Can You Refreeze Frozen Pizza?
Pizza is one of the most popular snacks around. While most people opt to get them fresh, you also have the option to go and buy frozen pizza in the grocery. This way, you won’t have to go through the motions of having to order one.
But when you don’t eat your frozen pizza as quickly as you thought you might, you’ll need to find a solution to keep it from going to waste.
Can you refreeze frozen pizza once it has defrosted? Yes, you can refreeze a defrosted frozen pizza. For best results, cut the pizza into individual slices and wrap each with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil or wax paper. Store slices together in a freezer bag and store them where they will not be crushed for up to 3 months.
That said, be sure to keep reading as we will delve into the finer details on the matter on this freezing guide.
How to Refreeze Frozen Pizza
Freezing pizza can save you a great deal of time as it lets you prepare meals in advance. If done properly, your frozen pizza can last as long as 3 months in the freezer.
Refreezing pizza a straightforward and easy process. Just follow these steps:
- Make sure that the pizza is properly cut into individual slices. While most frozen pizzas are pre-sliced, you will need to ensure that each slice is properly separated from each other.
- Take some plastic wrap and cover each slice individually. To do this, set it on an even surface like your kitchen countertop. Then, put a slice at the center of it before folding the edges of the plastic wrap to ensure full coverage.
- Next, you will need to wrap the individual slices again with aluminum foil or wax paper to prevent sticking. Alternatively, you can also use freezer paper or parchment paper.
- Put the wrapped pizza slices into a freezer bag. You can use multiple bags or one large freezer bag as long as it can hold the pizza slices without being too cramped.
- Label the bag properly and make sure that the date is clearly stated. This way, you can understand how long it has been in the freezer.
- Make sure to place the pizza somewhere where it can be protected in the freezer, so it won’t get crushed. Otherwise, your efforts would go to waste.
Things to Consider
At this point, you may wonder whether it would be wise to refreeze pizza. For the record, refreezing most foods is completely safe.
However, it is important that we put things in perspective. Essentially, refreezing pizza means that you are once again freezing food that has already undergone the process once and has since been thawed out and cooked.
Let’s delve into the details of what goes on when you freeze food. In that regard, there are two things you need to consider: food safety and the texture of your food. Both of these can have a tremendous impact on your eating experience.
Food Safety and Potential Spoilage
Before anything else, it is important to note that freezing does nothing to kill bacteria. Instead, it just drastically slows down its growth.
Once the pizza has been thawed for the first time and cooked, the activity of the bacteria will resume and will multiply at an exponential rate. That means that you have to check the condition of the pizza before you freeze it.
It would also be wise to check the quality of your pizza before even considering freezing it for a second time. You won’t be doing anyone any favors by refreezing stale pizza.
Be sure to check for the following signs of spoiled food before you attempting to refreeze pizza:
- Bad Odors
- Discoloration
- Changes in Taste
Effects of Freezing on Texture
As with many foods, the texture of pizza undergoes changes during the freezing process. In the case of pizza, it means losing some of the signature texture of the crust.
This is because freezing can affect a food’s structural integrity. Specifically, through the expansion of the food’s water content and the formation of ice crystals.
Because of this, refreezing the pizza will only intensify these changes. If you are particular about the way pizza feels when you chew it, then you should understand that freezing it again will not improve it in any way.
Of course, the extent of these texture changes after refreezing can vary.
For instance, if you bought a frozen pizza and it only thawed slightly on the way home, then the effects of refreezing will be negligible. However, the situation will be different when refreezing a cooked pizza.
There you have it, our easy-to-follow guide for refreezing pizza. Be sure to follow the steps presented here for optimal results.