How to Keep Donuts Fresh

Co-authored by Sporked

Last Updated: April 19, 2024

Having leftover donuts doesn’t happen often, but when it does, you want to store them the right way so you have a fresh, delicious treat waiting for you another day (or maybe in a few hours). Since donuts contain butter, fat, and sugar, they can easily spoil or grow stale. Don’t worry though—we’ll show you a few different ways you can store donuts so they stay fresh. We’ve also included a couple of tricks you can use to reheat donuts if you want them to taste like they came straight from the bakery.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Keeping Donuts at Room Temperature

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Place your donuts in storage bags or airtight containers. If you plan on eating your donuts within 1-2 days, you can just keep them at room temperature. Definitely put them in airtight bags or containers though so they stay fresh!^{[1]
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- The only time this isn’t a good idea is when your donuts are cream-filled. In that case, you’ll want to store them in the fridge so they don’t spoil.^{[2]
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Seal the donuts in the storage bags or containers. Make sure those storage bags or containers are tightly sealed so you don’t find yourself biting into stale donuts.^{[3]
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- If you are using a storage bag, try to squeeze as much air from the bag as possible (without damaging the toppings on the donuts).^{[4]
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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.
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Place the donuts in the microwave for 5 seconds to freshen them up. When you’re ready to enjoy one of your donuts, here’s a good trick: place the donut on a plate and microwave it for a few seconds. This will soften, warm, and put moisture back into the donut—yum!^{[5]
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- Since your donuts are still at room temperature, be careful not to go crazy with the microwave. If you microwave them too much, any icing or glaze on the donuts will melt, and the donuts might actually become harder.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Putting Donuts in the Refrigerator

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Triple-check that the bag or container is properly sealed. Air will make your delicious donuts go bad faster!^{[7]
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Put the packed donuts in the refrigerator. You can keep your donuts fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week.^{[8]
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- 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.
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Freshen the chilled donuts by microwaving them at 15-second intervals. A quick pop in the microwave can add moisture back to the donuts and really revive them. Just keep in mind that if the donuts are glazed or topped with icing, it may slightly melt.^{[9]
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- Be careful if your donuts have jelly or cream inside since it will be hot!^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Freezing Unfrosted Donuts

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Put your donuts in an airtight container and layer them with wax paper. The wax paper will keep your donuts from sticking together in the freezer. That way, if you just want one donut, you can easily pull them apart without having to defrost the whole container.^{[11]
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- Powdered and plain donuts will freeze the best. Glazes and icings tend to melt and become tacky when defrosted.^{[12]
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This step is important since it prevents pesky ice crystals from forming on the inside of the container or on the donuts themselves.^{[13]
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They should stay fresh there for 2-3 months. You can eat your donuts for a few weeks beyond that time, but they just won't be as fresh.^{[14]
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Make sure you don’t cover the donuts. Covering them will trap moisture and make them soggy, which nobody wants!

Chef Nettie Frank, Chef

Donuts are the new thing. They never go out of style. Dress it up, make it savory, make it sweet. Elevate it, be innovative, be creative. These are fun little pastries that we want to pipe and decorate.
The microwave will finish defrosting the donuts and make them nice and moist again.^{[15]
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Community Q&A

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Question

What if I want to store it in freezer but I do not have a microwave?

Community Answer

You can put it in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes to reheat.

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How do I keep glazed donuts from melting while keeping them?

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You must cool them down before you put the glaze on.

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Question

Can I make my donuts this evening and eat them tomorrow afternoon?

Community Answer

Of course you can. Make sure you refrigerate your donuts overnight. Donuts will stay fresh for about a week if stored properly.

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Warnings

Regardless of how you store the donuts, always double-check that they haven’t spoiled before eating or serving them. If the donuts have an off-putting smell or appearance, throw them away.^{[16]
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Research source} Check the donuts for signs of mold. Mold can present itself in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. Typically look for green or black speckling or fuzzing.

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