Freezing home made pizza and dough

Loadsabob

Hello all - I made the best pizza EVER a few weeks ago, and froze a lot of rolled out bases.

Yesterday, I used two of these bases, from frozen (though they were probably thawed out by the time I finished topping them), and they weren't very good at all. I made them thin bases, deliberately, but the first time round, when the dough was fresh, they ros e a little bit, giving a lovely light, floppy base. This time the base was like cardboard, very tough.

Any thoughts? Should I have par-baked them before freezing? Should I have baked them from frozen before topping?....

It's a learning curve, isn't it?!!!

squeaky

I know people often say that you can cook pizza bases from frozen but I personally think that's only true of the scone based ones. If you used proper yeasty bready dough then the usual advice (and my experience) is to let it defrost and rise to double its height.

The other tip (for next time) is to roll out and freeze the dough after the FIRST rise because this makes things a whole lot easier to do paragraph one

Loadsabob

squeaky wrote:

I know people often say that you can cook pizza bases from frozen but I personally think that's only true of the scone based ones. If you used proper yeasty bready dough then the usual advice (and my experience) is to let it defrost and rise to double its height.

The other tip (for next time) is to roll out and freeze the dough after the FIRST rise because this makes things a whole lot easier to do paragraph one

Thanks Squeaky. That's good to know for next time. It was a bit trial and error this time, and I don't like the scone-type bases, so yes, it was a yeasty one.

For the next ones out of the freezer, I'll do as you say and let them rise before I do anything to them! I know the first time they rose in the oven, with the topping on, but I guess it's a bit different after they've been frozen.

squeaky

It is a bit I'd suggest, if you're going to apply a sauce, that you do this straight away, then let it rise; and be gentle with it when adding the toppings because you can make it collapse. In fact, I suppose, you could add ALL your toppings first

bigspender2

Hi
can u cook HM pizza then freeze it? if so do u need to defrosted it before reheating it?

bet this sounds like really thick questions

thanks in advance

scuzz

I don't know the answer so not a thick question.

There is no such thing as a stupid question in this life

wishingonastar_3

i make and freeze pizza dough, then defrost it, roll it out and cook it, but i've no idea about freezing a made up one. hope someone comes along and says you can though.

wishingonastar_3

just done a search and there is a recipe here which says you can freeze a baked one, the directions are at the bottom of the page, hth

http://www.recipezaar.com/136717

woas.

Anne_Marie_2

It's not a silly question at all..........and yes you can sort of - cooked is not the best idea, but part cooked is fine
Over the years I have tried various bits and pieces to get best results, although others may have better suggestions than me.

1. Just freeze dough - I do this a lot, takes up less space in freezer. You
just have to remember to take it early enough to defrost. I tend not to
freeze whole dough - divide into suitable sized portions for 1 pizza.
Or....
2. Make up bases and part cook then freeze. This does work out fine. You
just then add toppings and cheese and cook - base is practically
defrosted anyway by this time, just cook as normal.
Or...
3. Make up base and part cook, then add toppings, then freeze. Cook
from frozen, or allow to defrost. Just alter cooking times.

I tend not to freeze whole pizza due to lack of space in freezer, so the dough option is best for me at the moment.

Sazbo

Hi bigspender - I freeze my own cooked homemade pizza then reheat it without defrosting first. So long as it's reheated thoroughly, I can't see a problem? I do think it's never is as good reheated, as when it's freshly baked first time... although saying that I took a couple of slices out of the freezer last weekend and took them on a picnic and ate them cold - pretty tasty. (defrosted first obviously... )

LizD_2

What's the best way? and can you cook from frozen, or defrost first?