Defrost bread dough in a microwave quickly to make everything from sourdough bread to bread bowls and dinner rolls. Defrosting pre made frozen bread dough is crucial to get the yeast to rise, and one of the easiest methods to thaw frozen dough is the microwave.
How to defrost bread dough in a microwave? Place the frozen dough on a microwave-safe plate and use the lowest heat level or defrost setting for 3 to 5 minutes.
Check if the bread dough has come to room temperature, and if needed flip the dough over and repeat with 1 minute intervals until it reaches room temperature.
The important part to defrost dough is that it must be fully thawed or defrosted before handling further. One of the easiest methods is to defrost bread dough in microwave.
It is easy to thaw bread dough in microwave by providing very little heat to warm the mixture. Do not go for intense heating as the dough can begin to bake instead thaw, that is an undesirable situation.
This article covers everything that you need to know about defrosting bread dough in a microwave. The frequently asked questions about microwave defrosting bread dough are answered below in great detail, so continue reading for more information about the matter.
Can you thaw frozen bread dough in the microwave?
Yes, you can thaw frozen bread dough in the microwave. However, remember not to put it on intense heat that will result in cooking the dough.
Thawing enables the warming of the active yeast within the bread dough to start generating bubbles of carbon dioxide that proof and double the volume of the bread dough.
Thawing is essential in bread making and can be done in a microwave as heat can be controlled with a set time and lowered power levels. Properly thawed bread dough activates the yeast within, and doesn’t heat high enough to kill the active cultures.
Quickest and easiest way to thaw frozen bread dough is using the microwave method. Use the defrost setting and just set the microwave timer for 5 mins to defrost for a single dough ball.
Always rotate the plate and flip the dough ball over at the halfway timer.
Microwave for the other half to evenly spread the heat and allow the bread to rise all around.
Can you refreeze frozen bread dough?
It is not recommended to refreeze frozen bread dough after it has been thawed. Though it may be safe to eat, it will not proof in the same way to make plump and soft bread once cooked.
The bread dough gets harder as the process of refreezing and thawing results in loss of elasticity and moisture. These are important features to take into account when conditioning the proofing bread.
There is a huge difference in the refrozen bread dough which is noticed in taste, texture, and fluffiness. Bread that is airy, soft, and supple is not obtained with refrozen bread dough due to loss of moisture and elasticity in the dough.
Bread made from refrozen bread dough is safe to eat, but for best results it is recommended to thaw and use it.
If you must refreeze the bread dough, it should be completely baked and then frozen afterwards. The bread will last much better after it is baked rather than refreezing the dough once more.
How do you thaw frozen bread dough?
Thaw frozen bread in a microwave for fast and quick results. However, doing it appropriately is equally essential to get the best bread results.
Follow the steps below to thaw frozen bread dough:
- Take a plate that is microwave safe and coat it with a layer of cooking spray or olive oil.
- Place the frozen dough on the lightly greased plate, spray the top of the dough with oil as well.
- Wrap with microwave-safe plastic wrap to prevent sticking to the dough.
- Microwave for 1 minute on defrost to heat and not cook the bread dough.
- Flip the dough and microwave for another minute. Ensure the dough is fully covered with the wrap.
- Continue nuking onn the defrost setting for 1 minute intervals until there is not any hardness.
- A small size bread dough will take between 3 to 5 minutes, while it may take 5 mins for a large sized dough ball.
How long does it take for the frozen dough to thaw?
Frozen bread dough can be thawed in a microwave on defrost setting for 3 to 5 minutes. Defrost setting will thaw the frozen dough evenly compared to the high power setting.
The frozen dough is placed on a microwaveable plate that is lightly brushed with oil. Cover it in a microwave safe plastic wrap, place it in a microwave and nuke on the defrost mode for 3 minutes to 5 minutes depending on the weight of the frozen bread dough.
The heat will activate the yeast within the dough once it has fully thawed. Leave it at room temperature, around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, once the dough doubles in size it’s ready to be baked.
How do you defrost bread dough quickly?
In order to defrost bread quickly, you need to use the microwave. Lightly grease the frozen dough with oil and wrap in microwave-safe plastic wrap. Place on a microwaveable plate, set the microwave to defrost setting and nuke for 3-5 minutes.
The bread dough will be defrosted in just a few minutes. This method works best for all kinds of bread dough in any sizes.
For quick and accurate defrosting of frozen bread dough, many up to date microwave brands offer an auto-defrost setting. The weight of the frozen dough in used to calculate an appropriate time and temperature setting.
Otherwise, use a low power level or defrost setting to nuke the bread dough for 3 to 5 minutes. As the dough gets heated, the yeast become reactivated.
After defrosting int he microwave, the bread dough rises when left at room temperature for an hour or so. Then, bake as regular for a spongy, delicious, and tasty bread.
How to freeze bread dough
Bread dough can be frozen at different stages of production. However there is one particular method that yields the best results.
Bread dough should be mixed and allowed to go through the first stage of rise, then the dough should be shaped and frozen. As a result, when the shaped bread dough is defrosted, then it will go through its final proof and be ready to bake.
The yeast in the frozen bread dough is initially activated, and could be frozen after its shaped post the initial rise. Bread dough made in advance for freezing saves time.
Make a large batch of bread dough, shape them into bread loaves and then wrap them with plastic wrap to freeze them for up to 2 months.
Adding little extra yeast will help compensate for the minimal dying during the freezing and thawing process. Use active dry yeast instead of fresh yeast.
There are no special supplies required for freezing the dough, except for plastic wrap and airtight freezer bags.
Place the frozen bread dough loaves into greased bread pans to let the shape be set when frozen. Freeze them in the for 10 hours, then release the frozen dough from the pan and wrap it in plastic wrap.
Place them in freezer bags and date the bag. The frozen bread dough is best used within 4 to 8 weeks.
Can you proof frozen bread dough?
The yeast goes dormant when the temperature drops to freezing, therefore they do not continue to give rise to the bread dough. Once thawed, the frozen bread dough will begin to proof once again.
The bread dough must be thawed, then it is easily proofed before baking. Proofing should be done in timely manner, which is essential for even rise that produces airy bread.
Follow the steps for perfecting proofing of frozen bread dough:
- Thaw the frozen dough ball in the microwave or by refrigerating overnight, then leaving it at room temperature for an hour or so.
- The color should change from bright white to slightly yellowish when fully thawed.
- The dough ball should be twice its size from the initial size when frozen.
If these 3 element is achieved, you can start using this proofed dough to bake the bread as the recipe instructs.
Frozen bread dough not rising
If frozen bread dough is not rising, it could be due to dormant yeast resulting from placement in the freezer. Yeast dies at 130 deg Fahrenheit, not at the cold temperatures produced in a freezer.
As a result, when you heat too high then the dough does not rise.
A dead yeast or yeast that is not warm does not rise.
The reasons could be:
- Old dead yeast
- Yeast was dissolved in too hot water.
- The colder temperature in the kitchen didn’t allow the dough to warm enough to activate the yeast
- Insufficient rising time
- Wrong pan size
In order to fix the dough that didn’t rise, place 3 cups water in a Pyrex and microwave on high for 3 minutes to boil. Place the dish with the cold bread dough into the microwave next to the hot water and close the door.
The trapped heat with warm moisture in the microwave will help to rise the bread dough rapidly.
How to bake frozen bread dough?
Defrost the frozen bread dough in the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. Once thawed, let it rise for one hour at room temperature and the bread should begin to rise to become twice its size in volume.
If the bread dough was previously shaped before freezing, then it is ready to bake. Otherwise, shape the bread dough into the desired form and allow for another round of proofing.
Self-rising and ready to bake frozen bread are another type commonly used. Defrost the bread in the microwave and then let it rise by leaving it at room temperature for about an hour.
Spray cooking spray on a baking sheet and place the dough in the center. Preheat to 350 degree Fahrenheit and bake it for around 15 mins to 20 mins until golden brown.
Defrosting Bread Dough In Microwave: Conclusion
Microwaving is the quickest and easiest method to defrost frozen bread dough. Use the defrost setting on the microwave to thaw the frozen dough quickly without cooking it.
If there is not defrost setting on your appliance, set the power to low or 30% energy level. This will generate a similar functionality to replace the defrost option if you don’t have one on your microwave.
Place the dough on a microwave-safe plate and set the microwave to defrost setting and nuke for about 3-5 mins. This time should be sufficient enough to defrost the frozen dough.
Depending on the bread dough size and microwave wattage, the defrosting time varies slightly. For smaller dough it takes about 3 minutes to thaw and larger sized dough may take 5 minutes to completely to defrost.
To prevent the dough from drying out or not rise after being defrosted, use boiling water method and place it with the dough inside of the microwave. This will help to bring the dough to room temperature with diffused levels of heat and added moisture that will quickly rise the bread dough more efficiently.
Saving frozen dough to make fresh baked bread saves time and reducing cooking effort. Follow the microwave tips in this helpful guide to defrost any bread dough in the microwave for the best results.