Does Pizza Dough Need To Rise?

Last updated on September 28th, 2022 at 09:05 am

Pizza. A soft circular crust features layers of warm tomato sauce and ooey gooey cheese are topped with round slices of pepperoni. If this describes one of your favorite meals then you are not alone. 

It is estimated that nearly 94 percent of Americsn eat pizza on a regular basis. Another fact suggests that over 5 billion pizzas are sold worldwide each year. 

That’s a lot of pizza!

Now, let’s get to the point, today we are talking about pizza dough. Yes, that soft or crispy part of the pizza slice that holds it all together. It’s the foundation that is topped with all of those wonderful toppings. 

If you enjoy making your own pizzas, then you may be looking for some tips on making pizza dough. You may ask, does pizza dough need to rise?

Pizza dough should rise for a soft and delicious crust. However, you can still use pizza dough that hasn’t risen for a thin crust pizza but, this will be missing some flavors and a nice texture. 

So, for a pizza that isn’t dry and flat, let the pizza dough rise.

There are different types of pizza. Maybe you are a thick crust kind of person. You enjoy that soft and plump crust adding a cushion of flavor to your cheese, tomatoes, and meat toppings. Or, you may like a thin crust where a thin layer of pizza dough is baked creating a crispy crust where the toppings get all of the glory. 

So, when you’re making a yummy homemade pizza crust, you most likely will opt for your favorite type of crust.

If you let pizza dough rise, it will become that plump and soft crust that is used for thicker pizza crusts. If you don’t let it rise, you will get a thin crust. 

So, let’s say you are wanting to make a pizza but with a nice crust that is a great texture and with lots of flavor. You will want to let the pizza dough rise. 

Really, to make a great tasting pizza, you need to let the pizza dough rise at least a bit.

What Happens If You Don’t Let The Pizza Dough Rise?

Thinking about skipping the rising step in your homemade pizza recipe? You don’t mind a thin crust pizza, plus you don’t want to spend all that time waiting for the dough to rise.

I mean, what even happens if you don’t let the pizza dough rise?

When you don’t let the pizza dough rise it will result in a dry and flat pizza crust that will also be lacking flavor.

Making pizza from scratch is fun and the results are delicious. Maybe it’s all the time you put into making it, or the fresh ingredients it’s made with, but homemade pizza is so yummy. 

Now, you are going to be making the pizza crust yourself too. Not just picking one up from the store but rolling the dough and all that jazz. If you are determined to do this, keep in mind that it’s going to take some time for the dough to rise. 

But, it will be oh so worth it later on when you take a bite of that soft, thick crust that pairs perfectly with all the toppings.

Pizza dough usually takes about an hour or so to rise before you can begin to top it with ingredients and bake the dish. Or, you can also make it and leave it in the fridge for dinner later on in the week. By doing this, you can end up with a better crust since the dough has ample time in the cool temperature to rise and develop lots of flavor and a great texture. 

Now, for one reason or another, if you decide you want to skip the rising step, your pizza will have a small and thin crust and will also be missing flavor. So, when you don’t let the pizza dough rise, you will end up with a crust that isn’t as good as if you let the dough rise.

Can You Use Pizza Dough That Hasn’t Risen?

You were so excited to make your own homemade pizza, but things didn’t go as planned. Your pizza dough didn’t rise, and you don’t want to waste it. 

Can you use pizza dough that hasn’t risen?

You can use pizza dough that hasn’t risen, but it won’t be as good. Risen pizza dough is more flavorful with a better texture and a pizza dough that hasn’t risen will lack these things. 

But if you still want to still use them for the pizza, or for other dishes you can.

The longest step in the pizza making process is proofing (or rising) the pizza dough. But this step is vital if you want to have a great tasting pizza crust. Pizza dough should rise for about one to 24 hours. 

If you are following a pizza recipe, then your recipe will explain how to make the dough and how long to leave it until you are ready to top and bake the dish. If your pizza dough didn’t rise or if you don’t want it to, you can still use it to make your pizza. 

It just won’t taste as good as risen pizza dough. 

You can even use a pizza dough that hasn’t risen for other things such as flat breads or tortilla. There are a number of reasons why pizza dough doesn’t rise, and if you have some just like this, you can still use it but it won’t be as flavorful and will also lack a good texture.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, pizza dough does need to rise in order to have a  great tasting pizza crust. This step may take a while, but is so important when you’re making a pizza. 

If you don’t let the dough rise, it will be small and thin, lacking flavor and texture. You still use this, but it just won’t taste as good. 

Pizza is a delicious dish so, if you want it to be the best it can be, it is recommended to let the pizza dough rise.