A Cooked Pizza

• Once pizza dough has been baked, it can last for at least a few days at room temperature, but the toppings on the pizza need to be refrigerated. Toppings, such as cheese, meats and cooked vegetables, are highly perishable. Wrap any leftover pizza in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate it at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. Throw out pizza left out overnight.

On the Countertop

• Unbaked pizza dough is often left at room temperature for a few hours while it rises. Left overnight, the dough may rise too much. The yeast in the dough may produce too much alcohol, creating a fermented, overly yeasty taste. The dough may raise so much that it collapses. When this happens, the dough won't rise properly in the oven, leaving you with a hard or coarse pizza. Throw away the dough if you notice a strong, yeasty smell or if the dough has collapsed upon itself.

In the Fridge

• Unbaked pizza dough stored in the refrigerator overnight is unlikely to spoil. The low temperatures slow the rising process so the dough should be fresh, soft and almost ready to bake. After removing the dough from the refrigerator, let it sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes. As it warms, the dough will rise and become more pliable so you can roll or stretch it.

Tips for Success

• Pizza dough is a lean dough, meaning it doesn't contain butter or eggs, so it's less likely to spoil than some other types of dough. But for the best quality, bake dough within one to two hours of making it or store it in the refrigerator for longer proofing. You can also freeze pizza dough for up to three months. To thaw the dough, place it in the refrigerator overnight. Refrigerate any leftovers promptly.