Everyone loves a donut. It's an indisputable fact that often leads to excess. Maybe the bright green glow of the Krispy Kreme proved too powerful, or maybe you went ham on the holiday-specific flavors at your local donut den. Did you finally brave that recipe you saved eons ago for a homemade version?
Now you've got enough to open your own stand at the farmer's market, not just satisfy your little family around the table. Don't worry — clear some room in the freezer and let no donut go to waste.
A donut can be positively delightful out of the freezer. Bare donuts show up best here, but you can freeze glazed, frosted, or even jam filled ditties (just be prepared for the additions to have altered themselves a bit. The glaze or frosting might be broken or the jam a little runny.)
Types of Donut to Avoid Freezing
Cream and custard filled don't tend to hold up well to freezing (due to the sog factor where filling meets dough), so I'd eat those straight away.
Leave powdered sugar donuts out of this. Between the moisture within the donuts and the humidity in the freezer, you won't get the best results. Those that do make the cut will stay tasty for up to 2-3 months.
How to Freeze Donuts
The need for freeze donuts is usually due to impulse — we get a little overzealous at the donut counter or a new recipe shocks us with the quantity . If you have the time to plan, opt for bare donuts and then decorate or fill them post freeze with your own homemade glazes and creams.
To get started, choose a large freezer bag (1 to 2 gallon) and grab two pieces of wax paper, smaller than the bag by a bit, so they slide in and out with ease.
Place one sheet of wax paper in the bag and add donuts in a single layer on top of the paper. Top donuts with another sheet of wax paper. Then, push as much air as possible out of the bag without smushing the goods and seal almost to the edge.
Finally, slide a straw into the last little unsealed bit and gently suck the air out of the bag. (Bonus points for all of you that purchased that vacuum sealer from the infomercial.)
If your donuts are homemade, the best way to freeze them is unfilled and unglazed, after allowing them to come down to room temperature. Freeze filings like buttercream in their own bags and seal them.
For frosted donuts, pop them in the freezer on a cookie sheet in a single layer to freeze initially, then place them in a resealable bag. That way, the frosting won't adhere to the bag instead of your tongue.
Freezing the dough before it's cooked will allow you to have that fresh donut experience every time. For yeast dough, allow the first rise to occur, then cut the dough into donut shapes and freeze in a single layer for a few hours. Once they're solid, wrap each ring tightly in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
A good rule to follow is 10 seconds in the microwave on 50% power. Since donuts vary in size and density, you can tiptoe further in 7-second increments, taking care not to overheat your pastries.
If you've frozen homemade dough pre-rise, unwrap the dough and set it on the counter to rise a second time. Finally, fry in hot oil, bake, or pop into an air fryer.
What to Do With Donuts That are Already Stale
Make good use of your microwave and refresh your favorite glazed treat. 15 seconds should soften donuts right up. It won't be bakery fresh, but it'll do in a pinch. And it's certainly better than (shudder) throwing it away.
Yeast doughnuts typically last at room temperature for a couple of days, and cake doughnuts last only a bit longer, so you may be wondering: Can you freeze doughnuts? Yes, doughnuts can be frozen for up to two months, allowing you to enjoy them later on.
You can freeze donuts for up to three months. This works best with plain, powdered sugar, or thinly glazed donuts (a thick glaze can melt when defrosted). The best method for this is placing them in a large freezer bag.
To maintain your Krispy Kreme doughnuts in optimum condition, we recommend that you store them in a temperature under 18 degrees and out of direct sunlight. To keep Krispy Kreme doughnuts at their freshest after their first day at home, you can freeze the doughnuts and reheat in the microwave.
If your donuts have a topping, like chocolate or custard, it is better to put them in the freezer. As with chocolate, donuts are one of those nice treats that we just can't get enough.
Storing. Well, the safest bet you can place is keeping your precious donut inside an airtight, secure container. Unsealed donuts catch air and go stale really quickly, just like bread because…well.. they are bread. Preferably with a lock.
You can keep your donuts fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week. Be warned that any icing or glaze on your donuts might become runny the longer they're in the fridge. This won't affect the freshness, but try to eat donuts with icing or glaze sooner rather than later if you're worried about the appearance.
Defrosting is usually done at a lower power (30% or 50% of full). If your microwave does not have separate powers or a “defrost” setting you can “simulate” this by turning the microwave oven on for a short period of time, allowing for an equal or double amount of standing time and then turning on again and repeating.
Krispy Kreme said it sends its unsold doughnuts to be recycled into "animal feed" but recently it had changed its processes and now takes waste directly to Portbury Docks for recycling. "Initially, due to the security protocols at the docks, we were unable to gain access this weekend," the spokesperson said.
For longevity, freezing Entenmann's baked goods is recommended. Items should be wrapped with a layer of foil or plastic wrap, and then placed in an airtight container or freezer bag, ensuring all air is removed before sealing.
Some sources recommend heating doughnuts on top of a damp paper towel for anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds, while others suggest heating on half power for 15.
You can freeze cake doughnuts the same way you'd freeze yeast doughnuts, in an airtight freezer bag. If there's freezer burn on your doughnuts, they're technically safe to eat—but the flavor and texture will be off.
Transfer the donuts to an air-tight storage container.
Seal the container, then place the donuts back in the freezer. You can use an air-tight Ziploc bag, Tupperware, or any other storage container that seals completely.
Expiration dates are also meant to have a bit of a grace period, as in the manufacturer estimates the expiration date a few days before it truly does become spoiled. This way it avoids any liability they have of selling spoiled food. So donuts are safe to eat one day after expiration if they show no signs of spoilage.
But if you want to make sure you have plenty around long after they sell out (which will surely be soon) you can always do what I did and stash some in your freezer for later.
Timbits are best enjoyed fresh and warm, but you can store leftovers to enjoy later. Refrigerate any uneaten timbits in an airtight container for 1-2 days. They will stay fresh when kept cold. For longer storage, you can freeze baked timbits for up to 3 months.
Once filled and glazed, they are best enjoyed within a day or two. If you want to freeze the donuts, I recommend freezing them unfilled and unglazed. Let them cool completely and then wrap individually in plastic wrap. Store in an airtight container or Ziplock bag in the freezer for 1-2 months.
Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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