“Handmade. Home-baked.” For those who have a little extra time on their hands, Papa Murphy’s has created the perfect form of take-out.
Let’s be honest, the worst part about delivering pizza is that by the time you actually receive it, it is no longer at that optimal temperature.
Thankfully, Papa Murphy’s takes away this issue, along with the worry of dishes with their conveniently packaged taking ‘n’ bake pizza!
However, for those who love to plan ahead, can you freeze Papa Murphy pizza for a later date? We have the dish on what you knead to know!
Papa Murphy’s strives to bring convenience with every meal. Their products are always fresh, but they can also be safely frozen.
When uncooked, ask for a second layer of plastic wrap around the pizza and then apply a tight layer of aluminum foil when you get home. Then, just make sure to freeze it flat.
Conversely, if freezing leftover pizza, allow it to cool and then apply a layer of freezer wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil to the slices. Finally, slide the pizza into a freezer-safe plastic bag, removing all of the air.
Suitable cold storage time is two months for both uncooked and cooked pizza. However, remember to consider all of the ingredients prior to freezing, as some will endure texture, flavor, and color changes in extremely low temperatures.
Finally, make sure to allow for the uncooked pizza to thaw for 24 hours and then set it out at room temperature for another 60 minutes prior to baking.
Consider Your Ingredients
As you may have deduced from the freezer section at the grocery store, pizza is a stupendous food to keep in the freezer!
However, ingredients matter in terms of shelf life. Most cheeses and meats will fare for long periods of time with no issue.
However, Papa Murphy’s is known for its fresh assortment of vegetables that they include on and in their pies. These will unfortunately not always fare as well.
Select Vegetables
Some of the top ingredients that will limit the cold storage life of your pizza are tomatoes, spinach, zucchini, cream sauce, a gluten-free crust, and artichokes.
Why? Tomatoes, zucchini, and spinach are all composed of a high percentage of water.
Without blanching, this can lead to changes in texture and consistency when frozen. While they will remain safe to eat, they will take on less than desirable qualities. These can be described as ‘mushy’ and ‘slimy’.
Therefore, if you plan to freeze Papa Murphy pizza that includes the water-based vegetables, consider leaving them off the order and then buying those fresh.
Then, add them to your uncooked pizza after thawing, but before you bake. Otherwise, try to bake and consume the pizza upon purchase.
Finally, raw artichokes are never recommended for cold storage. This environment will cause their appearance and taste to spoil.
Cream Based & Gluten-Free Pizzas
Moreover, cream-based products do not do well in freezer storage either. That is because the components of the sauce will separate at extreme temperatures.
While baking will slightly remedy this issue, you may notice changes in texture and flavor.
Additionally, gluten-free products tend to dry out much more easily than their wheat-based counterparts.
In case you didn’t know, exposure to cold temperatures also has this effect. Thus, if you choose pizzas with a GF crust, only freeze them for up to one month.
How To Freeze Papa Murphy Pizza Prior To Cooking
As mentioned above, Papa Murphy’s takes out the work and provides complete convenience with their products.
The company advises that you always bake their pizzas within 24 hours of purchase. However, if you don’t have the time to cook this delicious dish, you also have the option of freezing it!
In fact, if you think of this at the time of purchase, “you can request to have our pizza double-wrapped to help endure it’s chilly new digs.”
This can allow the uncooked pizza to last for two months in cold storage.
In order to achieve an ideal result, first, make sure to label the packaging with the date of the freeze.
Next, clear off an entire freezer shelf and ensure that the freezer vent and fan are unobstructed.
You want this product to freeze quickly to prevent large ice crystals from forming on the surface. Ample airflow will guarantee that this result is achieved.
If you are freezing multiple pizzas, conduct this process on multiple shelves. Once frozen, you can stack them up to optimize storage space.
Finally, always freeze Papa Murphy pizzas flat. This will help them to bake evenly when it comes to cooking time.
PRO TIP: In order to elongate your freezer storage times, apply a third layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil around the two initial layers of plastic wrap. This will do a better job at keeping light, moisture, and oxygen at bay, in turn, better preserving your pizza.
How To Freeze Papa Murphy Pizza After Cooking
Another instance where freezing is in order is when you bake a number of pies, but do not have the time to eat every slice!
Thankfully, preserving this doughy and cheesy goodness is also an easy option.
Step 1: Allow The Papa Murphy Pizza To FULLY Cool
Never freeze hot food. This will cause the exterior, aka those delectable toppings, to freeze much more rapidly than the dough.
This will inevitably lead to freezer burn, and thus, less than desirable leftovers.
Therefore, allow the pizza to fully cool on the countertop at room temperature. However, if this will require more than two hours time, then make sure to transfer the pizza to the fridge before the two hours are up.
Step 2: Package The Papa Murphy Pizza
The best method of storage involves first wrapping the cooled pizza slices in a tight layer of freezer wrap. Follow this with a tight layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Finally, slide the individually wrapped slices into a freezer safe ziplock bag. Squeeze out as much of the air as possible, seal and label with the date. Then, place the bag in the freezer.
Moreover, only package the amount of pizza that will be eaten within three to four days of thawing. Otherwise, leftovers will need to be discarded.
When frozen at a consistent zero degrees Fahrenheit, this will also keep your pizza fresh for up to two months.
How To Thaw Papa Murphy Pizza
While boxed frozen pizza can be popped directly into the oven, this is not advised for Papa Murphy’s pizza.
The company advises that you “let it then thaw in the fridge for 24 hours and come to room temp for 60 minutes prior to popping in your oven.”
This is exceptionally important for the stuffed varieties that will require extended time to fully defrost.
This will not only ensure the texture and consistency of the products, but it will also make sure that the plastic and foil do not pull the pizza apart when you unwrap the product to reheat it.
Without conducting this step, you will run the risk of a soggy pizza.
How To Reheat Papa Murphy Pizza
Fresh, Then Frozen
Once thawed, if you froze your Papa Murphy pizza prior to cooking, you will just follow the included heating instructions! Bake times and temperatures will vary.
They offer thin crust, regular crust, pan and stuffed pizza, which obviously have different cooking guidelines due to their range of thicknesses.
However, the overall goal is to achieve a golden brown pizza crust and since some ovens work more effectively than others, check on the pizza throughout the recommended time frame to make sure that it doesn’t overcook.
Previously Cooked
When it comes to your leftover slices, there is a multitude of cooking methods to choose from.
The top technique is to preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the slices for approximately ten minutes.
This is best done on a metal baking sheet or pizza stone. You can also lay down a piece of aluminum foil and place the slices directly on the oven rack.
Remember that for a crispier crust, you may require extended cook times depending on the thickness of the pizza.
Alternatively, if you are reheating small quantities, a cast-iron skillet is a fast and simple way for getting your Papa Murphy pizza back to its original glory!
Simply cook on medium heat until the cheese has melted and you have reached your preferred temperature.
Finally, for those who want to limit dishes and ensure fast cook times, the microwave is another option.
The only problem with this method is that the crust will become soggy upon reheating.
Final Thoughts
When you freeze your Papa Murphy pizza, you will have a convenient meal that only takes minutes to prepare and you will save yourself a trip to the store.
You can even freeze their keto-friendly crustless pizzas for quick and individual lunches!
The most important steps in freezing any of their products are using proper packaging and considering the included ingredients.
While all but artichokes will remain safe to eat, they will lose a bit of their luster in cold storage.
Adding those ingredients, later on, can allow you to still have a simple meal, without sacrificing quality!
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