Last Updated on August 20, 2024 by Lori Walker
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An easy method for creating original recipes is to create your own cookie dough. With the ability to choose your own ingredients and experiment with different flavors, you have full control over the entire process.
However, how long homemade cookie dough will last vary on certain factors such as temperature, storage methods, etc.
We’ll discuss how long homemade cookie dough is good for. Let’s find out.
How Long Can Homemade Cookie Dough Last?
Homemade cookie dough can last at least 2-4 hours in the kitchen at room temperature.
Beyond that, it runs the risk of becoming stale, especially if it has already gone beyond its “best by” date.
Homemade cookie dough should be frozen for 2 months or kept in tiny canisters in the refrigerator for two to four days.
As an alternative, small portions of dough can be refrigerated and thawed as required in the refrigerator.
But what can you do if there is too much flour in the cookie dough?
Homemade Cookie Dough Shelf Life
At Room Temperature
The shelf life of homemade cookies at room temperature depends on your kitchen temperature. If less than 90 degrees F, the cookie dough can sit for 2-4 hours.
However, if the temperature exceeds 90 degrees, the maximum shelf life is 1 hour. High temperature contributes to the speed up process of spoilage in any food left out in the pantry. [1]
In The Fridge
Homemade cookie dough can stay in the refrigerator for up to four days. It is recommended to place them in an airtight container or a sizable plastic bag with a zip-top closure.
Before covering a container with a lid, you can add a layer of security by tightly wrapping the dough in plastic wrap. But how do you defrost cookie dough?
In The Freezer
In the freezer, you can store homemade cookie dough for up to three months without sacrificing its quality. Don’t forget to label the packaging with the date, cookie kind, and baking directions.
To freeze it, scoop the batter out as though you were going to bake it, but instead, freeze it. Place them inside a plastic freezer bag and then put them inside the freezer properly.
Read: How Long Does Toll House Cookie Dough Stay Good Once It’s Been Opened?
How To Tell If Homemade Cookie Dough Has Gone Bad?
Molds
The most common sign a homemade cookie dough has gone bad is the presence of molds.
If you notice the development of mold on its surface and the edges turn darker, it is no doubt has gone bad. Throw it away immediately to prevent health risks.
Texture
Spoiled homemade cookie dough will have a rough and rugged texture instead of doughy. This is because some ingredients have started to dry out.
“Baking’s meant to be done at home. It’s meant to be a good time. It’s not about, like, hoarding secrets. It’s about sharing them.”
– Christina Tosi, Milk Bar’s CEO
If your cookie dough starts to be like this, throw them away and do not attempt to eat it–cooked or raw.
Odor
An expired homemade cookie will have an off taste and a rancid odor. These changes in taste and smell are because of the bacteria that have started deteriorating the dough. [2]
Also Read: What Causes My Sugar Cookie Dough Crumbly?
Tips & Tricks When Storing Homemade Cookie Dough
- Move the dough to a sealed container or cover the bowl with a securely packed sheet of plastic wrap.
- When it’s ready to bake, let the dough sit in the refrigerator to soften slightly; this will make it simpler to cut the dough into tiny cookies.
- To freeze more, wrap the dough sheets in parchment paper, stack more on top of the first, and put them in a freezer bag.
- If you portion out the dough in advance, chunky cookies like oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip freeze better.
Read: 15 Delicious Store-Bought Oatmeal Cookies You Can Try
FAQs
What happens if you refrigerate the cookie dough for too long?
If you refrigerate the cookie dough for an extended period, it will start to dry up, especially if you chill pre-portioned balls of dough rather than the entire batch.
Find out how long brownies can be left out here.
Is it safe to eat a week-old cookie dough?
Yes, eating a week-old cookie dough is safe as long as it is properly frozen in the freezer and thawed thoroughly before baking. It is also safe to consume unless molds are already visible.
Check out these quick steps on fixing a runny cookie dough here.
Can cookie dough spoil?
Yes, cookie dough can spoil, especially if left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. Or if it is stored incorrectly in the freezer.
Can you refrigerate cookie dough before baking?
Yes, you can refrigerate cookie dough before baking. Chilled cookies won’t spread out too much in the oven because the oil ingredients are hardened, resulting in a perfect shape.
But how can you make a cookie cake with Pillsbury cookie dough?
Key Takeaways
Generally speaking, homemade cookie dough can stay fresh in the fridge for 2-4 days and up to 2 months in the freezer.
Both methods require proper packaging to prevent contamination while inside the fridge or freezer.
Leaving the cookie dough in the pantry is not recommended, especially in high temperatures. Any food left outside the fridge for a long could develop food-borne pathogens and spoil quickly.
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/temperature-danger-zone
- https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/eating-raw-cookie-dough-salmonella-infections
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