Let’s say you find yourself with a substantial number of doughnuts. Perhaps you took full advantage of one of those buy-a-dozen-get-a-dozen-free deals, or tried making them yourself and they immediately turned out perfectly, or it was more of a Homer Price scenario.
Never mind how you ended up with this fried dough windfall; you now find yourself in a position where you have more doughnuts than you know what to do with, and can’t (or don’t want to) give them away. What do you do?
Considering its role as a long-term repository for leftovers, you might think about popping them in the freezer. But…is that even allowed? Conventional doughnut wisdom (and signs) tells us that these treats are at their peak when they’re hot and fresh out of their oil bath. So is the freezer even an option—like, as a last resort? If so, what’s the best way to freeze doughnuts, and when should you do it? Here’s what to know.
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. If you’re stacking donuts, separate them with wax paper so they don’t freeze together.
How to freeze doughnuts
Once the doughnuts are room temp, it’s time to start packing them. Instead of some type of plastic sealed container, you’re going to use large (gallon-size) freezer bags. Depending on how many doughnuts you have to freeze, you can arrange them in a single, flat layer in the bag and freeze them that way (making sure they stay flat in the freezer).
For bigger doughnut loads, you may need to stack them on top of each other—just use a piece of wax paper between each layer so they don’t stick together. But what about ones with icing? Here’s a pro tip from Tamara Gane at Southern Living:
Once the bags are packed, remove any excess air, then pop them in the freezer to be enjoyed later, at a day and time of your choosing. They are usually good for up to three months.
When to freeze doughnuts
First of all, yes: it is possible to freeze doughnuts. (Although technically, it’s possible to freeze most things.) And it does matter when you do it. Common sense tells us that freezing doughnuts that are already stale to begin with isn’t a great idea if you care about things like taste and quality. But it’s also possible to freeze doughnuts too soon.
As Miles Sao, owner of Heroes Donuts in Martinez, Georgia recently told Southern Living, you want to let the doughnuts cool down before you store them—whether they’re going in the freezer or an airtight container where you hope to keep them fresh for a few days. Storing doughnuts before they have a chance to come to room temperature will cause them to sweat and turn soggy. No, thank you.
D.I.Y. Freezing Doughnut Dough Now And Eat em Later One At A Time
FAQ
Are donuts still good if you freeze them?
How do you defrost donuts?
Can I eat a frozen donut?
Can you freeze Krispy Kreme donuts for later?
Can you freeze Donuts?
Freezing warm donuts can result in rock-hard donuts due to freezer burn. To prevent this, it’s best to wrap your donuts individually in clear plastic or tin foil to keep out any moisture. It’s best to use an airtight container or freezer bag to freeze donuts. Cool the donuts down if they’ve been freshly baked.
Can I freeze chestnuts?
Chestnuts can be frozen and is rather recommended. If chestnuts are stored at room temperature, the chestnuts themselves will consume more and more carbohydrates and lose their sweetness. By freezing them once, the sweetness of the chestnuts can be preserved for a long time.
How long do donuts last in the freezer?
Frozen donuts will last for 3 to 6 months. While there’s no real harm in keeping donuts in the freezer for longer than this, you should avoid freezing glazed or filled donuts for longer than three months. Unglazed and unfilled donuts can be kept in the freezer for as much as six months without losing their texture or taste.
Can you freeze leftover doughnuts?
Here’s how to freeze leftover doughnuts. It’s only natural to make sure not a single doughnut goes to waste! Luckily, you can freeze doughnuts for up to two months, giving your glazed treats a nice, long life.