This is how to freeze doughnuts so your pastry will stay fresh for weeks.
Can You Freeze Doughnuts? Yes—and Here’s How Long They Last
Updated on Aug. 31, 2024
If you’ve purchased a dozen doughnuts or baked a batch, you want to make sure no treats go to waste. 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. We didn’t know this was one of the foods that freeze well, and we’re here for it! Here’s everything you need to know about freezing doughnuts, whether they’re homemade or from a local doughnut shop.
How to Freeze Doughnuts
Freezing food is simple. The greatest threat to your doughnuts isn’t time or temperature—it’s air. No matter the type of doughnuts you plan to store, the goal is to get as much air away from them as possible. But, of course, we want to do that without damaging that delicate layer of glaze or frosting. The best way to freeze doughnuts is unfilled and unglazed, as soon as they cool to room temperature after frying or baking. However, it is still possible to freeze doughnuts that have a topping.
For frosted and glazed doughnuts, pre-freeze them before packing them for storage in the freezer. Place the frosted or glazed doughnuts on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet and freeze them for two to three hours until they’re hard. Once frozen, continue with the storage method below.
Step 1: Gather your materials
First, grab your largest freezer bag (usually one or two gallons). Then, cut two pieces of waxed paper that are slightly smaller than the bag. This makes sliding the paper in and out of the bag easier.
Step 2: Bag ’em up
Slide one piece of cut waxed paper into the bag. Next, place doughnuts in a single layer inside the bag on top of the waxed paper. Top the doughnuts with the other piece of waxed paper. Push as much air as possible out of the bag without smooshing the doughnuts, and seal the top almost all the way to the edge, leaving about a 1/4-inch unsealed.
Step 3: Remove the excess air
This is the secret to keeping doughnuts fresh! Slide a straw into the unsealed section of the bag. Gently suck the air out of the bag through the straw. This will cause the bag to constrict, pulling the waxed paper around the doughnuts. Seal the bag, and lay it flat in your freezer for storage.
Ready to try your hand at making fresh doughnuts? Learn how to make your own sugar doughnuts and strawberry doughnuts at home.
Types of Doughnuts You Shouldn’t Freeze
- Cream-filled doughnuts: Enjoy cream-filled doughnuts like Boston cream when fresh. The heaviness of the cream filling can seep into the dough over time, creating a wet, deflated doughnut.
- Powdered doughnuts: Any humidity that may come into contact with powdered doughnuts in the freezer will make the topping soggy. While you can still try to freeze this type of doughnut in an airtight container, you won’t have the same texture after your treats are thawed.
- Sprinkle doughnuts: You can freeze doughnuts with sprinkles on top, but keep in mind they won’t look nearly as pretty once defrosted. The color from the sprinkles is likely to bleed into the frosting as they thaw.
Can you freeze Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
Yes—and the best way to freeze store-bought or copycat Krispy Kreme doughnuts is to seal them in an airtight package. You can follow the same steps above. Krispy Kreme also has specific directions for reheating their glazed doughnuts: Heat each doughnut in the microwave for exactly eight seconds.
Tips for Freezing Doughnuts
- 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.
- To prevent freezer burn and keep food tasting fresh, make sure the doughnuts are completely cool before they go in the freezer. Be sure the bag is sealed correctly, store them in the main part of the freezer (not the door) and leave space for air to circulate.
How to Thaw Doughnuts
For best results, warm doughnuts in the microwave on 50% power for 10 seconds. If they aren’t warm enough (doughnuts will vary by size and density), warm for seven-second increments on 50% power until heated through. Do not overheat your doughnuts, though, or you’ll end up with dry, inedible disks. Heating glazed or frosted doughnuts at too high of a temperature can also cause the topping to melt.
If you froze unglazed homemade doughnuts, glaze them once they’ve been reheated. Since doughnuts need to cool to room temperature before the glaze can set, don’t get them too warm in the microwave. You can make doughnut glaze in less than five minutes!
How to Tell If Doughnuts Are Stale
While a doughnut with mold or a foul smell is considered spoiled, a stale doughnut simply just doesn’t taste as great the day after they’re freshly made. Stale doughnuts are still safe to eat, but they may have lost their fluffy texture and the exterior won’t seem quite as fresh.
What to Do with Stale Doughnuts
If your doughnuts have gone stale, warming them in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds may help revive them. Otherwise, use stale doughnuts for tasty recipes so they don’t go to waste. Try making a bread pudding with leftover doughnuts or turning them into French toast.
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