Can cookie dough go in the fridge?

In this brief guide we will answer the following question, “ can cookie dough go in the fridge?” We will also discuss the benefits of putting cookie dough in the refrigerator. We will get to know the proper ways to store cookie dough.

Can cookie dough go in the fridge?

Yes, cookie dough can go in the refrigerator. The proper way to store your cookie dough is to make sure to put it in an air-tight container or plastic bag and store it in the freezer. Keeping the cookie dough open at room temperature will spoil the dough.

While store-bought cookie dough may have preservatives that increase its shelf life, the homemade cookie dough will only last three days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What is cookie dough?

Cookie dough is a mixture of cookie ingredients that haven’t been cooked. Cookie dough is usually cooked into individual cookies before being eaten, however, it can also be eaten raw.

Cookie dough can be produced at home or purchased in pre-packaged form (frozen logs, buckets, etc.). Ice cream and candy are examples of desserts that use cookie dough. Additionally, pre-made cookie dough is available at the market.

What are the proper ways to store cookie dough?

  • When cookie dough is frozen, it can last from 6 months to 1 year. To freeze chunky cookie dough, such as the kind used for chocolate chunk cookies, or any other type of drop cookie, shape the dough into balls with a cookie scoop, then place the balls in a resealable freezer bag and freeze.
  • Alternatively, you can freeze cookie dough in the desired batch size, whether it’s a half dozen or a dozen. Wrap and seal the dough balls in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag in a single layer on sheets of parchment paper.
  • The proper way to store your cookie dough is to make sure to put it in an air-tight container or plastic bag and store it in the freezer. Keeping the cookie dough open at room temperature will spoil the dough. 
  • If you are storing a homemade cookie dough then you have to tightly close the bowel with the help of a plastic sheet or lid and you should use it in 3 days.

What are the benefits of putting cookie dough in the refrigerator?

  • The top benefit is that it will keep your dough from getting bad.
  • Flour includes naturally occurring enzymes that break down when the dough cools, causing the dough to brown more. The moisture present in the dough is absorbed by the sugar and this causes the caramelization of the cookies.      
  • The most important thing about the cookie dough is that it should be firm and the moisture and temperature in the refrigerator help the cookie dough to get firm.
  • In case when your cookie dough is stored in air-sealed containers it should not go bad for 5-6 days. The store-bought cookie dough contains preservatives and they can last long in the refrigerator.

Are there any harmful effects of eating cookie dough?

  • Consumption of uncooked cookie dough raises the risk of developing foodborne illness due to the presence of raw eggs and raw flour. Because of the risk of disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly advises against consuming any food products containing raw eggs or raw flour. 
  • CDC recommends not to eat cookie dough that is raw or uncooked due to its potential hazards.  The people who allow their kids to play with raw cookie dough need to understand that it is not safe for the health of their kids and it may contain several pathogens 
  • Uncooked eggs are present in raw cookie dough. Salmonella bacteria may have contaminated them. Chickens can carry the bacteria and lay salmonella-infected eggs. When eggs are laid, they can also get contaminated with salmonella germs. Salmonella-infected eggs appear to be regular eggs.
  • Another element in raw cookie dough that you might not associate with food sickness. Flour is this ingredient’s name. In 2016 and 2019 two E coli outbreaks in the United States were noticed due to the raw flour. By eating or handling the flour, more than 80 people became infected.
  • E. coli infection in healthy persons usually lasts around a week. Younger children, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a kind of kidney failure.

Conclusion 

In this brief guide we answered the following question, “ can cookie dough go in the fridge?” We also discussed the benefits of putting cookie dough in the refrigerator. We got to know the proper ways to store cookie dough.

References 

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-store-cookie-dough#should-you-defrost-frozen-cookie-dough-before-baking
https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/no-raw-dough.html
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/what-is-e-coli