How long can you keep bread dough in the fridge? If you want to store bread dough in the fridge, you might end up asking this question. In this post, I will share some interesting facts about bread dough.
How long can you keep bread dough in the fridge? You can keep bread dough in the fridge for about three days if it is properly stored. But it is always better to use bread dough within 24-48 hours. This ensures that you get the best quality of the dough.
Storing anything in the refrigerator seems easy. But the truth is that there are delicate ingredients that can easily get spoiled when done incorrectly. Bread dough, for instance, although it is safe to keep it in the fridge, there are things you need to consider.
How to Refrigerate Bread Dough?
As mentioned, refrigerating bread dough is simple. But there are things you need to know first. The success of the entire process relies on the materials being used.
That said, you need to prepare the materials needed. Here are the things that are commonly used when refrigerating bread dough in the fridge.
- Self-sealing plastic bag
- Plastic wrap
- Mixing bowl
- Oil
- Clean towel
- Baking sheet
Now that you have all the materials needed, here are the steps you need to properly keep bread dough in the fridge.
1. Put the dough in the mixing bowl
I recommend that you use a large mixing bowl. This gives enough space for the dough. Aside from a mixing bowl, you can use a self-sealing plastic bag too.
But before you place the dough on either container, you need to cover the container with oil lightly. The purpose of this is to keep the dough from sticking.
2. Cover the container
If you use the mixing bowl, it needs to be covered with a plastic bag. Make sure that it is tight to seal the bowl. Then place it in the refrigerator.
3. Leave the dough
After making sure that you stored the dough correctly in the refrigerator, you can leave it for 24-48 hours. Then take it out of the refrigerator as you need it. Just set it aside for a while to allow the dough to rest before working on it.
This is how you keep bread dough in the fridge. Again, I suggest that you use the dough within 24-48 hours to enjoy its best quality.
Can you Refrigerate the Risen Dough?
If you are learning to cook recipes that involve dough, you might ask questions like can you refrigerate the risen dough? This is one of the uncommon questions among amateur cooks alike.
The answer to this question is yes, you can refrigerate the risen dough. It is common when cooking recipes with dough. Refrigerating the dough slows down the yeast.
Here are the steps you can follow to refrigerate the risen dough:
1. Place the dough on the cookie sheet or on a bowl. Make sure that the cookie sheet or a bowl is lined with parchment paper.
2. Cover the dough. A clean towel is a great option.
3. Finally, put the dough in the refrigerator for about 12 hours. This will be enough for the dough to rise. This will also enhance the flavor that you aim for.
If you want, you can refrigerate the dough for two to three days. It will give you an even greater flavor. But for the best result, using the dough within 48 hours is always the best option.
Are there Benefits from Refrigerating Bread Dough?
You might be thinking that refrigerating the bread dough will only make the baking process longer. Well, that is entirely true. In fact, you can just let the dough rise for a couple of hours before baking without refrigerating it.
However, the resulting taste will not be the same. Refrigerating bread dough certainly provides better taste. This is the reason why some bakers love to refrigerate the dough before baking.
Needless to say, that refrigerating bread dough can have many benefits. I listed below some of the benefits you can get from doing it:
1. Refrigerating bread dough results in better tasting bread. Refrigerating slows down the yeast which allows the dough to develop better flavor.
2. Putting the bread dough in the refrigerator will yield a more vibrant color.
3. Refrigerating bread dough will also help it to attain better textures.
These are just a few benefits you can enjoy when refrigerating bread dough. I am sure that you’ll find more as you try to do it yourself.
Things to Remember When Taking Out the Dough from The Refrigerator
Assuming that you had put the dough in the fridge successfully and the time comes to use it. You can get it out of the fridge and cook it.
But before you go to the actual baking process, there are some things you need to remember. These steps are crucial in order to bake the dough successfully.
1. Do not take the cold dough straight to the oven.
You don’t want your dough to end up in a disaster. If so, do not put the cold dough straight into the oven. What you need to do instead is to give the dough enough time to come to room temperature.
Just set it aside for one hour or until it comes to room temperature.
2. Only get what you need.
Getting the whole bread dough out of the oven without using it all is not a good idea. The unused may be exposed to the warm temperature which will, in turn, make it vulnerable to bacterial growth.
The best thing you can do is to divide the dough into pieces so that it will be easy to pick a piece that you need when baking. Leave the unused ones in the refrigerator to keep them safe.
Perishable foods should not be left at a warm temperature for too long because it will be vulnerable to bacterial contamination. As a rule of thumb, never leave refrigerated foods at room temperature for 2 hours. It will not be safe to consume even after cooking.
Final Thought
Refrigerating bread dough is a great way to keep it safe. Most importantly, refrigerating bread dough will also help achieve great texture and taste.
There are simple things you need to remember though. Always make sure that the dough is safe in a sealed container.
Bread dough can last in the fridge for a couple of days if stored properly. When the cooking time comes, you can just get it from the fridge, rest it a little to come to room temperature, and bake.
I hope this helps.
