The Trick To Keeping Donuts Fresh

There's nothing better than snagging a hot donut out of a box that was freshly prepared just minutes earlier. Revisit that box to get your sugary fix hours or a day later and those donuts just don't have the same delicious taste. Sure, they're still sweet, but they're probably also a little stale, and that smooth, silky glaze now just feels a bit wet. Ugh. So what's the trick to keeping donuts fresh? It really depends on the type of donut.

If you're working with any type of cream-filled donut, you're definitely going to want to store it in the refrigerator. Remember, there's dairy in the filling, and if left out at room temperature it will spoil. Trust us, you really don't want that lemon cream donut coming back to haunt you in the middle of the night with a bout of indigestion. Shipley Donuts recommends covering the donuts in foil or plastic wrap, or even better, sealing them in a plastic bag or container. If stored properly, they should keep three to four days in the fridge, and up to three months in the freezer.

As for your cake and glazed donuts, keeping them in an air-tight container at room temperature is still your best bet, but you'll want to avoid storing them somewhere where the sun hits them. Sunlight is the enemy of donuts and will only dry them out and melt the glaze (via Cooking Is Passio). If you don't plan to eat them the next day, store them in the fridge or freezer instead. 

Of course, storing donuts properly is only half the battle. There's also the issue of how to best revive those pastries for eating. If you're working with frozen donuts, first pull them from the freezer and allow them to thaw at room temperature (via Can You Freeze This). After that, throw those donuts into the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds for a quick zap of heat. If you've got a couple leftover glazed donuts from Krispy Kreme, though, they suggest reheating them for just eight seconds straight out of the freezer. 

While storing and reheating donuts may not bring them perfectly back to their original hot-off-the-line freshness, it'll get you pretty close.