Doughnuts are delicious as a treat. There are so many different types on offer. Perhaps you like a plain doughnut or one filled with jam. You can get them dipped in chocolate or icing, covered in hundreds and thousands, or filled with cream.
However, what do you do if you have leftovers or if you want to make a big batch to enjoy at a later date? Can you freeze them? The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze them and how to defrost them.
How To Freeze Doughnuts
Unfortunately, it’s not a good idea to freeze doughnuts with icing, cream, or melted chocolate. They will probably get freezer burn which will ruin the taste and texture of the doughnuts.
If you freeze doughnuts with cream, the cream will probably split and there’s no way to get back the original texture. It is best to freeze plain doughnuts. You can always add toppings after you have defrosted them.
If you are freezing plain doughnuts, this is the way to do it:
1. Wrap the doughnuts individually in aluminum foil.
It is important to wrap them tightly to ensure that freezer burn doesn’t occur. You can even wrap them in two layers of foil for extra protection.
2. Put the doughnuts in a freezer bag or airtight container.
Squeeze out as much air as possible from the freezer bag to prevent freezer burn. Put a label on the bag or container with the date you put it into the freezer. Freezing them in this way will help the doughnuts retain their moisture.
3. Put the doughnuts in the freezer.
Because you have wrapped the doughnuts individually, they shouldn’t stick together, and you should be able to take out just as many doughnuts as you need.
Tips For Freezing Doughnuts
- Freeze out all the air from the freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Wrap the doughnuts in aluminum foil to protect them from the air.
- Avoid freezing doughnuts with toppings and fillings, especially dairy. If you are determined to freeze them, be prepared for a texture and taste change.
- It is better to freeze homemade doughnuts rather than store-bought ones as you won’t know if the doughnuts have already been frozen and to freeze them again would ruin the texture. They could, at worst, spoil, and you could end up being sick.
- Frozen doughnuts keep for a lot longer than fresh doughnuts but you will find that they don’t taste as good as fresh. Still, if you have doughnuts left over, it is better to freeze them rather than throw them away. If you think that you might use your doughnuts within a week, you can put them in the fridge. Plain doughnuts last for seven days in the fridge but filled or iced doughnuts will last for only three or four days.
How Do You Defrost Doughnuts?
The best way to defrost doughnuts so that you retain their taste and texture is to defrost them in the fridge. It will take about two hours. Then you can put them in the microwave for a couple of minutes.
You can put the doughnuts straight in the microwave on defrost but they may go mushy. It is best to check them every minute while you are microwaving them. If you are defrosting a doughnut with cream in, the cream will probably split when you put it in the microwave.
If you take your doughnuts out of the freezer and defrost them, you might smell the yeast. This means that they have spoiled.
This is why it is important to put a label on the freezer bags or airtight containers so that you don’t keep them in the freezer beyond their use-by date. It’s a pity to waste them but you will need to throw them away if you keep them in the freezer for too long.
Can You Refreeze Doughnuts?
We don’t recommend that you freeze doughnuts as it will ruin their texture. Ice crystals are formed when you freeze food and if you freeze it twice, your doughnuts will end up mushy. If your doughnuts are filled or covered, the result will be even worse.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Doughnuts?
Plain doughnuts freeze well as long as you don’t keep them in the freezer for longer than two months. However, the sooner you defrost them, the better they will taste. However, freezing doughnuts with toppings or fillings doesn’t usually yield good results. If cream is involved, it will split, and you will be able to taste the difference.
Freezing store-bought doughnuts isn’t a good idea as they might already have been frozen. Just buy as many as you can eat within a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing doughnuts but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
What are good toppings for defrosted toppings?
You can make a very decadent glazed doughnut with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, rainbow sprinkles, and a cherry on top. Try a glazed doughnut with creme fraiche and macerated strawberries. You can pour over a hot caramel sauce or put on a maple glaze and crumbled bacon. If you want a simple option, pour over melted chocolate or fondant icing.
Can you freeze Krispie Kreme Doughnuts?
Krispie Kreme doughnuts are delicious and addictive but what do you do if you have bought too many? Can you freeze them? You can if they just have a glaze and you can follow our instructions earlier in this article. However, if they have fillings or toppings such as icing, they won’t freeze well. Dairy will split and will make your doughnuts mushy.
Can you freeze jam doughnuts?
Jam doughnuts can be frozen unlike most doughnuts with fillings. The jam might have a slight change in texture but they will be almost as good as fresh.
Can you freeze iced doughnuts?
It’s not a good idea to freeze doughnuts with icing as the icing will probably become gritty when frozen.
Can you freeze doughnut dough?
Yes, you can. Divide the dough into doughnut shapes before freezing (see also Should You Freeze Cookie Dough?). Then flash freeze the dough on a tray and when frozen, store them in the freezer in a freezer bag or airtight container. Because you have flash frozen them, they shouldn’t stick together, and you can then remove just as many as you want.
