Trader Joe’s is a popular place to buy food for a meal for several great reasons! However, we all know how hectic life can get, and it is no wonder some of us buy products like pizza dough from Trader Joe’s only to leave it lying for quite some time. The question is, does Trader Joe’s pizza dough expire?
Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough expires quickly since it is made fresh for the stores. It should be considered expired after it’s printed expiration date on each package; however, if Trader Joe’s pizza dough is left unrefrigerated for more than 4 hours it can go bad. If it’s frozen instead of refrigerated it may last as long as 180 days. Discard pizza dough after the expiration date.
In this article, we will go over expiration dates on Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough Packages, how to tell if Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough has expired, how to store Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough to prolong it’s shelf life, how to freeze it, and whether or not you can use Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough after its expiration date.
Expiration Dates on Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough Packages
Preparing your own pizza dough may be a fun and exciting challenge, but for some of us, the convenience and deliciousness of Trader Joe’s pizza dough is much more worthwhile and efficient.
With that being said, since Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough does expire, it is important to know when.
If you do wind up eating pizza dough that is expired, not only could you likely get sick, but you could find yourself having a really gross, decidedly not-tasty dinner or lunch experience.
In fact, you may find yourself having such a bad experience that you blame Trader Joe’s and resolve not to eat their pizza anymore, when in reality, it was all the fault of expired dough.
Look for the Expiration Sticker
What you need to do is look for the expiration date tag that is placed onto the Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough packages.
The expiration date is usually a number listing the day and month that marks the last time Trader Joe’s pizza dough is safe to eat.
It will be printed somewhere on the packaging of the dough you purchased from Trader Joe’s, likely along the side or the opposite face of the bag to the Trader Joe’s logo. It will be small and black, so keep a sharp eye out for it!
Who Decides the Expiration Date?
The expiration date is decided on by the manufacturers of the food, who have to adhere to strict safety regulations when they are pre-preparing, packaging, and storing the food that other people will buy and eat.
Because so many people’s jobs hinge on getting this date right and keeping potential customers safe, you can and should trust it!
With that being said, it is important to note that the expiration date only counts if you are refrigerating Trader Joe’s dough, like the package directs.
If you freeze it, it may last longer, while leaving it out will cause it to expire faster than the date indicates, as we’ll discuss below.
Ultimately, as long as you refrigerate it properly, the expiration dates on Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough Packages are the best way to determine how long the dough is good for.
How to tell if Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough Has Expired
Even if you are paying attention to the expiration date printed on the bag, it is okay to want to be extra sure that the dough you are about to use is completely safe to eat and not expired.
After all, life happens; maybe you had to leave the dough in the car longer than you expected between a trip to the grocery store, or someone else removed it from the fridge.
Whatever the case may be, take a look at our step-by-step guide below to see how to tell if Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough has expired.
- Take the Dough Out of the Fridge – Even if your dough has been refrigerated, you will need to take it out, just briefly, in order to examine it for signs of expiration. Don’t worry; it will only take a few moments, and should not result in the dough going bad during your examination!
- Check the texture – Your Trader Joe’s pizza dough should be smooth and unblemished just like the day you bought it after removing it from the fridge. If this describes your dough, it is probably safe to eat. If it does not, and you notice dryness or a crusty rime, it is likely expired and should be thrown out!
- Check the color – Maybe the texture looks great, but your dough is not a white or creamy color. If you notice greyness instead, or even just little speckles of grey, watch out: your dough is probably expired.
- Smell – The smell of your pizza dough is another tell-tale sign that it is bad. Expired pizza dough will smell sour and alcoholic. This is mainly due to a chemical reaction that occurs as well as bacterial growth.
Storing Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough to Prolong Its Shelf Life
Some people are liable not to trust the expiration date, or to be so busy that they need a way to store their Trader Joe’s pizza dough for even longer than the shelf life listed.
While all Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough should be refrigerated like the package instructs, it can be stored even longer than the intended shelf life!
This can be done by one simple course of action: freezing Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough! Let’s see how in the section below.
Freezing Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough to Extend It’s Shelf Life
Freezing Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough can extend it’s shelf life, but only to a limited degree. Freezing it slows down the rate of deterioration that contributes to it’s expiration, so you can keep it just a bit longer than it’s shelf life advertises.
This can be done by taking your Trader Joe’s Pizza out of the bag, carefully covering it in a light amount of Olive Oil, and then sealing it very tightly and carefully with a specially designed freezer bag.
You must be sure this freezer bag is free of air before sealing it. After this, your Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough can last up to three months.
Using Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough After it’s Expiration Date
It is absolutely unsafe to use Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough after it’s expiration date. The only circumstance in which it might not make you sick is if you carefully freeze it in an airtight bag, as listed above.
However, other than that, the Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough expiration date printed on the bag is the safest way to measure how long it will last.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still have questions about Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough and when it expires, don’t worry, we have you covered! Check out our answers to the most frequently asked questions below.
How Long Will Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough Last in Fridge?
Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough has an expiration date which is meant to calculate how long it will last in the fridge at the proper temperature.
Therefore, Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough will last in the refrigerator until it’s expiration date, which is usually about 3 to 4 days after purchasing it.
How Long Does Pizza Dough Last Past Expiration Date?
No pizza dough which is pre-prepared and store-bought, like Trader Joe’s, should be consumed after the expiration date has past.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Trader Joe’s pizza dough is an aboslutely wonderful source of convenience for anyone looking to enjoy pizza without having to make their own dough. However, it does not last forever and will expire.
Trader Joe’s pizza dough is meant to be refrigerated, and once it is stored in a refrigerator, it should last as long as it’s printed expiration date on the package, or 3 to 4 days after purchasing it. If it is not refrigerated, it can expire within 4 hours.
The only way to prolong Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough shelf life is to freeze it in an airtight bag with a light layer of olive oil coating the whole dough mass, in which case it can last up to 3 months.