If you’re wondering how long you may enjoy leftover pizza, whether it’s store-bought or leftover takeaway, consider the fact that pizza is one of the nation’s favorite foods.
Does frozen pizza expire or go bad? Depending on a number of conditions, frozen pizza might potentially spoil. For optimal quality, frozen pizza should be consumed within 18 months after purchase; however, it will likely still be safe to consume after this period.
This article will address the most often asked issues regarding frozen pizza, including its shelf life and optimal storage conditions.
How Long Does Frozen Pizza Last?
Freezing goods can lengthen their shelf life and preserve their flavor. Some foods nevertheless perish in the freezer, despite our occasional belief that they possess magical freezing qualities. So how long does pizza truly stay when frozen?
The shelf life of leftover pizza depends on a variety of factors, including the sell-by date, manner of cooking, and mode of storage.
The duration depends on its initial condition. You may have ordered pizza from Domino’s or another favorite pizza business and brought it home to freeze, or you may have purchased frozen pizza from the grocery.
This will affect the shelf life of your frozen pizza. Typically, takeaway pizza or handmade pizza has a shelf life of four to six months, but store-bought frozen pizza has a potential shelf life of twelve to eighteen months.
Even after that time, it will likely still be safe for ingestion. Notably, though, expiration dates often serve as guidelines for the flavor and freshness of the food. If food is kept in the freezer for an extended period of time, its quality may decline.
It can be difficult to identify the precise shelf life of frozen pizza because the cooking processes vary and you may not have this information readily available.
If properly maintained, you may be able to prolong the expiration date of your frozen pizza; you just need to be aware of the indicators that indicate when it’s time to toss it.
What causes frozen pizza to spoil?
The following factors can cause frozen pizza to spoil:
Incorrectly storing your pizza – If you do not store your pizza in an airtight container at the proper temperature, germs can form on your pizza.
How to Know if Frozen Pizza has Gone Bad?
Check for the following signs to determine whether your frozen pizza has gone bad:
Freezer Burn
Freezer burn appears on food when it has become dry. This can arise as a result of improper storage or prolonged time in the freezer. Ice crystals may develop on the pizza’s outside, and dry patches or discolouration may emerge.
In certain instances, freezer burn can manifest as black, leathery areas.
You CAN still eat the pizza because it is safe to do so, but it may affect the flavor and texture of the product, so the decision is ultimately yours.
You may opt to consume the pizza after noticing indications of freezer burn, but you should toss it if you observe any of the following:
Odor
If you notice a strong stench that looks a little wrong, it’s likely that your pizza is spoiled.
Mold
This may be the simplest approach to identify, as it is the most visually apparent. Typically, this shows as green patches.
Slimy
Depending on the toppings of your frozen pizza, you may be able to detect a spoiled ingredient through slime.
What Happens if You Consume a Spoiled Frozen Pizza?
Up to 18 months, and maybe longer, frozen pizzas can be stored in the freezer.
Due to the fact that frozen goods are often safe to consume even beyond their expiration date, it is quite unlikely that eating frozen pizza after its best by date would cause you to become unwell or have any adverse consequences.
Sometimes it is wiser to err on the side of caution. On the CDC website, you may view the signs of food poisoning to offer you piece of mind.
How to Properly Store Frozen Pizza?
Temperature
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if frozen food is stored at 0 degrees Fahrenheit and the packaging has not been opened or damaged, it should last indefinitely. Therefore, temperature has a significant role in determining how frozen pizza should be stored.
Although freezing food does not destroy germs, it prevents their growth when stored at the proper temperature, hence reducing the risk of food poisoning or sickness.
If the frozen pizza is exposed to temperatures over 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours, it should be discarded.
To guarantee that your freezer is at the appropriate temperature, you may purchase thermometers and routinely check it. This should be performed at least once every week. By following these steps, you extend the shelf life of your frozen meals.
Containers
If you’ve purchased a frozen pizza from the supermarket, it’s likely that it’s already wrapped appropriately and you don’t need to do anything.
However, whether you have handmade pizza or leftovers from takeout, you need take further precautions to ensure that it is properly stored.
Pizza should be placed in a freezer-safe airtight container. This prevents freezer burn and guarantees that there is minimal space for germs to grow while opening and shutting the freezer.
Conclusion
It might be difficult to offer a plain response as to whether or not frozen pizza goes bad. Frozen pizza does technically expire. After a lengthy period of storage, frozen pizza will ultimately lose its original flavor and texture, becoming a bit more spongy.
That is not what you want, ideally! To guarantee that you may still enjoy the delightful health advantages of pizza, consume it within 12 to 18 months.