6 Different Ways to Defrost a Pizza Dough
By Vanessa Richards
January 10, 2024 • Fact checked by Dumb Little Man
The smell of a freshly baked pizza cannot be beaten. But what if you don’t have time to make your own dough? Fear not. Thankfully, there are many different ways to defrost frozen pizza dough, and they are simple, straightforward methods that will defrost pizza dough within a short period of time. This article will explore 6 different ways to do so and the pros and cons of each method. We hope this helps make your next frozen pizza night more enjoyable. Hopefully, they help you make sure your frozen pizza dough crust is at its best before topping and baking.
Here are some of the ways to defrost a Pizza Dough;
⓵ In the Refrigerator
A cold day can bring on hunger, so what if we told you there was a way to make fresh homemade pizza without any oven work whatsoever?
That’s right. Luckily you can defrost in the fridge.
You have to take your frozen pizza dough out of the freezer and let it defrost in one of those refrigerator drawers with all that delicious air. Give it 30 minutes, and then use your favorite toppings from the fridge door (or better yet, whatever is in your garden). This refrigerated “Maestro Pizza Maker” will swell up like bread while you enjoy dinner/an episode of Friends/that reality TV show about shameless people outside their natural habitat. It’s even more perfect when there are bubbles on the dough.
If you have some time in your hands, you can leave the dough on the refrigerator overnight for better results. and remove it from the freezer in the morning and unwrap plastic wrap and let it rest on the counter for at least an hour, and it is perfect and ready for use. But, of course, your pizza should rise after being frozen—the result: fantastic, smoky flavors coupled with an uber-crispy crust after baking, of course. Trust us—you’ll thank us not.
Wrap your dough with plastic before putting it in the freezer.
⓶ Through a Cold-Water Bath
We’ve all been there: a big event happening and being expected to bring the A-game, but whoops! The dough in your carefully concocted dish got frozen solid by accident. So how do you unthaw it? By using this cold water bath technique, of course!
This is an excellent method to defrost pizza dough because it keeps your pizza dough in perfect condition.
Okay, so let’s talk about the best way to “defrost” pizza dough: a cold-water bath. All you need is an ice water bucket and some kitchen shears.
First, you’ll need a large pan. Your pan should be big enough to host your dough fully. Next, remove the dough from the freezer, put it in the bowl, and wrap it in tin foil.
Here is the fun part now, you need to give your pizza dough a cold water bath by filling the bowl with water. But, first, ensure that your pizza dough is completely immersed.
Check your pizza dough after 2 hours. You will notice that your pizza dough is soft, and it has risen.
You’ll know the pizza dough is ready when you see bubbles.
Once you see the bubble, remove your pizza from the cold water and remove the plastic bag, and then let it rest for at least an hour under room temperature. Then you can get to baking.
⓷ Through a Warm-Water Bath
Ever wonder how they make that long crust pizza you see at the pizzeria? In this blog, we will show you how to defrost it with a warm-water bath. It really takes very little time and makes a world of difference when folding and pushing the dough out onto the floor, so why would you ever go back to freezing your dough!
This method is excellent, especially When you’re craving a warm, personal-size pizza. The only thing worse than realizing you didn’t plan for when to buy or make it is trying to figure out how to defrost your dough without turning it into an ugly mess. Well, we have the solution with our at-home Sous Vide Bath experience.
The warm water bath method gives you faster and excellent results than the cold water bath methods.
But it requires you to be keen and careful so that you don’t undercook your pizza dough.
All you have to do is wrap your pizza dough in airtight plastic wrap. Then, you must ensure that you get rid of all the air from them and seal it properly.
Get a medium-sized bowl and fill it with warm water. Place your favorite pizza dough in the pot of water heated up just enough for eggs, but not too hot so as not to destroy any quality. Ensure the dough is completely immersed
Leave the dough submerged in the water for at least 10 minutes, after which you’ll realize that the water gets cold. So you have to change the water every 10m minutes with warm water until your dough is soft, risen, and ready.
Changing the water every 10 minutes will maintain the quality of the dough.
⓸ Through the Microwave
So you made a big batch of dough, and now it’s frozen solid? No worries, this technique will get your pizza back on track in no time! First, take a microwave-safe plate and coat with your favorite cooking spray, whether homemade or store-bought. Now put the frozen dough on the microwave-safe plate and wrap it in a plastic bag carefully. Quick tip; ensure you spray dough with the cooking spray to prevent the plastic wrap from sticking on it. Now put your dough in the microwave and set the microwave to run for 25 seconds, and then turn the dough, put it back and let it sit for another 25 seconds.
Remove the dough out of the freezer and take off the plastic wrap. Now put back the dough and set the microwave to run for about 6 minutes at 50% power. After that, put the dough on the countertop at room temperature. This will help the dough rise fully. That’s all there is to it. Now stretch out the dough – perfection every time. Just remember to set the microwave at its lowest setting.
⓹ Leaving it at the Countertop
Another great way to defrost your pizza dough is simple by leaving it on the counter at room temperature.
If you ever wondered how to defrost pizza dough on the countertop, read on.
Ever found yourself daydreaming, wondering, and worried that your dough would take up to 8 hours to thaw? Well, don’t fret, for all of your worries are over! Just use this easy-to-follow guide and never get caught in a messy kitchen again. This method makes defrosting pizza dough easy and will get you ready in 2 hours.
This technique is an exciting approach to the painful task of sticking your iced-fortified dough on the kitchen counter and waiting for it to thaw—no water, no science, place a paper towel or napkin. Amazing right?
Let’s dive in.
First, remove the dough from the freezer, remove the plastic wrap and place the dough on the counter at room temperature.
Please put it in a bowl or a pan but ensure it’s significant to accommodate the pizza dough once it defrosts and rises. Now cover it with plastic wrap. Ensure to use an airtight bag. Finally, put the dough on the countertop at room temperature. Check back in two hours(one to two hours); your pizza dough would have thawed and risen by then.
There you have it. That’s how you defrost pizza dough over your counter. Easy right? Now you can get to baking.
⓺ Using an Oven
Another best way you can defrost your pizza is by using the oven. Let me let you in on a secret. Defrosting pizza dough is no different than how you cook everyday food. There’s a misconception among microwaves and ovens that they’re mutually exclusive from one another when in fact, they can work quite nicely together.
To help you cook up your delicious dinner, we will show you how to defrost your pizza using a microwave and oven.
Just follow these steps to produce excellent results in much less time than an old-fashioned pizza stone.
First things first- find the right pan. You want one with low sides that is big enough for what’s in it- think an 8-inch cake pan or even 7×11 dish that will house your dough once it rises; then get a glass plate too (we just like prettier pictures). Next, spray your plate with cooking oil. Some people fail to spray their plates with oil, and that’s wrong.
Wrap your frozen dough with an airtight bag and place it face down on the oven.
Now cook for an hour at 100 degrees celsius. Then take it and taste it to see if it’s ready.
If it’s not ready, return the dough to the oven. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, and you’ll be good to go.
Here’s a tip. If you’re wondering how you will know that your dough has fully defrosted, here’s how your pizza dough rise should be at least twice the original size.
Remove the plastic bag to bake.
This method is my favorite because it helps you get crispy edges and cheese without waiting up hours for a bulky cooking rack of inconveniences as our grandparents did!
Get to know the best pizza ovens you can use at home ⇒ Click here
Conclusion
Pizza night is a favorite in many households. However, making pizza dough can be time-consuming and challenging to do if you’re not used to it.
Frozen pizza dough is a time-saving product used for last-minute dinner plans or on-the-go for lunch. We’ve broken down our favorite 6 ways to defrost your freeze pizza dough depending on what works best for the situation that you find yourself in. They are great, especially if you left your frozen dough in the fridge overnight.
We’ve provided you with the pros and cons of each in this blog post. Which method will you try first? If none of these work or seem like they will fit with how you usually prepare your pizzas, let us know! We would love to help figure out which method might suit your needs best so we can make sure everyone has their delicious dinner ready when they want it most. What have been some of your favorite methods? Happy cooking! Please share with us by commenting below.
FAQ
Q: How long does it take to defrost pizza dough?
A: The answer to this question depends on what methods you use to defrost pizza dough. With some methods, it takes less than 15 minutes while others take up to 2 hours.
Q: How to defrost a pizza dough quickly?
A: Frozen pizza doughs take a while to defrost, but luckily we’ve discovered pasta sauce is the perfect way to defrost pizza dough without all of that waiting. Although some methods take one to two hours, some completely rise and defrost your dough in just 6 minutes.
The warm water bath method is one of the fastest ways to defrost pizza dough quickly. But be careful with it and put your pizza dough at room temperature before you begin baking. Also, remember to change the water.
Q: How to defrost frozen pizza dough?
A: You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know how to defrost frozen pizza dough. Just give it time and let it get back into shape. Seems simple enough, right?
Well, we’ve discussed 6 methods to defrost pizza dough. I am glad to inform you that these 6 methods also work for frozen pizza as well. Just choose the method that best works for you. From defrosting in the oven, microwave, using a cold or warm bath, defrosting at the countertop to using your refrigerator
Vanessa Richards
Vanessa is a mom of 3 lovely children and a software geek. Outside of her career as a health and wellness instructor. She enjoys writing and researching on topics such as finance, software, health and culinary.