If you’ve just bought a dozen freshly glazed doughnuts, you’re probably not planning to eat them right away. Doughnuts are the perfect choice for a quick breakfast or a tasty, no-prep dessert. But once you bring your fresh-baked doughnuts home, you face a tough decision. Should you leave them out on the counter and risk possible spoilage? Refrigerate your glazed doughnuts, where they might become runny and sticky? Should you freeze your doughnuts and try to thaw them out later? Doughnuts can be one of the most difficult foods to store properly. But if you know what you’re doing, you can enjoy fresh, delicious doughnuts for the rest of the week!
Should You Refrigerate Doughnuts? Once you’re done snacking, your first instinct might be to throw the doughnuts in the fridge. But is refrigeration really the best way to preserve glazed doughnuts? In fact, refrigeration can make your firm glazed doughnuts turn soggy and mushy. The moist environment inside the fridge causes the glaze to melt and be absorbed by the doughnuts, resulting in mushy blobs of dough that’s positively unappetizing. Using a plastic bag makes the situation even worse, as the bag traps the plastic inside. But if your doughnuts are cream-filled, you don’t want to leave them sitting out on the counter, as the cream or filling could spoil. Cover them with plastic wrap on a plate or stick them in the freezer.
Can You Store Doughnuts at Room Temperature?
If you plan on eating your doughnuts within the next few days, storing them at room temperature is the best option. Room temperature won’t cause the glaze to melt–but it will cause filling to spoil, so keep those doughnuts frozen or refrigerated. For your traditional, non-filled doughnuts, place them in a bag and store them in a cool, dry place. They won’t last long, so make sure you eat them quickly if you use this storage method.
What About Freezing Doughnuts?
Freezing doughnuts takes some extra time, but it makes your doughnuts last much longer. A frozen doughnut can last up to three months. To freeze your doughnuts, wrap them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and stash them in the freezer. (Traditional doughnuts only–doughnuts with cream or custard filling cannot be frozen.) When you defrost your doughnuts, place them uncovered on the counter and wait fifteen minutes. Any kind of covering will trap moisture in the doughnut, causing the glaze to melt and produce a sticky mess.
Written by: Ana Blackburn
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