Fresh, warm doughnuts are a great treat for just about any day of the week, and they make a good office breakfast because they are easy to transport and they come in all sorts of flavors, like glazed, chocolate, apple butter, and even ghost pepper. Doughnuts have exploded in popularity, according to CBS, who reported that a study from Postmates and NationalToday found that 96% of Americans like doughnuts. There are doughnut-making competitions, and even donut wedding cakes.
While you may not eat just one doughnut for Friday morning breakfast, you probably dont sit and eat a whole dozen at once. Unfortunately, a lot of doughnuts, especially those with fillings like cream or jam, can go bad and get stale very fast. So, what is the best way to store them, and how do you reheat them so that theyre not stale when you want to leftover doughnuts the next day?
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. In my house growing up, it was eight seconds—period.
While you may not eat just one doughnut for Friday morning breakfast, you probably dont sit and eat a whole dozen at once. Unfortunately, a lot of doughnuts, especially those with fillings like cream or jam, can go bad and get stale very fast. So, what is the best way to store them, and how do you reheat them so that theyre not stale when you want to leftover doughnuts the next day?
Its important to remember that glaze will melt in the microwave, and that means that it can be very hot when you remove the doughnut from the appliance. Likewise, fillings, like cream and jam, or toppings, like sprinkles, can melt after even just a few seconds in the microwave and they can be very hot to the touch. According to Medical Express, to prevent burns from food products that you have removed from a microwave, you should let the food sit for at least two minutes before eating it. You may also want to use a fork or cooking tongs to pick up the doughnut, particularly if it is glazed, to protect your fingers.
Womans Day suggests that you use a paper towel, dipped in water, to keep bread products moist when microwaving them. Wrap the damp paper towel around the doughnut, place it on a microwavable plate, then heat it for 15 seconds. This helps keep it moisturized as it warms.
Fresh, warm doughnuts are a great treat for just about any day of the week, and they make a good office breakfast because they are easy to transport and they come in all sorts of flavors, like glazed, chocolate, apple butter, and even ghost pepper. Doughnuts have exploded in popularity, according to CBS, who reported that a study from Postmates and NationalToday found that 96% of Americans like doughnuts. There are doughnut-making competitions, and even donut wedding cakes.
You dont want to keep the doughnut in the microwave for too long, though, because that can have the opposite effect. NewScientist says that heating bread in a microwave will dry it out, and if it stays in the microwave too long it can “burn,” or become tough. That will defeat the purpose of heating it to begin with.
If you dont have a microwave, or are just feeling like you should accept the stale doughnuts for what they are, you can always use your leftover doughnuts to make doughnut French toast. But if you store them correctly, hopefully youll be able to enjoy these doughnuts for as long as possible—or until you get your hands on a fresh batch. `
You can never go wrong with a fresh doughnut, served straight out of the fryer or still warm with glaze. But sometimes, youve got to plan ahead and pick up a box of doughnuts the day before an event, so your guests (or, lets be real, you) can enjoy these baked goods bright and early. Or maybe youve somehow been left with a box of leftover doughnuts from the office. This is why its good to know how to keep doughnuts fresh overnight, so you can prevent your favorite doughnuts from getting stale and happily enjoy them even when theyre not fresh out the oven.
If your doughnuts have gotten stale, the best way to soften them is to put them in the microwave. Greif recommends nuking them at 15 second intervals. And though its not a fancy solution, microwaving your doughnut to reheat it or revive it is kind of the industry standard. Even the folks at Krispy Kreme suggest that you reheat their signature original glazed doughnut in the microwave at five-second intervals. “While its not exactly like having one in our stores,” they write, “some say its pretty close!” (Just keep in mind that if youre reheating a doughnut with jelly inside that the filling will get very hot, and if its got a glaze or frosting, thatll probably melt a bit.)
And unlike bread or croissants, which you should freeze as soon as you know you wont be eating them in a day or two, doughnuts probably shouldnt be frozen. “While you can freeze doughnuts, I would not recommend due to the fact that the icing will melt and become tacky,” Greif wrote. “They just wont be the same as fresh!”
The good news is that storing doughnuts properly is pretty straightforward. You dont have to make space in your fridge for a box. In fact, Jen Greif, pastry chef at Dough in Tampa, Florida, recommends against it. “To best keep doughnuts overnight, wrap them in a napkin and store in a paper bag,” she wrote in an email.
How To Keep Donuts Fresh & Delicious
FAQ
How do you make donuts fresh again?
How do you make store bought donuts taste fresh?
How do you keep donuts fresh for a few days?
How do you make soggy donuts crispy again?
How do you keep donuts fresh?
Store the donuts in a cool, dry area. Freshly baked donuts will last longer if kept out of direct sunlight. Like air, sunlight is the enemy here—not only will it cause your donuts to become stale, it will also melt off any delicious, beautiful icing or glaze. Place the donuts in the microwave for 5 seconds to freshen them up.
Can some of the flour in baked donuts be substituted with wheat germ?
Wheat germ can be substituted for part of the flour in baked donuts. The rest of the donut flour must be able to rise and thus the final product is formed.
How do you make a day-old Donut?
Day-old donuts can be refreshed and made nearly as tasty as new, with this simple method that takes only minutes! Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Lay the donuts out on a cookie sheet. Put donuts into the oven to heat for 10 minutes, or until very warm. Meanwhile, mix the powdered sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow pie plate.
How do you cook Donuts in a frying pan?
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place your donuts in the pan along with an ice cube or a generous sprinkle of water. Cover the pan with a lid for 30-60 seconds, then serve the donuts. If your donut has a glaze on the bottom, you’ll want to very lightly grease the pan before adding the donut.