Can You Freeze Pizza Sauce?

Last updated on October 9th, 2022 at 11:22 am

Pizza sauce is usually made with just tomato paste, or pureed tomatoes and tomato paste. This gives it a thicker consistency than regular pasta sauce. 

The reason for this thicker consistency of the sauce is to keep the pizza dough from absorbing it and becoming soggy while it cooks. Pizza sauce can also come in a variety of flavors and added styles besides just regular tomato, but the base of the sauce is mainly tomato puree. 

Many times, pizza sauce comes in a larger jar or container, and can be used for multiple pizzas. Since you probably will not use all of your sauce in one meal, you may be wondering if you can freeze the pizza sauce to make the sauce last longer. 

Pizza sauce freezes well and will usually keep for months when frozen! It doesn’t matter if the sauce is homemade or store-bought, because of the sauce’s simple recipe it will freeze the same. 

There are lots of ways you can freeze your pizza sauce for use down the road. The main thing to remember is to keep as little air in the freezing container as possible. Since less air exposure means longer lasting sauce, investing in an airtight jar or freezer bag is usually the best way to go. 

When your sauce is kept in an airtight container, there will be no need to worry about it losing flavor or taste over time. 

Another thing to remember is cooling. Make sure to always let your sauce cool before placing it in the freezer for future use. Once cooled, you can place the sauce in the container of your choice, leaving at least one inch of space between the top of the poured sauce and the lid. 

The inch of space allows room for the sauce to expand once frozen without bursting the jar or any seams in your bag. 

Once you are ready to use the sauce again, just place the sauce in the fridge to thaw overnight or submerge in warm water for quicker usability. 

Can You Freeze Pizza Sauce In Ice Cube Trays? 

What if you are making smaller pizzas or only need a smaller amount of pizza sauce in your kitchen recipes then a large family would? It seems kind of inconvenient to buy or make a whole jar of pizza sauce just to scoop out a small amount and have to re-freeze the rest. 

One unique way people all over the internet have gone about freezing their pizza sauce is by using an ice cube tray. How well does that work? 

You can freeze your pizza sauce in a standard household ice cube tray. However you will need to cover or seal the sauce cubes so the sauce doesn’t lose its flavor or texture. 

This foodie hack allows home chefs the perfect amount of pizza sauce on hand when making kitchen confections without worrying about using up an entire jar of the sauce. This way, you can save time thawing and refreezing your pizza sauce by only using what you need at the time. 

This also prevents waste, allowing you to salvage every last drop of the tomato-based goodness. 

To freeze your pizza sauce in an ice cube tray, start by making sure you have a clean tray to use. Then, pour your pizza sauce, homemade or store bought, into the ice cube slots. Make sure to pour to about halfway to allow room for expansion. 

Then, using plastic wrap, cover the entire ice cube tray. Make sure to keep the wrap tight around the edges to keep air out. 

Once your tray is placed in the freezer for two to three hours, the pizza sauce will be completely frozen. Now, you can take your “sauce cubes” and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag following the same rule of keeping the container airtight.

Lastly, just make sure to label your container with the date of freezing to ensure you know when to use your sauce before it goes bad. 

How Long Does Pizza Sauce Last?

Once your pizza sauce is frozen or sitting in the fridge after coming back from the store, you may be wondering how long it will stay tasty. The main thing to remember when considering this is that for best results, the sauce needs to be kept in an airtight container. 

Air is the enemy of stored foods, so the better seal you can keep on it, the longer it will last in either condition. 

Pizza sauce can last anywhere from five to seven days in the fridge, and around three to six months in the freezer if stored properly.

One of the main things to keep in mind as well is that pizza sauce goes bad at temperatures above forty degrees Fahrenheit. Once your sauce is left out for over two hours at this temperature or above, it will go bad. 

If your sauce seems to have gone bad, make sure to toss it. Many times mold and other bacteria will begin to flourish at these temperatures and the spread will be dangerous to ingest. 

One of the ways to tell if your sauce has gone bad is to search for signs of mold. Mold is easily visible if the sauce has spoiled and will look like a fuzzy substance on the top of the jar. If you notice a funny smell or taste with the jar of sauce, this is another indicator it has probably gone bad or spoiled. 

This will usually be accompanied by changes in color. 

Lastly, if the sauce has been left out for hours or has a broken seal from the store, it is probably best to toss it, since it is most likely unusable. 

Final Thoughts

So, the next time you are about to break out Grandma’s pizza recipe or turn your kitchen into a personal pan pizzeria, make sure you know how much sauce you need and what your options are for the leftover portions when you are done cooking. 

After you have your recipe and start to decide where to get your sauce, you may even consider making your own homemade pizza sauce. If so, know that you can always make more than you need and freeze it for when you need it later.