How long does cookie dough last?

Checked 25 Oct 20265 official publishers, 5 sources

Unbaked: until the use-by date in the fridge, 2 months in the freezer for best quality and keeping it in the pantry is not recommended.

Official stance

“Do not Eat raw dough or batter This includes dough or batter for cookies” CDC

“Don't add raw homemade cookie dough to ice cream ... ice cream sold in stores contains dough that has been treated to kill harmful germs.” CDC

Storage times for cookie dough by state and place
State	Pantry	Fridge 40 °F	Freezer 0 °F
Unbaked	Not recommended Extension	Until the use-by date FoodKeeper Extension Extension	2 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension Extension Sources disagree: 3 months Extension

Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

Source	State	Pantry	Fridge	Freezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Unbaked	-	Until the use-by date	2 months
Nebraska Extension	Unbaked	Not recommended	Until the use-by date	2 months
NDSU Extension	Unbaked	-	Until the use-by date	2 months
University of Illinois Extension	Unbaked	-	-	3 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

“Follow label directions to refrigerate products containing raw dough or eggs until they are baked or cooked (for example, store-bought cookie dough).” CDC
“Some companies make edible cookie dough ... made with heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs or no eggs. Before enjoying, read the label carefully” CDC
“Clean up after handling flour, eggs, or raw dough ... Wash bowls, utensils, countertops, and other surfaces with hot, soapy water.” CDC

What the sources say

FoodKeeper does not give refrigerated cookie dough a number of days: it says to keep it until the package use-by date.¹

The Nebraska Extension chart and the NDSU Extension food storage guide also point to the date on the label for cookie dough in the refrigerator.²³

Nebraska marks cookie dough as not safe at room temperature.²

CDC says products containing raw dough or eggs, with store-bought cookie dough as its example, should be refrigerated as the label directs until they are baked or cooked.⁵

For the freezer, FoodKeeper, the Nebraska chart and NDSU all give 2 months, while the University of Illinois Extension freezer chart allows 3 months for unbaked cookie dough.¹²³⁴

FoodKeeper counts its 2 months from the date of purchase.¹

CDC advises against eating raw dough or batter, and dough for cookies is the first example it gives.⁵

It also says not to add raw homemade cookie dough to ice cream, and explains that the dough in cookie dough ice cream sold in stores has been treated to kill harmful germs.⁵

Edible cookie dough sold by some companies is made with heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs or no eggs, according to CDC, which asks you to read the label carefully before enjoying it.⁵

After handling raw dough, CDC says to wash bowls, utensils, countertops and other surfaces with hot, soapy water.⁵

Rules that apply here

Fridge and freezer temperature Freezing and refreezing Best-by and use-by dates

Flour Eggs Cake

Sources

USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 247: Cookie dough. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Cookie dough. Refrigerate: Package use-by date; DOP_Freeze: 2 Months
Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cookie dough Not safe Use by date on label 2 months
1 • FN579 • Food Storage GuideNDSU Extension. NDSU Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. Refrigerated biscuits, rolls, pastries, cookie dough Expiration date on labelCookie dough * * 2 months
Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cookie Dough (unbaked) 3 months
Raw Flour and Dough | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Do not Eat raw dough or batter This includes dough or batter for cookiesFollow label directions to refrigerate products containing raw dough or eggs until they are baked or cooked (for example, store-bought cookie dough).Don't add raw homemade cookie dough to ice cream ... ice cream sold in stores contains dough that has been treated to kill harmful germs.Some companies make edible cookie dough ... made with heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs or no eggs. Before enjoying, read the label carefullyClean up after handling flour, eggs, or raw dough ... Wash bowls, utensils, countertops, and other surfaces with hot, soapy water.
REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.