terrible.
How to Tell If Pizza Dough Is Bad?
Table of Contents
Here are some warning signs that your pizza dough has spoiled. Here, I will discuss 5 ways to understand if your pizza dough is bad. They are-
Smell
The smell is the most typical way to identify if your pizza dough has gone wrong. Standard pizza dough can smell like sour or beer or alcohol odor because of the fermentation. It doesn’t mean that your pizza dough is no longer for use. Maybe it is just an unwanted smell in your pizza.
But if your pizza dough smells rancid, you should immediately throw it away. It is very harmful to your health.
Color
Usually, fresh pizza dough contains a beige or cream color. Also, pizza dough is greyed because of enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of phenolic and fatty acid compounds, which naturally can be found in flour.
But if you see a grey color with orange or flaky peel over its surface, your pizza dough has gone bad. It impairs the flavor and taste.
Signs of Mold Growth
If you see that your pizza dough has signs of mold growth, you should throw it away since doing so poses serious health risks. Besides, it will make you sick.
Texture
The texture is an essential thing for making pizza. It has probably gone bad if your pizza dough’s consistency is diminished or becomes flaky, crusty, or dry. So, throw out this dough.
Taste
The last step is to check your pizza dough flavor. If you notice it’s off-taste, you should avoid the dough.
How Long Does Pizza Dough Last in Different Storage Location?
Typically, at room temperature, pizza dough can last 4 to 18 hours. In the fridge, pizza dough can last 3 to 5 days. Again, in the freezer, pizza dough can last 3 months.
Besides, homemade pizza dough can last in the kitchen for about 4 to 24 hours, and in the fridge, it can last 2 to 4 days. Additionally, this handmade pizza dough can store for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.
Also, different types of pizza dough (live dough, dough balls, Par -baked dough) can last for a long time in the various storage locations. Like- in the freezer, the live dough can last 4 to 6 months, and Par- baked dough can last 6 months to 1 year. Besides, dough balls can stay in the fridge for 2 to 4 days. Again, in the freezer, dough balls can last 3 to 6 months.
How Long Does Pizza Dough Last at Room Temperature?
Generally, your pizza dough can last 4 to 18 hours at room temperature. This depends on the amount of yeast in your dough. If you use a lot of yeast in your dough, it will last around 4 hours. Besides, using a tiny amount of yeast in your pizza dough will last almost 16 to 18 hours.
How Long Does Pizza Dough Last in the Fridge?
The pizza dough can typically store in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. This depends on the condition and temperature it entered the refrigerator. If you used warm water on your dough and left it outside for 1 hour before keeping it in the refrigerator, it could last only 3 days. Again, if you used cold water on your dough and refrigerated it immediately, it could last up to 5 days.
How Long Does Pizza Dough Last in the Freezer?
Typically, your pizza dough can last almost 3 months in the freezer. When stored in the freezer, the dough can easily preserve for an extended period.
How Long Does Homemade Pizza Dough Last?
Generally, homemade pizza dough can’t last fresh for a long time. But you can leave it at room temperature for 4–24 hours. Your homemade pizza dough can stay 2 to 4 days in the fridge. This dough can also be frozen for a period of two to three months.
How to Make Your Pizza Dough Last Longer?
Normally, pizza dough can’t stay for a long time at room temperature. That’s why I will discuss some tips to make your pizza dough last longer.
1. Don’t Add Sweeteners.
You shouldn’t use extra sugar in your pizza dough. If you store the sweetened dough in the refrigerator, too many sweeteners may be absorbed. Besides, the long-fermented dough can break down a large number of complex starches which naturally can be found in the flour. It naturally sweetens the bread, so extra sweetness in your pizza dough is unnecessary.
3. Add Less Yeast
Reduce the yeast in the pizza dough if you want it to keep for several days. It can support your dough’s slow fermentation, which helps to make your dough last longer.
4. Don’t Knead Too Hard.
Pizza dough that has been kneaded carefully can be stored for a long time. If you knead your dough too hard, it will suffer from over-oxygenation. Besides, this makes your pizza tasteless.
5. Keep Your Dough Wrapped
Covering your pizza dough will keep it from drying out and hardening. It helps to reduce the airflow around your dough’s surface.
6. Use the Refrigerator
Suppose you want to keep your pizza dough for a long time. You have to use the refrigerator. It will help store this dough for a long time (3-5 days).
What to Do If My Pizza Dough Goes Bad?
If your pizza dough has changed its color, then throw it away. You can’t use it anymore because it might be mold setting in.
But if it’s dry and hard, you can use it by rehydrating. Run this dough’s hard and dry area under the tap for a little bit and place it back on a plate to soak for half an hour.
Final Verdict
The pizza dough is an essential part of making pizza. It has a limited lifetime. But many people don’t understand when it has gone bad. That’s why they eat this worst pizza dough. As a result, they have suffered from diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, etc. So, before making pizza, you must check your pizza dough first.
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