Can I let dough rise in the refrigerator?

The answer

Yes, dough can rise in the refrigerator, and many bakers use an overnight chilled rise. Cold slows the yeast sharply but does not kill it, while flavor compounds keep developing, so the bread often tastes better. Expect many hours rather than the one to two hours of a room-temperature rise. Cover the dough well so it does not dry out, and follow your recipe on whether to bake straight from the fridge or let the dough warm up first.