How many times have you made home-made dough for bread or pizza and been disappointed that you have to throw some of it out because you’ve made too much? This happens all the time. But, you’ll be glad to know that freezing bread and pizza dough is an option. But there are some steps that you’ll need to follow in order for it to taste great when you’re ready to bake it.

Freezing Unbaked Bread and Pizza Dough

Firstly, the recommended storage time for yeast based dough is 2 weeks. You might get away with a few extra days, but we usually don’t wait that long.

Before you freeze the dough, cut it into portions of convenient size for future use. Then, wrap the portions in foil or plastic and freeze immediately. Don’t let the dough rise at all or it won’t work when you pull it out in a week or two.

When you’re ready to bake the bread, remove it from the freezer about 6 hours earlier, or alternatively, put the dough into a covered and oiled bowl in the refrigerator overnight. Allow the dough to rise and then knock it down. Next, shape the dough, allow it to prove again, and bake it as you normally would.

Here’s a little tip for you. Bread rolls can be shaped up and frozen in muffin tins or on baking sheets. Once you’ve frozen them, you can put them in plastic bags for future use.

Freezing Baked Bread

While it’s common to freeze store-bought bread, it’s a little different from homemade bread. Firstly, you must allow the bread to completely cool down before you freeze it.

You can slice the bread before freezing if you choose to do so, and then seal the bread in a freezer bag or foil before freezing.

Rising Bread in the Refrigerator

It is possible to slow down rising by placing the dough in an oiled and covered bowl in the fridge.

Most house bread can be made the night before and left to rise in the fridge. In the morning, knock down the dough, allow the 2nd rise, and knock it down again. Shape the dough, allow it to prove, and then bake.

Some doughs that are high in oil can be stored in the fridge for a few days. An example of this is pizza dough which is much oilier than house bread. Keep knocking down the dough as necessary, and bake portions of the dough as needed.

If you get called away while you’re baking, punch down the dough, and put it in the fridge during your absence.

Want more help with baking bread? Here are 9 tips for Baking Home-made Bread

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