One thing Papa Murphy’s remains renowned for is its take-and-bake business model. It allows you to buy raw pizza and bake it yourself.
You can buy and freeze any of Papa Murphy’s pizzas until you’re ready to bake and eat them.
This perfect form of take-out has people going back again and again for more pizza. What better way has helped deliver pizza fresh from the oven?
This article discusses the possibility of allowing Papa Murphy’s pizzas to freeze and how you should go about it.
About Papa Murphy’s pizza
Papa Murphy’s Pizza franchises are a U.S.-based take-and-bake pizza company. The take-and-bake business model features pizzas made at the store but not baked there. Papa Murphy’s pizzas are cooked at home by the customers.
Papa Murphy’s pizza menu list includes:
- Cowboy pizza
- Pepperoni pizza
- All-meat crustless pizza
- Papa’s favorite pizza
- Garden veggie pizza
- Hawaiian pizza
- Pepperoni thin-crust pizza
- Herb Chicken Mediterranean thin-crust pizza
- Chicken bacon artichoke thin-crust pizza
- Gourmet vegetarian thin-crust pizza
- Chicken garlic pizza
- Thai chicken pizza
- XLNY pizza
- All meat pizza
- Taco grande pizza
Can you freeze Papa Murphy’s pizzas?
Yes, you can. The pizza chain does not officially recommend it, but you can.
Papa Murphy’s sells uncooked pizzas that you can freeze for later use. Moreover, the pizzeria provides a cold crust service that makes the bake later option very convenient and a good idea.
When buying Papa Murphy’s pizza for much later, go for pizzas that do not have water-based vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, and spinach.
When these toppings freeze, they form ice crystals that can make the pizza less palatable. In addition, toppings like creamy sauces lose form and ruin the texture of the pizza after defrosting.
In essence, freeze Papa Murphy’s pizza without these toppings. Add the toppings when you’re ready to bake the pizza.
Why should you freeze Papa Murphy’s pizzas?
Freeze Papa Murphy’s pizza to keep it fresh for longer. Also, freezing Papa Murphy’s pizza can help prevent waste.
How to freeze Papa Murphy’s pizzas
Follow these steps to freeze Papa Murphy’s pizzas:
- Don’t remove the wrap it came in. You may ask for an extra plastic wrap at the store or use yours
- Spread out a plastic wrap that is wide and long enough to cover the pizza
- Place the pizza in the middle of the wrap
- Then, begin to wrap the plastic wrap over the pizza. Pull in the edges over the pizza and make sure it’s taut
- Also, check for spaces and any area that has trapped air. The plastic wrap should be snugly wrapped around the pizza
- Afterward, you can double-proof the packaging by putting the wrapped pizza in a plastic bag (this may not be necessary because the double wrap is enough)
- You can label the plastic wrap with the freezing date just so you keep track of how long the pizza has been in the freezer
How long can you freeze Papa Murphy’s pizzas?
Cooked or uncooked, Papa Murphy’s pizzas will last two to three months in the freezer.
After which they won’t be as palatable as they should be. How long pizza stays frozen also depends on how well you wrapped it. If there are any exposed areas, the pizza may develop freezer burn.
How to bake frozen Papa Murphy’s pizza
- Allow the pizza to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours
- Afterward, leave the pizza out in the kitchen for an hour to come to room temperature
- While waiting, preheat the oven to 350-425°F, depending on the type of pizza you’re baking. 350°F for stuffed pizza, 425°F temperature for thin, gluten-free, crustless, and fresh pan pizzas
- Then, gently peel off the plastic wrap on the pizza and place it in the oven
- You may find a cooking guide on the label of the pizza because the different pizzas at Papa Murphy’s are cooked differently
- For instance, an original, gluten-free crust, fresh pan, thin, and XLNY pizzas are cooked on a tray for 12-18 minutes. But stuffed pizzas take 32-40 minutes to bake
- Remove crustless pizzas from the oven when the cheese is melted and bubbling. For other pizzas like stuffed, XLNY, an original, thin, gluten-free crust, and fresh pan pizzas should be removed when they’re golden brown
- After taking the pizza out of the oven, allow it to cool before you cut it into slices
Pros of freezing Papa Murphy’s pizzas
- Papa Murphy’s take-and-bake pizza allows you to enjoy freshly baked, crusty pizza
- Freezing Papa Murphy’s pizza will save you a trip to the store
- Also, Papa Murphy’s pizza gets ready in minutes
Cons of freezing Papa Murphy’s pizzas
- Papa Murphy’s pizzas are take-and-bake, but they are not made for long-term freezing. Freezing can impact the quality and texture a little
- You may end up with half-done pizza if you don’t bake the frozen pizza well
- In addition, freezing Papa Murphy’s pizzas that include artichokes, cream sauce, and water-based vegetables like tomatoes, spinach, and zucchini, the pizza comes out unpalatable after thawing
FAQs
How long can you keep Papa Murphy’s pizza at room temperature before baking?
Papa Murphy’s pizza will last 24 hours at room temperature after purchase. If you want to keep the pizza longer than this, refrigerate or freeze it.
Should you thaw frozen pizza before baking it?
You can thaw frozen pizza before baking if you would rather have it that way.
Although it’s not necessary, thawing frozen pizza before baking will speed up the cooking time and make the pizza crispy. If you know how to bake frozen pizza well, skip the thawing process.
Can you refreeze Papa Murphy’s pizza?
No, you can’t.
Refreezing is not a good idea for food storage, and neither is it for pizza.
During thawing, there is a release of moisture that can result in the formation of ice crystals on the pizza. Consequently, this will affect the texture of the pizza and make it unappetizing.
Conclusion
When you talk about a convenient pizza business, you’re talking about Papa Murphy’s pizzas.
Everyone hates the fact that before pizza gets delivered, it’s either cold or too warm, and then, they miss the dry crunchy crust.
That’s not an issue with Papa Murphy’s. The take-and-bake business model allows you to buy raw pizza, freeze it and bake it later.
Papa Murphy’s take-and-bake pizza allows you to buy and enjoy freshly baked pizza when you need it.
Thanks for reading.
Check Cheffist to see helpful storage and preservation tips to help prevent waste.
