Easy Recipes Using Frozen Bread Dough (2024)

FAQs

Should frozen bread dough be thawed before baking? ›

Working with Frozen Bread Dough

That being said, you need to allow the bread dough to thaw and proof before placing it in the oven. The first step is to defrost the dough by placing it in a lightly greased pan and leave it in a cooler overnight to allow it to completely thaw. This is called retarding the dough.

Warmth and moisture hasten the thawing process. You can use the microwave method, but be very careful not to overheat the yeast in the dough. The bread dough thaws best in the microwave. Microwave 5 minutes on the defrost setting for one loaf of frozen bread dough.

Plan a night ahead for the second rise—since it's handsoff, it's still easier than spending a whole day making bread dough. To use a frozen loaf of dough, remove it from the freezer the night before you want to bake it. Keep the loaf wrapped in the plastic and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Depending on the recipe you followed, your dough will have already completed a first rise prior to you freezing it, or it still needs to undergo a single rise. This also allows the gluten in the dough to relax again, which will make for a better bread. Preheat the oven to the baking temperature in your dough recipe.

Advantages of Frozen and Pre-made Dough

Using frozen or pre-made dough can save your bakery money on ingredients, labor hours, equipment costs, and maintenance. Additionally, not making everything from scratch will keep staff numbers and production costs down.

Place frozen dough in pan, and cover with sprayed plastic wrap to keep it from sticking to dough while rising. RISE – Let rise 4 to 7 hours, until dough is 1 inch above the top of the pan. Actual time depends on temperature of your kitchen. Do not over proof.

Frozen doughs can be immediately baked (without undergoing thawing) or they can be proofed prior to baking (a thawing cycle is required to temper dough).

The Refrigerator Thaw Method

Place frozen dough on your pan. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap to keep from sticking to dough while rising. Place your pan in the refrigerator overnight or all day long. When you're ready to begin baking, take the pan out of the refrigerator.

Tip. It's best to defrost bread in microwave ovens by covering it in large kitchen towels, like Plenty The Extra Big One, to absorb any moisture. This will prevent the bread from going soggy.

Can dough still rise after being frozen? ›

This is because frozen dough will need to rise/proof again before baking it. There's also the issue of the yeast. There is a chance that freezing the dough will kill about 30%-50% of the yeast in the dough.

To save yourself time why not batch bake some bread dough and store it in the freezer? This is a great time saving tip when you want fresh bread without having to wait for it to prove.

The answer to whether your bread dough will rise in the fridge is yes, and it often makes sense to consider the fridge as your friend when you are making bread.

The Refrigerator Thaw Method

Place frozen dough on your pan. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap to keep from sticking to dough while rising. Place your pan in the refrigerator overnight or all day long. When you're ready to begin baking, take the pan out of the refrigerator.

Frozen bread should not be defrosted before baking, as this can make it go stale.