Let’s get straight to the point – Yes, you can freeze donuts!
And in this post, we’ll tell you not only how to freeze donuts but also provide you with information on when to freeze your donuts and some notices you should be aware of while freezing different types of donuts.
Later down in the post, we’ll also discuss how to thaw and reheat frozen donuts. What are we waiting for? Let’s begin!
When to Freeze Donuts?
Here’s a quick reminder – be it donuts or any perishables, you should let the food item come to room temperature first before freezing them. There’s a proper scientific reason backing up this statement.
The danger temperature zone for pathogenic bacterial growth is 41 to 135 degrees F. If you put too hot food in a freezer, it can increase the temperature inside and thus, thaw nearby perishables to this dangerous temperature.
Therefore, always let your donuts cool to room temperature before you freeze them, especially if you’re freezing in a big batch.
Also, when hot donuts are wrapped for storage, condensation occurs much more vigorously, making the exterior of this delicacy wet and soggy. Trust us, eating soggy donuts is no fun!
Moreover, try your best not to let perishables sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Freezing Donuts: Raw Dough or Fried?
If you’re wondering whether to freeze your homemade donut dough or freeze them after frying, our recommendation is that you definitely go after the former option.
Cut your yeast dough into donut shapes after the first rise and freeze them in a single layer for a few hours.
Once the dough rings become solid, wrap individual rings with a layer of cling film, two if possible. You’ll probably be storing these in bulks. So, it would be best to be as meticulous as possible and leave no room for error.
Finally, put the donut rings in an airtight container or freezer bag, and you should be able to fry and relish them whenever you want for up to 2-3 months. Also, don’t forget to mark the date you prepared the dough on the freezer bag.
Freezing Donuts: Glazed, Cream-filled, or Bare?
Glazes do not bode well to refrigeration and freezing. In the case of creams and custard donuts, dairy products have a lesser lifespan in general and will probably spoil much sooner than donuts. Consequently, if you plan on long-term donut storage, freezing bare donuts is the way to go!
If you witness offers on donut stores on buying a dozen or more donuts, make sure you choose regular plain donuts if you want to relish the delicacy longer. You can always use store-bought or your own homemade glaze, jams, and creams to decorate the donuts later.
How to Freeze Donuts?
1. Gather your supplies:
You’ll need wax papers, spatula, freezer bags, a tray or a cookie sheet, and of course, donuts to freeze.
2. Let donuts cool and freeze individually:
Now, line the cookie sheet with wax paper and place donuts in one line, such that they don’t tough either, especially if the donuts are glazed or topped with jams and creams. Leave them in the freezer for 3-5 hours or overnight to freeze properly.
3. Store them in an airtight container:
If you’re planning to freeze the donuts overnight or just for a few days, simply wrap the cookie sheet with cling fling and store it.
However, if you want to freeze them for a long term, place the donuts in the freezer bags in layers, separating each layer with wax paper. Doing so will keep your frozen donuts organized and makes it easy to take them out whenever necessary.
If you don’t want to go this extra length of trouble, just put the flash-frozen donuts inside a freezer bag or an airtight container.
4. Seal the bag:
You must ensure that there is as much less air as possible inside the bag. If you have a vacuum sealer, good for you! If not, make sure to expel as much air as while sealing the freezer bags.
5. Label and mark:
When freezing perishables, it is always necessary to label the bags and mark the date you prepared the food. While it is true that frozen foods are supposed to last indefinitely, given that microbial growth is halted, the quality, taste, and texture of the food will definitely deteriorate over time.
Therefore, make sure you mark the expiry date on the frozen donuts label to make sure that you don’t eat low-quality donuts months down the lane.
Can You Freeze Krispy Kreme Donuts?
Krispy Kreme donuts definitely taste premium and delicious. But at the end of the day, these are still donuts, and like any donuts, you can freeze them too!
In the case of glazed or iced donuts, make sure you face the topped side of the donuts upwards during flash freezing. Once the topping solidifies, store them in an airtight freezer bag or a container.
When it comes to jam-filled donuts, you should be able to freeze them without any hassle. On the other hand, donuts with custard or creme fillings don’t bode well to freezing and reheating procedures. Therefore, try not to stock up on these items.
Can You Freeze Powdered Donuts?
Unlike plain donuts, powdered sugar donuts don’t respond well to refrigeration and freezing. The issue is not in the safety of frozen powdered sugar but in its quality.
The moisture in the donuts will probably combine with powdered sugar on the surface, altering the texture of the donuts. The humidity of the freezer further aids the process. Therefore, it is imperative you freeze powdered donuts in an airtight container if, in case, you absolutely have to freeze them.
Can You Freeze Custard Donuts?
Custard or cream-filled donuts have a relatively lower lifespan on the fridge. In the freezer, custards are known to split. You can salvage the custard once defrosted by heating it in medium heat, adding a little milk, and whisking every 30 seconds.
Nevertheless, that’s not the case for custard donuts. Having said that, while the texture of the custard filling changes, the flavor remains the same, tasty as ever!
So, don’t freeze custard donuts unless you absolutely have to. The fresher, the tastier!
Can You Freeze Jam Donuts?
Donuts are notorious for having soggy bottoms upon refrigeration. So, it is better to freeze them instead directly. Yes, you can freeze jam donuts as well!
While jam donuts freeze well, the texture might be somewhat different upon thawing. The jam might lose its viscosity and can be quite runny.
In order to avoid such a difference in texture, it is recommended to leave the frozen donuts in the refrigerator for some hours to chill before thawing them.
Also, if you like your frozen donuts sugar-coated, you should only apply it once you thaw and reheat the donuts. Sugar doesn’t react when to freezing and thawing.
Especially with the moisture condensed from donuts involved, which will most likely combine with sugar, the texture change will not be something you want in your donuts.
How to Thaw and Reheat Frozen Donuts?
1. Reheating pre-cooked Frozen Donuts:
First of all, start by checking the date on the freezer bag label to make sure that you don’t use expired or too old donuts. If the donuts you froze were pre-baked or fried, separate the donuts you’d be using for the day aside and freeze the remaining immediately.
Let the donuts thaw for a few hours. If you’re in a hurry to serve, microwave the donuts immediately. If the donuts haven’t heated up to your liking, microwave them for longer and check the status every 10 secs.
If you don’t have a microwave or if your microwave has died, feel free to use an oven, an air fryer, or even a stove for the purpose. As long as you make sure you don’t overheat the donuts, you’ll get to relish the deliciousness.
2. Frying or Baking The Donut Dough:
If you’ve stocked up on your favorite delicacy dough rings to be able to make them homemade quickly and easily, well, we’ve got your back!
You’ve probably frozen your dough rings after the first rise. Now, set them on the counter to thaw and let the dough rise for the second time.
Finally, you can drop the rings into hot oil to fry or opt for a healthier option of baking in an oven or an air fryer. Make sure you spray oil on both sides of the donuts while baking.
Summary
We hope you learned a great deal about freezing donuts in this post. In a nutshell, freezing raw donut rings is absolutely the best idea if you want to relish freshly fried or baked donuts whenever you want.
If a slight change in texture and flavor doesn’t bother you, you can store freshly prepared donuts for about 2-3 months. Furthermore, always opt for freezing bare donuts rather than glazed, iced, or filled donuts if you want to preserve the taste and quality of the donuts better.
