Oh, the charm of homemade cookies! Recently, everyone around me has been raving about these super straightforward recipes that still manage to yield perfect, crispy flavors.
Some of us can’t resist getting straight into the dough, while others prefer to pop it in the refrigerator for some time before baking. But since cookie dough isn’t exactly an eternal resident in the fridge, how long can we keep it there? Keep reading to find out!
In This Article:
How Long Is Cookie Dough Good For In The Fridge?
The staying power of cookie dough varies between 2 and 4 days to a week in the fridge, depending on whether it is homemade or store-bought.
The prepackaged ones from commercial stores can last slightly longer due to preservatives. But what if you don’t spot any expiration date? Then it’s best to use it within a week after the suggested “best-by” date.
Meanwhile, homemade cookie dough is not exactly a marathon champion of fridge life. Usually, it stays good for about only 3 to 5 days when stored in airtight containers – except for the meringue or cookie bar batters, which have an even shorter shelf life.
Here’s a tip: for easier baking later on, consider shaping the cookie dough into logs or scooping the batter before putting it in your fridge. And when planning for long hauls, I usually let my delicious cookie dough hit the freezer and chill there for months!
How To Know If Cookie Dough Is Bad
Alright, time to play detective with our cookie dough!
First things first, mold. If you spot any fuzzy stuff surfacing, then it’s a no-go; chuck your bad cookie dough away to whip up a fresh batch.
Even if it looks mold-free, eyeball the color. Sometimes, the bad dough will start changing its hues, especially around the edges, due to chemical reactions from oxidation.
Next up, use your nose. Does the dough smell a bit funky or totally different from how it should?
Once, I opened my fridge expecting that sweet, buttery scent from my vanilla cookie dough. Instead, I was hit with a rotten, extremely sour smell! At that point, I knew it was time to bid my dough farewell.
Last but not least – the taste test. Tasting dry ingredients might sound odd, but trust me. Relying on your taste buds is the ultimate detective move! Take one small bite and check the flavor; it should tell you instantly whether you need to part ways with your cookie dough.
Extra Notes:
When dealing with store-bought cookie dough, I usually check the dates on the packages as well. Two dates, actually!
First, there’s a best-by date, which mostly indicates the dough’s recommended freshness rather than food safety; your dough is likely still okay even if it’s a bit past that date. Remember to give it a quick look-over using the signals above before diving in!
And wait, here’s another date: the EXPIRY date. Now, this one is no joke. Once the dough has already crossed its expiration date, it’s time to chuck it out unless you want a couple of sick days due to food poisoning!
Can You Bake Frozen Cookie Dough?
Sure, you can use the classic method and let your raw cookie dough thaw in the refrigerator overnight. But what if you’re like me and just can’t wait? There’s a faster way!
Step 1.
First, preheat your oven a bit lower than the recipe’s instructions; around 20 degrees less should do it. Grab the amount of cookie dough balls you want to bake from the freezer, then plop them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 2.
Now, place those balls into the oven and add a few extra minutes to your baking time compared to what the original recipe specifies. Keep an eye on them; you will want their edges to grow a nice golden shade while the center still looks slightly moist!
And that’s it! With some minor tweaks to the formula, you can turn these frozen dough balls into delicious cookies without waiting ages for them to defrost.
Conclusion
Whether you whip your homemade dough from scratch or grab it from the store, it should hang in the fridge for about a week. Stash it in the freezer instead if you want to play the long game.
Still hit a snag or need some help with certain steps? Feel free to shoot me a message anytime!
Homemade cookie dough should be stored in small containers in the refrigerator for two to four days or freeze for two months. Alternatively, small quantities of dough can be frozen and thawed in the refrigerator as needed.
Most cookie dough will last a cool 3-5 days in an airtight container or other airtight situation. It may even be good up to one week, you'll just need to use your best judgment at that point.
First things first, mold. If you spot any fuzzy stuff surfacing, then it's a no-go; chuck your bad cookie dough away to whip up a fresh batch. Even if it looks mold-free, eyeball the color. Sometimes, the bad dough will start changing its hues, especially around the edges, due to chemical reactions from oxidation.
A dough will last approximately three days in the refrigerator; however, it is best to use it within 48 hours. This is the best way to refrigerate your dough. After the dough is kneaded, place in a lightly oiled, large mixing bowl.
In the refrigerator it will be fine for about 2 days. I wouldn't let it sit much longer than that. You can also freeze some/most doughs and thaw before baking them.
As Martha Stewart explains, for cookies that are intended to be served thin, crispy, or crunchy, refrigerating raw cookie dough isn't required. Simply prepare the batch and skip the chilling step so that when the cookies bake, they spread out over the hot baking pan.
Off Smell or Taste: Any rancid, sour, or just "off" smell or taste is a clear indicator that cookies have gone bad. Mold: This is a definite sign of spoilage. If you see any mold, the cookies should be discarded immediately.
Pillsbury cookie dough, and others like it, are different in that they are meant to sit in the fridge for a little longer than your other frozen raw cookie doughs. You can safely get about two weeks of fridge life out of this type of dough, even after the “best by” date.
As a general rule of thumb, you should refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. More than that, and you won't see a noticeable difference in the final product. Once the dough has chilled, let it warm up at room temperature until it's just pliable (about 5 to 10 minutes).
In general, homemade cookie dough will last in the refrigerator for two to four days or in the freezer for up to two months. You will know if your cookie dough has gone rancid if it smells bad, has visible mold, or if it has any hardened or discolored edges.
When you bring out your pizza dough from the refrigerator, inspect the dough's texture, color, and smell carefully before you start making pizza on it. Fresh pizza dough will have fewer air pockets or bubbles, and if you see an excessive amount of it, then it has been spoiled or gotten bad.
If it fits better with your day ahead you can leave your dough to ferment at room temperature for an hour or two, then when its risen and full of air, shape it and pop it the fridge to do its second rise as a shaped loaf. You can then preheat the oven and bake the loaf straight from the fridge.
Store it in an airtight container and use it up within 24 hours preferably. Always smell and check the texture of the dough before making rotis from it.
Homemade cookie dough should be stored in small containers in the refrigerator for two to four days or freeze for two months. Alternatively, small quantities of dough can be frozen and thawed in the refrigerator as needed.
To stay on the safe side, it is probably not highly recommended that you eat expired cookie dough, however you can eat it up to 1 or 2 months past it's best by date, if you ensure that you have stored it properly.
The dough is still safe to enjoy! We do recommend that if you decide to refrigerate your warm dough to firm it up, you should first give it a quick stir or remove any separated oil. If refrigerated with separated oil still in the jar with the dough, the oil will get firm and turn white.
After 72 hours, the dough will begin to dry out and you risk it going bad, especially if chilling pre-portioned balls of dough instead of the entire mass of dough. If you want to store longer than 72 hours, see the freezing tips below.
Pillsbury cookie dough, and others like it, are different in that they are meant to sit in the fridge for a little longer than your other frozen raw cookie doughs. You can safely get about two weeks of fridge life out of this type of dough, even after the “best by” date.
While an unopened cookie mix can last well beyond its best-by date, it is essential to inspect the mix for signs of spoilage before using. Discoloration, off odors, or any signs of pest infestation are clear indicators that the mix should not be used.
Chocolate chip cookies will last for about a week in the fridge. Put them in the freezer to use any time within 6-9 months. Homemade cookies have a shorter shelf life.
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