How to Fix Over-proofed Pizza Dough

Over-proofed your pizza dough? It happens to the best of us. You wait many hours for your dough to proof so that you can bake it, and then, somehow, you forget about the dough (it’s easy to do), and it over-proofs. However, over-proofed dough, however, doesn’t have to meet its end in the bottom of a trash can.

Can pizza dough be over proofed?

Well yes, pizza dough can be over proofed. In the most extreme cases, over proofed dough can lead to a dense and tough dough that makes poor quality pizza.

Visual indicators of over proofed pizza dough include:

  • The pizza dough has more than doubled in size
  • The dough contains large bubbles
  • The pizza dough has lost it’s shape
  • How do you fix over-proofed pizza dough?

    The simple way to fix over-proofed pizza dough is using a technique known as knocking back. It may sound strange but don’t worry, knocking back is much easier than you think!

    Step 1: Perform the fingertip test to make sure your dough is over-proofed. The test involves gently pressing your finger into the surface of the dough for 2 seconds and then seeing how quickly it springs back. The dent you make will be permanent if the dough is over-proofed. Knocking back is simply a fancy term for removing the air from dough. When this happens the dough will prove again.

    Step 2: Remove the dough from the basket or other vessel in which you’re proofing it.

    Step 3: Press down on the dough with the heel of your hand (like kneading).

    Step 4: Use your fist to squeeze the air out (like a very slow punch).

    Step 5: Pick the dough up in your hands and squeeze the air out

    Step 6: Reball over-proofing dough balls.

    How To Proof Pizza Dough

    Want to learn everything about proofing pizza dough? We have your back! Check out this blog to learn you everything about know to proof pizza dough to perfection.

    By the way, If you are still looking for the best pizza dough recipe, look no further, check out our how to Neapolitan Pizza Dough Recipe.

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    Now that you are a dough master, it is time to fire up your Gozney Pizza Oven!