Does Pillsbury Dough Expire? (8 Ways to Extend Its Expiry)

Preparing any type of dough is tedious and time-consuming.

Pillsbury dough makes this task a lot easier, allowing you to whip up delicious goodies effortlessly.

However, when stocking up on Pillsbury dough, you may want to know if it expires or not.

Expiration of Pillsbury Dough

Like all processed food, Pillsbury dough comes with an expiration date. The company recommends using the dough by this date. Although it may not necessarily go bad beyond this date, the nutritional quality, texture, and taste may get affected.

Nevertheless, always remember that Pillsbury dough will not hold up forever.

It’s a perishable food and will eventually spoil.

You can, however, extend the shelf-life of Pillsbury dough by storing it properly.

Let’s look at how to do this.

8 Ways to Extend the Expiry of Pillsbury Dough

Pillsbury has a wide range of ready-to-cook dough for pizzas, cookies, cinnamon rolls, crescent rolls, and much more.

Each of them uses different recipes, and the ingredients will vary according to the product.

All Pillsbury products have an expiration date printed on the packaging, and the manufacturer advises using them by this date.

Nevertheless, you should be able to use it beyond the expiration date if you store the product properly.

Here are some easy ways to make sure that Pillsbury dough lasts longer.

1. Store It in The Original Packaging

Pillsbury dough comes in well-sealed packaging that is impervious to moisture and air.

This prevents the contents from getting contaminated and helps the dough stay usable till the expiration date or beyond.

Opening the packaging will expose the contents to environmental agents like air, heat, and moisture and make the contents prone to spoiling.

To protect the dough from agents that cause spoiling, retain it in its original packaging.

This will ensure that it lasts until its expiration date and doesn’t spoil quickly.

2. Strictly Follow the Storage Instructions on The Packaging

Some types of dough hold up at room temperature, while others require refrigeration.

Check the packaging instructions to find out how you should store Pillsbury dough.

Ensure that you follow the instructions to make the dough last long.

The expiration date on the packaging is usually on the safer side, which means the product will usually be usable even beyond this date.

You should be able to use it for at least two weeks past the expiration date if you store it properly.

3. Refrigerate or Chill the Dough as Soon as You Open It

Once you open the package of dough, you must use it up quickly.

The packaging will usually mention how soon you should use the dough after opening, which is usually within five to seven days.

It’s because the texture will change once you open the packet.

Additionally, the nutritional quality will deplete once the dough is out of its packaging.

If there is any leftover dough, ensure that you refrigerate it promptly to make it last longer.

4. Store Any Unused Dough in An Airtight Container or Bag

Always take suitable precautions when storing any leftover dough to ensure that it remains usable for longer.

After removing Pillsbury dough from the original packaging, transfer the excess to an airtight box or bag and seal it well.

This will prevent it from being exposed to moisture and air. It will also slow down bacteria growth in the opened dough.

Opened dough quickly loses its moisture and dries out.

Using it for cooking results in chewy and tasteless cookies, pizzas, or other baked goods.

However, placing the dough in an airtight container or bag soon after you remove the packaging eliminates this problem.

Doing so will help the dough remain elastic and soft.

5. Freezing Extends the Shelf-Life of Pillsbury Dough

The best way to extend the shelf-life of Pillsbury dough is to freeze it.

Although it’s not exactly recommended by the manufacturer, it’s an effective way to store the dough for later use.

However, you must pay close attention to how you store it to retain the original taste, texture, and nutritional quality.

You can choose either of the following options for this.

• Place the dough in its original packaging inside an airtight container or Ziploc bag and store it in the freezer. You can cut off just as much dough as you need each time without thawing the dough, seal the rest of the package, and return it to the freezer.
• Divide the dough into individual portions and freeze each portion separately in freezer-safe bags or containers. This will allow you to retrieve just the quantity you need for each use.

Allow the frozen dough to thaw completely before cooking. You can thaw it on the countertop.

However, we recommend thawing it overnight in the refrigerator so that the entire dough thaws uniformly without any hard bits.

If you end up thawing more dough than you need, don’t refreeze the excess because it can be risky.

It’s better to discard any dough that remains.

6. Don’t Allow the Dough to Come Near Moisture

Whether you refrigerate or freeze the dough, ensure that it’s away from moisture.

Any contact with moisture will promote bacterial growth that will deteriorate the dough.

It can lead to food-borne issues if you cook with it later.

Place the dough in an airtight container and use it up quickly or discard it if there is a power outage and the dough thaws.

7. Store the Dough Away from Heat

Pillsbury dough holds up well in the refrigerator or freezer.

However, if you place hot items near the dough, its shelf-life will be affected.

The heat from the nearby containers can produce condensation on the container surfaces.

This will temporarily raise the temperature of the dough and trigger bacterial growth, which will make the dough spoil faster.

To avoid such problems, place the dough in a secure location where it’s not prone to temperature fluctuations.

8. Cook the Dough and Freeze It to Make It Last Longer

An alternative solution to freezing or refrigerating the dough is to cook with it and store the cooked products instead.

So, if you are using Pillsbury cookie dough, prepare a batch of cookies with the dough and freeze the excess.

Freezing baked products is an excellent way of storing them for long-term use.

Not only does it hold up well in the freezer, but it will also save you the effort of preparing it afresh when you need it.

You can simply thaw the desired quantity and reheat it.

It will usually taste fine and, with proper storage, even look like you baked it fresh.

However, it’s essential to store the cooked products properly to retain the original taste and flavor.

Allow the baked goods to cool down before you freeze them.

Once they are at room temperature, transfer them into airtight containers, bags, or pouches.

Then, label the packing with the date and place them in the freezer compartment.

They will hold up well for several months or even a year without going stale when stored properly.

When you wish to use these baked items, leave them overnight in the fridge to thaw completely.

You can also heat them in the microwave for faster thawing.