There are several ways to defrost a dough with ease. You can use the microwave, oven or let it thaw slowly in the refrigerator. The microwave is the best option when you are in a hurry. The traditional oven ensures that the dough defrosts evenly, but it takes longer than the microwave. Finally, letting the dough defrost in the refrigerator takes time, but practically no effort.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Allow the Dough to Thaw in the Refrigerator
Step 1. Grease a pan
Place it on a perfectly flat surface and grease it with spray oil. The dough will rise and double in volume, so make sure the pan is large enough.
You can buy the spray oil at the supermarket or pour the olive oil into a spray bottle and spray it into the pan
Step 2. Wrap the dough in cling film and place it in the pan
Also grease the film with spray oil, then wrap it carefully around the dough. The oil will prevent the dough from sticking to the foil as it rises.
Step 3. Place the pan in the refrigerator and let the dough thaw overnight
Make sure it has enough space to double in volume. If you can't fit the pan between shelves because it's too tall, move a shelf to create space.
If you want to bake the dough today, take it out of the freezer in time and let it thaw in the refrigerator for 8 hours
Step 4. If necessary, let the dough rise at room temperature
If you think it needs to rise a little longer, remove the cling film and let it sit undisturbed for 30-60 minutes on the kitchen counter.
You can preheat the oven while the dough finishes rising at room temperature
Step 5. Bake the dough in the oven
When it has doubled in volume, you can bake it in the oven as indicated by the recipe. Examine it to make sure it has thawed completely before putting it in the oven.
Method 2 of 3: Using the Microwave
Step 1. Grease a microwave safe dish with spray oil
You can buy the spray oil at the supermarket or pour the olive oil into a spray bottle and use it to grease the dish. Make sure the spray bottle is perfectly clean before filling it.
Step 2. Put the frozen dough on a plate and cover it with cling film
Remove it from the freezer and place it directly on the oiled plate. Also spray the oil on the cling film before wrapping it around the dough to make it non-stick.
Wrap the dough carefully to protect it from the air
Step 3. Heat the dough in the microwave on maximum power for 25 seconds
Do not worry, in such a short time it will not risk cooking even if you set the oven to maximum power. When the time runs out, take it out of the microwave.
Step 4. Flip the dough over and heat it for another 25 seconds
Make sure it is still fully wrapped in plastic wrap before putting it back in the oven. After 25 seconds, take it out of the microwave and place it on a clean work surface.
Step 5. Remove the cling film and examine the dough
Remove the wrapper and throw it away. Observe and touch the dough to determine if it is still frozen. It has to keep cool, but it doesn't have to be hard.
At this point the dough is unlikely to have risen significantly
Step 6. Finish defrosting the dough using the microwave defrost mode
This function guarantees minimal and gradual heating. Set 3-5 minutes on the timer. When done, the dough should have thawed evenly.
The time required may vary according to the size of the dough. If it's small, 3 minutes should be enough. If it is large, it will probably take an extra couple of minutes
Step 7. Let it rise at room temperature for an hour
When it has thawed completely, remove it from the microwave, place it on a clean surface and let it rise at room temperature.
When you think the dough has risen sufficiently, put it in the oven and cook it following the directions in the recipe
Method 3 of 3: Using the Oven
Step 1. Grease a baking sheet or bowl with olive oil spray
The dough will rise and double in volume, so choose a bowl of the right size.
You can buy the spray oil at the supermarket or pour the olive oil into a spray bottle and use it to grease the dish
Step 2. Put the dough in the bowl and cover it with cling film
First grease the film with spray oil to make it non-stick.
Wrap the dough carefully to make sure it warms evenly once placed in the oven
Step 3. Heat the dough in the oven to 40 ° C
If you have a gas oven, set it to the lowest available temperature. Some modern ovens have a function reserved for bread leavening which automatically sets the temperature to 40 ° C. This is also the perfect degree of heat for defrosting any type of dough.
Step 4. After an hour has elapsed, remove the bowl from the oven to test the consistency of the dough
Wear oven mitts so you don't get burned. Remove the foil and inspect the dough to determine if it is fully thawed and leavened.
Step 5. Return the dough to the oven for 30-60 minutes if it has not yet completely thawed
If it hasn't doubled in volume yet, it may need more time. Cover it again with plastic wrap before putting it back in the oven.
If it has only partially risen, let it rest in the oven for another 30 minutes. If it hasn't grown at all, put it back in the oven for another hour
Step 6. Remove the dough from the bowl and cook it as indicated by the chosen recipe
When the time is up, remove the foil and transfer the dough to a work surface. After rolling it out, place it in a pan and cook it following the directions in the recipe.
