Can I Freeze Cookie Dough?

Can I Freeze Cookie Dough?

Cookie dough? Where?! If you are like me and love to eat your moms cookie dough, maybe even more than you love eating the actual cookies, then you have probably at some point wondered if you were living a bit too far on the edge. Everyone says cookie dough is bad for you, so where is that line drawn and how can you avoid the negative consequences of eating cookie dough while still enjoying the deliciousness that is your favorite treat? Plus, how can you make more cookie dough at once to maximize your cooking time, but minimize any health risks for you and your family. Can you freeze cookie dough and use them up later so you can have fresh baked cookies anytime? This article answers the age-old question of whether freezing cookie dough affects the taste and texture, while also explaining all the risks you should pay attention to when eating delicious unbaked cookie dough!

Why Does Cookie Dough Go Bad?

Cookie dough, whether it's a chocolate chip cookie dough, drop cookie or sugar cookie dough, is one of those things everyone has told you not to eat, and the reason for that is the raw eggs. Raw eggs have been linked to things like salmonella and e-coli, both of which you definitely want to avoid. No matter when it was made, you should never eat too much raw cookie dough, unless you know that the dough does not contain eggs. Eggs are extremely important to the structure of your cookies, however, as they act as a sticking agent and hold all of the other ingredients in the right place. If you have ever made cookie dough from a box (oh no!), then you know that almost all the other ingredients in the dough are dry, and eggs provide the right amount and kind of liquid to keep your cookies moist and delicious (especially fresh out of the oven). This is also the reason that cookies can get harder and less delicious over a few days: the moisture simply dries up, and all that is left are the dry, crumbly ingredients.

Ways to Make Cookie Dough Last Longer

Can I Freeze Cookie Dough? _ Bobs Red Mill You can avoid the issues with cookie dough in a few ways. First of all, make sure you use the freshest eggs possible when you make your cookie dough. You should always be using the freshest ingredients you have on hand, but with eggs, you will have less risk of disease if you use fresh ones. There are no significant studies to prove this, but in general, you may feel a little less risky if you use locally sourced, organic eggs. The main reason for this is that humanely raised chickens are less likely to have come into contact with contaminants that may cause disease for you. However, as no studies have proven this, you can just focus on getting the freshest ones that are available to you. Many bakers also claim taste improvements when fresher ingredients are used, so your cookies will be as yummy as possible! You can also always enjoy cookie dough and cookies without eggs in them. The most common substitutes for eggs in cookies are oils, flax seeds, and fruits like applesauce. This can help your cookie dough last longer, as well as the added bonus of being vegan, and make your dough safe to consume. However, you need to pay attention to the expiration dates of these items, as some of them do go bad as well. These substitutes can also provide additional flavor profiles to your cookies, especially in the case of the fruits, so make sure the recipe you are making can handle the substitute flavors, and that you look up more specific articles on how to properly substitute these items for eggs. Otherwise, you can risk throwing off the entire batter (and no one wants a wasted batch of cookies!).

How Long Is Cookie Dough Good?

You may have asked: How long is cookie dough good for? The short answer is that there is not a catch-all answer for every type of dough. All cookies are created differently, and baking is all about the scientific interactions between all of the different ingredients. You have different types of cookie doughs based on different purposes, including the kind you buy at your kids school fundraiser in a tub, the kind you make at home, and the kind that is mass produced, like Pillsbury Break N Bakes. It is important to note that all cookie doughs can be good for different amounts of time, depending on the storage container, exact ingredients, flavorings, and freshness of ingredients, just to name a few qualifiers. As a general rule, cookie dough will be good for about 2-4 hours after you create it if left on the counter. However, you can also store it in the fridge for a small time period. Although it is not always clear on the packaging, with cookie dough, the date on the package is typically more of a best by date than an actual expiration date. This is common for a lot of products and just reminds us to be aware of our ingredients and pay attention when cooking to ensure they are still good. The tub kind is generally good for about 1-2 weeks after the best by date on the carton when stored in the carton, closed tightly, in your refrigerator. The generic brands at the grocery store are made for a little longer shelf life in the fridge, and they can last safely about 2 or even 3 weeks after the best by date. We love this dough, though, because it is so easy to find at almost any grocery store and it is easy to use in a pinch--when Johnny forgets to tell you about that bake sale until the night before! If you are a purist and a great baker, then you likely create your own cookie dough from scratch (and we recommend inviting us over when you do!). Most homemade cookie dough uses much fresher ingredients and avoids any preservatives, so your shelf life will be a good bit shorter with fresh dough. We recommend tossing fresh cookie dough after 3-5 days in the fridge to be safe! No matter what date ranges we give you, the most foolproof way to test your cookie dough is to simply look at it. Obviously, if you see any mold growing, then your cookie dough is definitely bad and should take a quick hop into the trash can. The edges of your dough will start to discolor and become darker as the dough grows older, and may become brittle and hard instead of that lovely doughy consistency. You may also notice a sour or rancid smell that is a quick litmus test to determine that your dough has gone caput. We also recommend paying attention after baking--if your cookies are tasting different than they typically do, then you could have accidentally baked with old dough. It is a good idea to toss anything in the kitchen that catches on any one of your Spidey senses!

What If I Freeze It?

This is an excellent question, and works really well actually! Freezing cookie dough can extend the life by a surprising amount, as long as it is done correctly to avoid any issues. Like almost any food, the shelf life depends a great deal on how you store cookie dough, and you can prolong its life by storing it correctly in the freezer instead of in your fridge. My mom always made two batches and froze one to make in a pinch later! We recommend storing your cookie dough in an airtight container that is small enough to fit your dough without much extra room for air. If you have one of those airtight sealing systems, this is a perfect time to use it, and we also like wrapping it tightly in freezer paper, plastic wrap or parchment. If you plan to bake your cookies soon, then the fridge should be fine, but if you are not sure when you will want to bake them, then the freezer storage method is a great idea. Homemade cookie doughs can last 6-12 months in the freezer, depending on the exact ingredient list. Store-bought brands like Pillsbury are not really made for the freezer, and only last around 6 months in the freezer (maximum 9 months). Frozen cookie dough in the tubs is actually ideal for storing in the freezer and easily lasts 9-12 months. If you are planning to bake in the next month or so, then any type will freeze well for that time period! Always use your senses to make sure, though, in case something has gone wrong. When you ask about freezing cookie dough, the short answer is, of course, a resounding yes! However, it is important to freeze it in the right way and pay attention to any clues that would tell you your dough has expired or gone bad. If you have eggless cookie dough then you can probably get even longer out of the freezer method, but just for your familys sake, we never, ever recommend waiting too long in between batches of cookies: go ahead and bake those delicious goodies if you can! Thinking of a great cookie recipe to try? Then how about our Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookie Dough Bites? These are heavenly! You could also read up on our How to Make Chewy Cookies post to get tips on the best-tasting chewy cookies you have ever tried.
Bob's Red Mill
January 13 2018

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