Illustration for article titled How To Freeze Donuts (And When You Should)Photo: Siamionau Pavel (Shutterstock)

Let’s say you have a significant number of donuts. Perhaps you took full advantage of one of these offers to buy a dozen to get a dozen, or tried to make them yourself and they got perfect right away, or it was more of a Homer Price scenario.

No matter how you came up with this fried batter; You are now in a position where you have more donuts than you know how to do and you can’t (or won’t) give them away. How are you?

Given its role as a long-term repository for leftovers, you might consider putting them in the freezer. But … is that even allowed? Conventional donut wisdom (and character) tells us that these treats peak when they’re hot and fresh from their oil bath. So is the freezer an option at all – as a last resort? If so, what are the best ways to freeze donuts and when should you do it? Here’s what to know.

Illustration for article titled How To Freeze Donuts (And When You Should)

When to freeze donuts

First of all, yes: it is possible to freeze donuts. (Though technically it is possible to freeze most things.) And it does matter when you do it. Common sense tells us that freezing donuts that are already stale is not a good idea if you care about things like taste and quality. But it is also possible to freeze donuts too early.

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As Miles Sao, owner of Hero donuts told in Martinez, Georgia recently Life in the southYou’ll want to let the donuts cool down before storing them – whether they’re going to be kept in the freezer or in an airtight container, which will hopefully keep them fresh for a few days. If you store donuts before they reach room temperature, they will sweat and get damp. No thanks.

How to Freeze Donuts

Once the donuts are at room temperature, it’s time to pack them up. Instead of a sealed plastic container, use large freezer bags (the size of a gallon). Depending on how many donuts you need to freeze, you can arrange them in a single, flat layer in the bag and freeze them that way (make sure they stay flat in the freezer).

Larger loads of donuts may require you to stack them on top of each other. Just use a piece of wax paper between each layer to keep them from sticking together. But what about those with frosting? Here is a professional tip from Tamara Gane at Life in the south::

If you’re freezing frozen donuts, arrange them in a single layer and place in the freezer for about an hour or until the frost freezes. This will prevent the frosting from sticking to other donuts or the freezer bag.

After packing the bags, remove any excess air and place them in the freezer for later enjoyment on a day and time of your choice. They’re usually good for up to three months.

Illustration for article titled How To Freeze Donuts (And When You Should)

How to thaw donuts

You have two options here. The first is to take the donuts out of the freezer the night before you eat and let them thaw on the counter. after Epicurious.

But donut emergencies sometimes occur and you may not have the time to wait overnight. In this situation, Pop the donut in the microwave Then check for 10 seconds how it works. If it takes longer, heat it for a few seconds to prevent the donut from overcooking and becoming hard and coarse.