When convenience calls it calls! And, if like my family you too have a high request for pizza on the menu even though you try to keep it to once a week. Then freezing pizza dough is not only time-saving but cost-effective – because you do not need to buy store-bought pizza which in most cases is a sad sad affair! So, let’s find out how to freeze pizza dough so we can save time, and money all whilst making everyone happy!
How to Freeze Pizza Dough (Made in 6 Hours or Less)
1. Make the dough as you normally would- you can follow the recipe below for white pizza dough or this one for dough with 3 different flours including whole grain.
2. After you have kneaded the dough for 10 minutes, leave it to rise until doubled in size.
3. Portion the dough. Roll each one into a tight ball and set them on a tray (that can fit in your freezer) lightly floured parchment paper to proof (rise) loosely covered in cling film. Make sure to leave ample space between each one because they will expand as they proof.
4. When they have risen, transfer the tray into the freezer to let the dough firm up (still covered with cling film). An hour or so.
4. Once hardened, remove the cling film. Cut out each parchment paper around the dough and wrap each one with cling film. Freeze
5. To use the frozen dough: Take it out the night before and leave it to thaw overnight in the fridge.
6. Unwrap the dough, roll it into a ball, and let it rise in a warm place, on a lightly floured surface, loosely covered with cling film.
7. Proceed to roll and make Pizza.
How to Freeze Pizza Dough (Made 24-36 Hours in Advance)
1. Make the pizza dough and leave to proof (rise) in the fridge for at least 24 hours
2. Line a baking tray or cutting board with parchment paper
3. Take out the dough, portion, and roll it into balls. Tight as you can!
4. Lightly spray the dough balls with olive oil and leave to rise (seam side down) on the parchment paper for at least 4 hours in a warm environment. Loosely cover with cling film and a kitchen towel.
5. Transfer the tray with the dough into the freezer for 1 hour until firm. Then take them out and individually wrap each one in cling film before you pack them into a ziplock bag and freeze.
6. To use the frozen dough: Remove the dough from the freezer. Unwrap it from the cling film, lay it on parchment paper closely covered with cling film, and leave it to thaw overnight in the fridge.
Remove it from the fridge, and transfer the dough onto a lightly floured (with semolina) surface (covered with cling film) for at least 30 minutes to come to room temperature. They do not need another rise and are ready for use.
Some Pizza Recipes For Your Frozen Dough
I couldn’t let you walk away without some recipes to use your pizza dough on. They are versatile and can be made child-friendly, with the bonus of giving you ideas for your leftover broccoli stems or canned tuna that’s collecting dust in your pantry.
Leftover broccoli stem and sweetcorn pizza
This is a sauce-free pizza, topped with leftover broccoli stem that has been sautéed with fresh chili and garlic. Sweetcorn, buffalo mozzarella, and finished with thick slivers of grated Grana Padano. You will love the slightly charred broccoli stem flavor with the sweetness of the sweet corn. And of course, most importantly, you now have a reason not to throw away that broccoli stem you thought was good for nothing
This is another one of my favorites because I never knew canned tuna could drive me so crazy! But it did, in this pizza topped with a simple tomato sauce base, tuna fillets, black olives, very thinly sliced red onion, and mozzarella. Finished with dried chili flakes, oregano, and freshly ground a sprinkle of black pepper.
Oh and a little bonus? When you’re not having this tuna pizza, you can use the same ingredients (omit the sauce) to make a tuna cheese melt.
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