Eating expired Pillsbury dough may not always be unsafe, but it does carry some risks. Here is a quick overview of the key things to know:
Quick Answers
– Pillsbury refrigerated dough expires quickly, usually within 1-2 weeks of purchase.
– Dough may still be edible for short period after expiration, but quality declines.
– Eating expired dough poses risk of foodborne illness from bacterial growth.
– Risk increases the longer past expiration and if dough was not properly refrigerated.
– Look for off smells, textures, or mold; discard if present.
– Baked goods may not rise or have optimal texture if made with old dough.
– Best to discard expired dough, but small consumption past sell date likely ok.
What is the Shelf Life of Pillsbury Refrigerated Dough?
Fresh Pillsbury refrigerated dough products like tubes of cookie dough, pizza crust, biscuits, and crescent rolls typically have a very short shelf life. According to Pillsbury, most refrigerated dough items only stay fresh for 1-2 weeks from the date of purchase when properly stored.
Some specific Pillsbury refrigerated dough products and their printed expiration dates include:
- Crescent rolls – 7-10 days
- Cookie dough – 14 days
- Pie crust – 14 days
- Biscuits – 14 days
- Pizza crust – 14 days
So an unopened canister of Pillsbury cookie dough purchased January 1 should be discarded by January 14-15 based on the 14 day expiration date. The short shelf life is because these doughs are perishable and need to stay refrigerated to slow bacterial growth.
Is it Safe to Use Pillsbury Dough After the Expiration Date?
Eating raw or baked Pillsbury dough past its printed expiration date can increase your risk of foodborne illness. How much the risk increases depends on:
- How long past the expiration date it has been
- If the unbaked dough was properly refrigerated at 40°F or below the entire time
- What type of dough it is (some harbor more bacteria than others)
As a general rule, the longer past the expiration date and the more improperly stored, the greater the risk of bacterial growth like mold, salmonella, and listeria. Both raw dough and baked goods made with expired dough pose safety risks.
Raw Dough Risks
Eating raw dough of any kind comes with some risks as the eggs and moisture provide a breeding ground for bacteria. Consuming raw Pillsbury dough may lead to:
- Salmonella – Raw eggs may contain salmonella, causing vomiting, fever, diarrhea
- E. coli – If contaminated during production, may cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
- Listeria – Bacteria may grow in refrigerated dough, causing fever, muscle aches, nausea
Baked Dough Risks
While baking dough kills some bacteria, it may not eliminate the risk entirely if dough is expired. Possible issues from eating baked goods made with old dough include:
- Mold exposure – Mold can grow on old dough, survives baking, may cause allergic reactions or respiratory issues if inhaled
- Off-tastes or textures – Higher risk of undesirable qualities from chemical changes in dough
- Foodborne illness – Some bacteria may survive baking and still cause foodborne sickness
How Can You Tell if Pillsbury Dough is Unsafe to Eat?
Check dough for signs of spoilage before baking or consuming. Discard Pillsbury dough if it:
- Smells sour, funky, or unpleasant
- Has grayish, blue, black, or green discoloration
- Appears slimy or has visible mold
- Feels overly firm compared to normal texture
- Has a strange consistency like liquids or dry spots
These visible or textural changes often indicate bacterial growth or chemical changes that make the dough unsafe to eat. Relying on smell alone is difficult, as cold temperatures can suppress odors. When in doubt, throw it out.
What Happens If You Eat Expired Pillsbury Dough?
Eating raw or baked Pillsbury dough after its use by date may cause:
- Foodborne illness – Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, headaches
- Allergic reaction – Itching, rash, breathing issues if allergic to mold
- Nothing – If only slightly expired and properly stored, may cause no issues
Adverse effects depend on personal sensitivities and how long dough was expired. The older dough is when consumed and less ideal its storage conditions, the more severe reaction is likely to be.
How to Store Pillsbury Dough Properly
To help Pillsbury refrigerated dough last as long as possible:
- Refrigerate immediately at 40°F or below after purchase
- Keep dough in original packaging or sealed container
- Check “use by” date and freeze extras to extend shelf life
- Discard once expired, don’t rely on freezing to make safe
- Throw away if power outage for over 2 hours
Freezing can prolong the shelf life for 1-2 months past printed date. Thaw overnight in fridge before using. However freezing does not make expired dough safe to use long term.
What Ingredients Go Bad in Old Dough?
Ingredients most likely to deteriorate and create risks in expired Pillsbury dough are:
- Flour – May gradually lose nutrients and turn rancid with prolonged storage
- Eggs – Raw eggs more prone to salmonella growth over time
- Milk products – Lose freshness and grow bacteria faster when expired
- Fats – Can turn rancid with age especially if not refrigerated
Yeast may also weaken over time, reducing leavening power. Combined with chemical changes in proteins, expired doughs risk poor rise and texture.
Does Expired Dough Affect Taste or Texture?
Using Pillsbury dough past its expiration can negatively impact the taste, texture, appearance, and performance of baked goods. Potential issues include:
- Poor rise – Weakened yeast won’t produce adequate leavening
- Dense, gummy texture – Changes to gluten prevent proper structure
- Dry, crumbly results – Low moisture content affects cohesiveness
- Off tastes or odors – Rancid fats or bacterial growth
- Peculiar colors – Grayish, greenish, or yellowed hues
The older the dough, the more pronounced degradation is likely to be. While small defects may not seem important, expired dough cannot guarantee optimal outcomes in baking.
How Long Does Unopened Dough Last Beyond Sell Date?
Most sources advise using unopened Pillsbury refrigerated dough within:
- 1 week past sell date – Marginal quality and safety decline likely
- 2 weeks past date – Increased risk especially for at-risk groups
- Over 2 weeks – Much higher risk of foodborne illness or undesirable results
Assuming continuous refrigeration at 40°F or below, dough up to 1 week past code may still bake reasonably well and offer low risk when consumed immediately. However, expired dough should not be trusted long term.
Can You Bake Expired Pillsbury Pie Crust?
Baking with expired Pillsbury pie dough comes with some drawbacks, but may be possible if dough was properly stored and is only slightly expired. Potential issues include:
- Poor structure – Crust may crack, slump, or fall apart easier
- Off flavors – Rancid fats create unpleasant taste
- Safety – Increased risk of bacteria, especially listeria
For best results, use unopened pie crust within 14 days of purchase and do not work with dough more than 1 week past its date. Refrigerate constantly, monitor for odd smells or textures, and fully bake to minimize risks.
Is it Safe to Eat Expired Cookie Dough?
Consuming raw or baked cookie dough from an expired Pillsbury tube poses some health and quality risks. Older dough may harbor dangerous bacteria like E. coli or salmonella if ingredients were contaminated.
Even if dough is slightly expired but properly refrigerated, baking may yield cookies with correct shapes but altered texture or flavor. For food safety, discard dough 2 weeks past printed date.
Can You Use Expired Crescent Rolls?
Pillsbury crescent roll dough typically lasts just 7-10 days past purchase. Using expired dough can result in:
- Poor rising – Yeast may not be viable so rolls don’t puff up
- Off flavor – Rancid fats create unappetizing taste
- Odd texture – Gummy or too crumbly
Crescent rolls up to 1 week past expiry may still bake reasonably well if refrigerated entire time. But quality and safety increasingly decline the older rolls are when baked.
How to Tell if Refrigerated Dough Goes Bad?
Signs that refrigerated Pillsbury dough has spoiled and may be unsafe include:
- Mold spots – Fuzzy green, white, or black growth
- Weird smell – Sour, rancid, fermented, or rotten odor
- Color changes – Unnatural gray, yellow, or brown discoloration
- Odd texture – Unusually firm, sticky, or mushy
- Gas bubbles – Bulging container or bubbles in dough
- Sliminess – Gooey, shiny, or wet appearance
Discard dough immediately if you notice any of the above signs. While refrigeration slows spoilage, it cannot prevent natural deterioration of perishable dough over time.
What to Do With Old Dough?
If your Pillsbury dough has expired or looks questionable, it’s best to discard it. Safely throwing out old dough involves:
- Sealing dough tightly in plastic bag so it doesn’t unroll
- Removing any dough container from packaging if disposing only dough
- Emptying canisters into main household trash, not bathroom wastebasket
- Wiping down any potentially contaminated surfaces like fridge drawers
- Washing hands thoroughly after disposal
Never try to salvage bad dough by cooking, freezing, or eating around moldy parts. No way to use old dough is completely safe, so err on the side of caution and throw it away.
In Summary
Eating expired Pillsbury dough comes with some food safety risks. While eating dough a few days past its date is unlikely to cause illness if refrigerated properly, quality and safety diminish quickly after expiration.
Check dough closely before use and discard at any signs of spoilage. While the temptation to use old dough may arise, especially for costly items like pie crust, it’s better to be safe than sorry and stick to consuming dough prior to its printed use by date for optimal freshness and food safety.
