Does frozen pizza go bad? The pizzas that are frozen might not be bad in the conventional sense, but frozen pizza can lose its taste and texture. It is typically due to oxidative stress; however, if it isn’t properly stored it can develop unhealthy bacteria and mold.
Frozen pizzas might appear like an everyday takeaway option, but they’re a fantastic product of the latest production processes as well as food sciences.
But since food always stays frozen (until it’s time to cook), can these pizzas get spoiled?
Learn the best ways to freeze pizzas to preserve their original quality, the most efficient method of storing the pizzas at your home as well as how to detect spoilage.
Do You Know How Frozen Pizzas Are Made?
Pizzas frozen are prepared using several massive, industrial-grade equipment which produce hundreds of baked or half-baked pizzas in a matter of just a few seconds.
Prior to the industrial age pizzas were made to be hand-made and had to be prepared immediately in order to preserve their wonderful taste along with their soft texture.
However, as our understanding of industrial processes developed manufacturing companies discovered a smart method of preserving the freshness and quality of the pre-made pizzas by implementing some important storage methods.
The journey of frozen pizza starts at the bottom with a handful of common ingredients.
The crustis created by mixing of the most basic ingredients. Every manufacturer has their unique method of making dough, and the majority are hesitant to reveal their recipe as a secrets!
The dough is comprised of a mixture to flour, salt sugar and flavorings, as well as water and preservatives. Preservatives and additives within the dough are crucial to ensuring the flavor and quality of pizza.
Although the pizza might be able to withstand the elements without the use of preservatives but it won’t be able to maintain its value for much longer than a pizza with the food-safe chemicals needed to protect it.
After being shaped into a pizza crust, hundreds of pizza pizzas are later placed into the oven, which cooks the dough on all sides. This also kills any remaining bacteria around the outside on the dough.
Following this step the machines will add the sauce along with toppings, sauces, and other ingredients, before the pizzas are prepared for the next step.
The pizzas are then taken to an industrial cooling system which will freeze the pizzas at about -25degF for between 20 and 30 minutes. The pizzas are then released frozen, and then it is checked for any irregularities.
The only thing left to do is to pack the baked pizza into airtight bags, and take them to local shops!
The pizzas travel from the factory floor to stores in temperature-controlled vehicles that keep the pizzas frozen. The stores then take the pizzas and store them in chillers that are individual.
Best Way To Store Frozen Pizza
When you buy a freshly frozen pizza its safety and quality depend on your own.
This is also when the chance of spoilage are higher!
Once the pizzas have left the freezer, they begin to defrost. This is why we suggest that you place all frozen items in the middle of your list of grocery items to ensure they stay frozen the longest time possible.
A frozen pizza left in the cart while you shop or running errands prior to getting home may reduce your enjoyment of pizza.
The pizzas that are frozen may remain viable for as long as two hours at temperatures of room temperature before needing refrigeration.
It is recommended to either heat fresh frozen pizza that you bought the next day or, alternatively, keep the package at 0 degrees F until the date of best-before.
Foods frozen don’t have an expiration date, because after being frozen, the majority of foods aren’t able to grow harmful bacteria. However, they have a tendency to lose their original taste and the textureover time.
It’s a natural phenomenon that is caused by the stress of oxidation. The process of oxidation is when air slowly escapes in the container, which in turn alters the contents.
This is the reason why a majority of frozen foods come with an “best before” date which signifies the quality and not the security of the food item.
The Best Practice of Storing Frozen Pizzas
When it’s time to cook a frozen pizza you should be aware of a few things in your mind to extend the shelf-life of your uncooked leftovers.
If you bought a box of pizzas frozen in three portions then we suggest you remove the necessary amount of pizzas in just a couple of minutes and then chill the remaining pizzas and not let them remain for longer than 10 minutes.
It may sound like a lot of work It may seem like a lot, but after the pizzas have been taken out of the refrigerator and chilled, they’ll quickly begin to defrostdepending on the temperatures and the weather conditions.
Another reason you’d like to work as fast as you can to freeze pizza crusts is so that you can prevent freezing burn.
Freezer burn occurs when there is moisture. When the pizzas begin to melt they’ll build up water through the process of condensationas well. And although it may not be a huge issue, even a thin layer of moisture could lead to catastrophe!
As the pizza cools down with the addition of moisture, some of the extra water will evaporate and the remaining water molecules will form crystals.
The combination of the freezing temperatures and the air end up sucking all moisture from the food ingredients.
So, how can you avoid freezing burn?
The best method to avoid freezing burn is to transfer the pizzas that remain in the freezer in an airtight container. Even if the pizzas contain condensation, the absence of air will not create an ice-like layer over the pizzas.
You can use an airtight freezer safe bag or an container to stop this from occurring. Keep in mind: the pizzas are usually packaged in sealed plastic bags which means they are more likely to last as long as they’re protected from air.
Signs of Spoilage
Pizzas frozen from the freezer typically show minimal signs of spoilage because they’re able to spend the majority of their storage time in the freezer.
However, there are some items be aware of prior to making a pizza from frozen.
An Odd Colour
The majority of frozen pizzas contain preservatives and ingredients that stop the pizza from changing color However, older frozen pizzas could appear duller.
It’s not necessarily a sign that the pizza is badly, however it can alter its taste and quality.
Discoloration that is dark On the other hand, could signal a problem!
The fact is that freezing pizza isn’t a precise method and there are plenty of things to take into consideration in a family setting.
The best option is to store your pizza at the rear of the freezer, so that it’s secure from temperature variations when you open the freezer.
If you see gray, green or some other unnatural coloration within the pizza it could mean that the pizza is bad.
Make sure you check the lower partof the pizza, too since it is often the least-visited area and is the most likely to be ruined.
Bad Odor
Freshly made pizzas will smell just like, well pizza. Nothing more and nothing less!
In the event that there’s even hint of smell, this could suggest that the pizza is contaminated with harmful bacteria. To avoid confusion, we suggest storing the pizza away from odor-producing foods.
Keep frozen pizzas in an airtight bag to ensure quality and freshness.
Crumbly Texture
This particular characteristic isn’t directly related to pizza that’s been spoiled however it could mean that the pizza is no longer structurally soundand possibly also its taste.
A crust that is crumbly usually indicates it is a sign that pizza passed the “best before” date or that it was significantly affected in the time of storage due to the temperature variation.
We advise throwing away these types of pizzas as they’re very difficult to get rid of and most likely not taste very good!
If you spot a slight thin layer of slime or oiliness on the frozen pizza, it could be a sign that the pizza is going bad even if it doesn’t exhibit other signs of spoilage.
Other Questions Asked
Frozen pizzas are a practical method of eating fresh pizzas at any time. However, they need proper storage procedures to get the most value from their shelf lives.
You now know that frozen pizzas can spoil easily! There are a few related questions on the subject.
Can You Eat Pizzas That Have Freezer Burn?
Yes. The cause of freezer burn is the combination of air and moisture on the pizza which alters the flavor and texture but does not affect its quality.
We do not recommend you consume pizzas with freezer burn since they are likely to not taste good. Do not bother to remove the excess frost that has accumulated over the crust because the damage is already done!
Can You Cook Frozen Pizza In The Oven?
Yes. The frozen pizzas that have been heated can be stored in the refrigerator or in the freezer.
We recommend keeping the leftovers in an airtight container at 40 degrees F when you store them in the refrigerator. Consume leftovers within one to two days to ensure the most taste.
It is also possible to freeze any remaining slices by transferring them into a dry container and then storing them at 0°F for 3-4 weeks.
Don’t refreeze the frozen pizza that did not cook because it’s likely to not keep well due to the additional moisture, and could become wet the next time you defrost it.
