Freezing pizza is a great way to have a ready meal available when you don't have time to cook. Wrap the slices individually, store them in the freezer and eat them within 2 months. If you prefer, you can freeze the pizza before cooking it: prepare the dough, freeze it and use it within 2 months. If you want the pizza to be ready in a few minutes, like the one you buy frozen at the supermarket, you can pre-cook it, season it with your favorite ingredients and freeze it. Your homemade pizza will keep for up to 3 months.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Freeze Cooked Pizza
Step 1. Cut the pizza into slices
A lot of it is left over, cut it into slices with the pizza wheel. Skip this step if you want to freeze a single whole slice of pizza.
If you bought pizza at a pizzeria, chances are it is already pre-cut into wedges, but the edge may still be whole. Completely separate one slice from the other
Step 2. Wrap each slice individually with cling film
Tear off a long piece of plastic wrap and spread it out on the kitchen counter. Place a slice of pizza exactly in the center of the foil. Fold the ends of the foil over the pizza, covering it completely. Wrap all the slices of pizza you want to freeze in the same way.
Step 3. Wrap the pizza slices in foil or parchment paper
Plastic wrap tends to stick everywhere, so a barrier needs to be created. Wrap a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil around each slice of pizza.
If you don't have parchment paper or aluminum foil, you can use a paper bread bag
Step 4. Put the pizza slices in a food freezing bag and remember to label it
You can put more than one slice in the same bag if it is big enough. If you don't have food bags, you can use a plastic or glass container suitable for use in the freezer. Write the date on the bag or container with a permanent marker.
If you don't want to damage the container, write the date on a piece of duct tape and stick it on top
Step 5. Freeze the pizza and eat it within 2 months
Make space for the pizza slices in the freezer and only take them out when you are ready to eat them. The pizza will keep for up to 2 months.
Step 6. Let the pizza thaw in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours, then put it in the oven
When you are ready to eat it, take it out of the freezer and remove it from the wrapper. Put it on a plate and let it defrost in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours, then heat it in the oven for 5 minutes at 175 ° C.
- You can defrost and reheat pizza in the microwave, but it won't be as good and crunchy.
- If you like pizza very crunchy, heat it to 190 ° C for 12-15 minutes.
Method 2 of 3: Make Pizza at Home and Freeze it
Step 1. Prepare the pizza dough following your usual recipe
Knead it, let it rise and then roll it out, giving it a round shape.
Step 2. Transfer the dough to a round baking sheet
The ideal is to use a special pizza pan. If the pizza is small, you can use the base of a springform pan. Make sure it's big enough, open the side zipper and drag the pizza dough onto the base.
Step 3. Bake the pizza dough in the oven at 230 ° C for 4-5 minutes
Turn on the oven to 230 ° C and let it heat up. Put the pizza dough on a round baking sheet, if you haven't already done so, and bake it. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes or until it looks puffy and dry.
- For now, do not add the toppings and do not cook the dough completely. You will finish cooking when it is time to eat the pizza.
- Pre-baking the dough is essential, otherwise when you defrost it and put it in the oven it will become soggy.
Step 4. Remove the pizza base from the oven, let it cool, then add your favorite ingredients
When the dough has swollen and appears to have dried, take it out of the oven and let it cool until it reaches room temperature. At that point, season it with the tomato sauce, mozzarella and other desired ingredients.
- The time it takes for the pizza to cool depends on the size and temperature of the kitchen. You will probably have to wait around 10-15 minutes.
- Do not remove the pizza from the pan. You will need to put it in the freezer with the pan.
Step 5. Wrap the pizza with a layer of cling film and a layer of foil
First cover it completely with cling film, then wrap it in aluminum foil. This double barrier serves to prevent cold burns.
If you don't have aluminum foil, wrap the pizza in two layers of cling film
Step 6. Place the pizza in the freezer and eat it within 2-3 months
Make room for the pan inside the freezer. Make sure it is perfectly horizontal, close the freezer door and let the pizza freeze for a few hours.
- Write the date on the aluminum foil with a permanent marker, so you know how long you've been storing the pizza in the freezer.
- The pizza will taste better if you eat it within 2 months, but it could last up to 3 months.
Step 7. Bake the pizza in a preheated oven at 260 ° C for 10 minutes
Turn on the oven to 260 ° C and let it heat up. Take the pizza out of the freezer and remove the double foil and foil wrapping. Leave it inside the pan and put it in the oven. It will need to cook for about 10 minutes or until the mozzarella melts.
There is no need to let the pizza defrost before finishing cooking in the oven
Method 3 of 3: Freeze the Raw Pizza Dough
Step 1. Prepare the pizza dough and let it rise
You can freeze the dough already rolled out or still in the form of loaves. If the recipe calls for a double leavening, one in the tureen and one directly in the pan, let it rise only in the tureen and skip the second leavening.
Step 2. Shape the dough as you wish
You can roll it out thinly to have it ready to use when it's time to bake it or freeze it in the form of loaves.
You can make smaller or larger loaves depending on how many pizzas you want to prepare. The most convenient solution is to create very small loaves suitable for making small pizzas, to manage them easily in the freezer
Step 3. Flour the dough
Dust the dough balls or discs of dough with flour, then turn them over and flour them on the other side as well. Dusting the dough with flour is important because it prevents it from sticking to the paper.
Step 4. Freeze the pizza dough on the parchment paper
Transfer it to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place the baking sheet in the freezer. Don't worry about covering the dough, as this is only the initial stage. When it is frozen, you will transfer it to a bag.
The time it takes for the dough to freeze completely depends on the shape you gave it. If you rolled it out with a rolling pin, it will freeze faster
Step 5. Transfer it to a bag for freezing food
At this point the dough is ready to be stored in the freezer. Place the dough balls or discs in a large plastic freezer bag. If you have rolled out the dough into one large disk, it will be easier to wrap it in two layers of cling film.
Step 6. Use the dough within a couple of months
Make room in the freezer and, if you've rolled out the dough, make sure it's perfectly horizontal. Do not place anything on top of the dough blocks or discs, so as not to crush them.
Write the date on the plastic bag to find out how long you have been storing the dough in the freezer
Step 7. Let the dough thaw before baking
Transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it thaw for 10-12 hours. Alternatively, you can thaw it at room temperature for 60-90 minutes. The time it takes for the dough to thaw depends on the shape you gave it. The loaves will thaw slower than the dough already rolled out.
If the recipe called for a second leavening of the dough, let it rest for a couple of hours before seasoning and cooking it
Advice
- The pizza will taste better if you eat it within a couple of months, but it can last up to 3 months.
- Once defrosted and reheated, leftover pizza should be eaten immediately and cannot be put back in the refrigerator.
- In some circumstances the pizza could go bad. If it looks, tastes or smells unusual, throw it away.
