Do you frequently have leftover pizza and cringe at the thought of throwing it away? Or, if you’re like me, do you make homemade pizza ahead of time and reheat it in the microwave for a quick meal on cold Friday nights? One of the best ways to keep your pizza by how to freeze pizza.
If done correctly, your cheesy snack can be frozen for months and still taste delicious. However, there is more to it than simply throwing a box of pizza into the freezer compartment. You must take precautions to keep the dough and toppings safe from frost burn and air. We’ll get to that shortly, so keep reading to learn how to freeze pizza like a pro.
Pizza can be frozen in at least three ways: as dough balls, premade pies, or cooked pizzas. Each has advantages. Whatever method you use, remember to label the contents and date them!
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HOW TO FREEZE PIZZA DOUGH
Freezing dough balls allows you to save time when making homemade dough and to top it however you want when serving. You’ve cut your work in half, even though there’s still cooking to be done.
To freeze pizza dough, follow these steps: Prepare the dough according to the recipe directions, but don’t let it rise completely. Instead, after a 20-minute rest, wrap each dough ball in a greased ziptop bag or greased food container, seal it, and freeze it for up to 6 weeks.
By adding bags of sauce, cheese, and pepperoni to your pizza dough stash, you can progress to full-fledged Freezer Meal Pizza Kits.
To serve, thaw the dough ball in a greased bowl and let it rise until it has doubled in size. Depending on how cold the room is, this could take several hours or even overnight. Once the dough has thawed and risen, shape it into a round, top it as desired, and bake.
HOW TO FREEZE PIZZA UNBAKED
Freezing an unbaked pizza, similar to making a frozen pizza at home, takes the majority of the work out of the serving day, leaving you with only the task of freshly baking the pizza. Depending on the size of the pizza, it may be difficult to store in the freezer, so keep this in mind as you shape your pizza rounds.
To freeze a premade pizza, prepare it on a baking sheet as you would for baking, but instead of baking, place the pan in the freezer.
Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in the freezer until ready to bake.
To serve, preheat the oven to 350°F and place the pizza on a pizza screen or baking sheet. Bake according to the directions on the package, plus a couple of minutes for a frozen pizza.
How To Freeze Homemade Pizza
Making pizza ahead is a great way to save time, especially during busy work weeks. You can have a nice, warm meal in less than 15 minutes!
Step 1: Prepare Dough
- Making pizza ahead of time is an excellent way to save time, especially during hectic work weeks. In less than 15 minutes, you can have a nice, warm meal!
- The best way to freeze homemade pizza is to pre-bake the crust. This entails baking the dough halfway through before freezing it. When you’re ready to eat, return it to the oven to finish the baking process.
- To begin, make the pizza dough according to your preferred recipe. Roll it into a ball and place it on a baking sheet.
- Pro Tip: Prick the dough with a fork to prevent it from rising too much in the oven. You want a flat pizza base, not a puffed-up one.
Step 2: Bake The Crust
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit next. Bake for 5 minutes with the baking pan containing the dough. The dough should be dry, puffy, and not crusty. Remember that you only want to partially bake the crust.
- There are several advantages to parbaking. First, when it comes time to serve your pizza, you can do so quickly—just pop it in the oven and it will be ready in a few minutes.
- More importantly, par-baking prevents the crust from becoming soggy when the pizza is removed from the freezer. Nobody wants a soggy, moist pizza crust.
Step 3: Add Toppings
- After five minutes, remove the crust from the oven and set it aside to cool to room temperature. Before adding any toppings, it is best to wait until the crust is completely cool. This keeps the toppings crisp and fresh.
- Next, pile your favorite toppings and cheese on top of the crust. Most common pizza toppings can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 months. If properly baked, the crust will remain firm and fresh for several months until ready to serve.
Step 4: Cover With Plastic Wrap
- The way you cover and store frozen pizza affects the quality of the pizza when you take it out of the freezer and serve it.
- To protect the food from frost burns and air, be careful with your wrapping method and material selection. These two ingredients will quickly degrade the pizza’s flavor, chewiness, and crunch.
- While some people simply cover the pizza with aluminum foil, I strongly advise wrapping it in a layer of plastic wrap first. This is due to the fact that plastic wrap does an excellent job of keeping air out and preserving the quality of frozen food. Food that is exposed to air spoils quickly because oxygen creates ideal conditions for microbial growth.
- To wrap the pizza, slide it out of the baking pan while leaving the baking sheet intact for later baking. Place the pizza on top of the first layer of plastic wrap and roll it out again.
- Pull the cling film tightly around the pizza. Make sure not to squash your toppings with plastic wrap as you do this. You want it to be just the right amount tight—not too loose to protect the food from air and frost burn, but not too tight to be messy when you take it out to bake the pizza.
- Wrap the pizza with another layer of cling film. I like wrapping in two layers of plastic cling film as assurance against frost burns.
Step 5: Cover With Aluminum Foil
- Wrap the pizza in cling film once more. As protection against frost burns, I wrap in two layers of plastic cling film.
- Aluminum foil aids in the preservation of food. It also protects against moisture, which, like oxygen, can hasten the spoilage of food.
- Roll out aluminum foil on a flat surface for this step and place the plastic-wrapped pizza on it. Pull the foil roll over the pizza to cover it in a single layer. Gently press the foil along the pizza’s circular edges to protect it from moisture and odors from other foods in the freezer.
Step 6: Store In The Freezer
- Make sure the freezer has enough storage space. The pizza should be laid flat with no other food on top.
- Remove the pizza from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to thaw for 3 to 4 hours before serving. Preheat the oven to 500°F and bake the pizza for 10 minutes, or until the crust turns golden and the cheese melts, before serving.
How To Freeze Leftover Pizza
It can be tempting to throw the pizza in the fridge for later consumption, whether you are left with a box or a few slices. Pizza can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days before its quality begins to deteriorate.
It is best to freeze the pizza if you do not intend to eat it within 1 or 2 days. Fortunately, freezing
Step 1: Separate The Slices
Individual pieces of leftover pizza are the best way to freeze them. Remove the pizza from the box and cut the crust into individual slices.
Step 2: Wrap With Cling Film
Place a slice of cling film on a flat surface and roll it out. Pull the plastic wrap twice around the slice to create a moisture and odor-proof double wrap.
Ensure that the entire slice is covered and that there is no space left along the edges. This will keep frost at bay and moisture at bay. Repeat with the remainder of the slices.
Step 3: Wrap With Aluminum Foil
Cut a sheet of aluminum foil large enough to wrap the pizza slice. Wrap the foil around the slice and gently press it against it to keep moisture, odors, and frost burn at bay.
Instead of wrapping the pieces in aluminum foil, store them in an airtight container or freezer bag. I usually do this to avoid losing my leftover pizza, which is usually hidden beneath other foods in the freezer.
Do not simply store the pizza in any plastic container for this to work. Choose airtight Tupperware for the best protection against oxygen and moisture.
Step 4: Store In The Freezer
Place your pizza slices in the freezer compartment, flat. Save space by stacking them. one on top of the other, but don’t pile anything else on top of the slices.
To be served: Reheat frozen pizza in the oven, air fryer, or even a covered skillet on the stovetop until the crust is crisp and the cheese is melted.
Conclusion about how to freeze pizza
Without a doubt, freshly made pizza tastes better. If you can’t eat it right away, freezing is still an excellent option for keeping your pizza fresh for up to 3 months.
As you can see, freezing pizza is a piece of cake and takes less than 15 minutes. Try it, and you’ll never have to throw away leftover pizza again or keep some in the freezer for those hectic weeknights.
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