Learn how to freeze Pizza Dough. It’s smart to make a double or triple batch so you can freeze half of the dough for the next time you’re craving pizza.

Here are two methods for freezing homemade pizza dough whether you want to use freezer-safe zip containers or Tupperware. 

Homemade pizza dough stored in containers for freezing

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Pizza dough can be frozen in any quantity, whether it’s a full-size pizza or smaller single pizzas. You can store the dough in the freezer for 3-4 months and just thaw overnight before using it. 

Important: The dough needs to be done with the rising/fermentation process or at the point when the dough is ready to use. With our pizza dough, we let it go through the cold fermentation process overnight first to let the yeast work in the dough. Once it’s done with the cold fermentation process (before bringing it to room temperature for an hour), it can be frozen. Read more about Cold Fermentation below.

2 Ways to Freeze Pizza Dough:

Ziplock or Freezer Bag Method: Arrange the dough in a deep, oiled baking pan with some room to expand, cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight for cold fermentation, then place the entire pan into the freezer for 24 hours. Once the pizza dough is frozen, transfer each piece of dough into its own freezer zip bag or food saver bag.

Tupperware Containers: Lightly oil the bottom and sides of your Tupperware containers. Place pizza dough into the containers, cover and refrigerate for the overnight cold fermentation (so there’s no need to transfer it later), then transfer containers to the freezer.

Oiling containers and adding pizza dough for freezing

To Thaw Pizza Dough: 

  • If using Zip Bags: Remove dough balls from the freezer and transfer them onto a baking pan lined with flour or semolina flour. Dust the tops with flour so plastic wrap doesn’t stick to the dough then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (8-12 hours).
  • If using Tupperware containers: Place containers in the refrigerator overnight to defrost. Cold defrosting is the BEST method to thaw pizza dough.
Frozen pizza dough in Tupperware containers

To Use the Defrosted Dough: 

Keep dough at room temperature for 1 hour before baking for it to soften and relax. Shape the dough according to our pizza dough recipe instructions. Don’t miss our favorite recipes for red pizza sauce and white pizza sauce.

Defrosted dough ready for forming pizza

Pro Tip: If working with multiple dough pieces, keep the remaining pieces covered so they don’t dry out.

Common Questions:

What is Cold Fermentation? 

Fermentation is critical to great pizza dough and cannot be skipped. Letting the pizza dough rest in the refrigerator overnight allows the yeast time to weaken gluten-forming proteins. This makes the dough easier to stretch and shape and creates an aromatic and soft crust with air pockets that bubble in the oven.

How long can I freeze pizza dough?

Store pizza dough in the freezer for up to 3 months. If it is vacuum-sealed, it will keep up to 4 months.

Can I re-freeze pizza dough? 

Once pizza dough has been frozen and thawed, you should not freeze it again. 

Can I freeze pizza sauce? 

Red pizza sauce freezes well. We usually use half of our pizza sauce and freeze the other half for later. 

How to freeze pizza sauce

It’s so easy to freeze pizza dough and we love having a having the option to enjoy homemade pizza or Calzones when the craving comes.

More Freezer-Friendly Recipes:

How to Freeze Pizza Dough

5 from 17 votes
Author: Natasha Kravchuk
How to Freeze Pizza Dough
Pizza dough can be frozen in any quantity, whether it’s a full size pizza or smaller single pizzas. The most important thing is to freeze the dough after the cold fermentation is in the fridge is complete and the dough is ready for use. Be sure to cold thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using it. 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 people

Instructions

Ziplock or Freezer Bag Method:

  • Arrange the dough in a deep, oiled baking pan with some room to expand, cover pan with plastic wrap and let it do the overnight cold fermentation in the refrigerator.
  • Transfer the pan with dough into the freezer overnight. Once frozen, remove each piece of dough from the baking pan and transfer into its own freezer zip bag or foodsaver bag and store in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Freezing Dough in Tupperware:

  • Lightly oil the bottom and sides of your Tupperware containers.
  • Place pizza dough into the containers, cover and refrigerate for the overnight cold fermentation (so there’s no need to transfer it later). You can also place dough into tupperware after the cold fermenation is done. Cover tightly with lids and freeze up to 3 months.

To Thaw Pizza Dough:

  • If using Zip Bags: Remove dough balls from the freezer and place them onto a baking pan lined with flour or semolina. Dust the tops with flour so plastic wrap doesn’t stick to the dough then cover and thaw in the refrigerator overnight (8-12 hours).
  • If using Tupperware containers: Place containers in the refrigerator overnight to defrost.

To Use Pizza Dough:

  • Keep dough at room temperature for 1 hour before baking so it softens and relaxes and is easier to stretch. Shape the dough according to our pizza dough recipe instructions. 

Nutrition Per Serving

258kcal Calories47g Carbs8g Protein5g Fat1g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat1g Monounsaturated Fat707mg Sodium1mg Potassium1g Fiber6g Sugar1mg Calcium3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
How to Freeze Pizza Dough
Amount per Serving
Calories
258
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Sodium
 
707
mg
31
%
Potassium
 
1
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
47
g
16
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
6
g
7
%
Protein
 
8
g
16
%
Calcium
 
1
mg
0
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: How to
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to freeze pizza dough
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 258
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

5 from 17 votes (9 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • SaraAnne
    December 9, 2024

    Not only is this pizza dough delicious but your method is incredible and easy to understand! You’ve made making sourdough pizza crust simple and we will never go back to any other kind of crust! The bubbles and the rise and the crisp crust and the edges… I could go on and on and on!
    Question… Can I still freeze it if I’ve done the full fermented rise in the fridge for several days?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 10, 2024

      Hi SaraAnne, Yes, you can freeze the sourdough pizza dough after the ferment. I recommend diving it into the portions you want and ensure the dough is wrapped well or in an airtight container. When you are ready to use it, you can thaw it overnight in the fridge and then let it come to room temperature before using it. I hope that is helpful.

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.