ᐅ How to Store Donuts or Its Dough (filled or not) •【 2024 】

You can store donuts without filling or icing at room temperature for 2 or 3 days. If refrigerated, they can last a week, and their shelf life would be 2 or 3 months frozen.

With this in mind, we will delve into how to preserve donuts based on the ways we have mentioned above.

Donuts are known to last only a short time, mainly stuffed or glazed ones.

How to preserve donuts without filling or frosting?
How to preserve donuts with filling?
- How to preserve donuts with filling or icing in the refrigerator

How to preserve Krispy Kreme donuts?
How to store the donut dough?
- How to keep doughnut dough in the fridge
- How to freeze donut dough?
How do you know when donuts are in bad shape?
How long do donuts last?

What is the best way to store donuts?

How to preserve donuts without filling or frosting?

There are three ways to store donuts without filling or icing. However, this category also includes donuts sprinkled with granulated or powdered sugar.

Store donuts without filling at room temperature

You can store donuts without filling them at room temperature, and for this, you must do the following:

Step 1: Let them cool down.

Although donuts are mostly eaten when hot, the steam would moisten them and ruin their texture if stored this way.

Step 2: Place the donuts inside an airtight container or bag.

The air causes donuts to harden, so an airtight container or bag will help minimize airflow.

If you sprinkle the donuts with sugar, it is advisable to use an airtight container making sure you do not pile them up.

Step 3: Store in a cool, dark place.

Heat and direct light also harden donuts, especially if they have sugar sprinkled.

You can store donuts at room temperature for 2 or 3 days. [1]

Store donuts without filling in the fridge

Donuts last a few days longer in the fridge than at room temperature, but if not stored correctly, moisture could spoil them, plus they would absorb the smell and taste of other foods.

To avoid this, follow these recommendations:

Step 1: Let the donuts cool completely.

If the donuts are still warm, the drastic temperature change would negatively affect the consistency of the doughnuts.

Step 2: Prepare the airtight container.

It would be best if you line the container internally with parchment paper to control the moisture.

Step 3: Store the donuts inside the airtight container.

If the container is large enough, you can stack the donuts on top of each other. However, if you cover them with sugar, it is best to avoid stacking them. The container should be closed tightly.

Step 4: Place the container with the donuts at the bottom of the fridge.

Away from the door, since there the temperature is much more stable, which would help keep them in good condition for longer.

Donuts stored inside the refrigerator can last up to a week.

Freeze donuts without filling

Can donuts be frozen? The best method for long-term storage, when they have neither filling nor frosting, is to freeze the donuts, if the steps that ensure the highest quality are followed. Donuts without filling or frosting can last 2 to 3 months in the freezer.

The step by step to freeze donuts without filling is as follows:

Step 1: Wait until they are cold.

Remember, the drastic temperature change would spoil the texture and consistency of the donuts.

Step 2: Arrange the donuts on a tray.

Put a layer of parchment paper on the tray and place them beside each other, leaving space between them.

Step 3: Perform a first freeze.

Put the tray with the donuts in the freezer and let them freeze for four hours.

Step 4: Wrap them with aluminum foil.

Although you could store donuts directly in an airtight bag or container, wrapping donuts with aluminum foil will better protect them from frost burns.

Step 5: Place the donuts in an airtight bag or container.

These must be suitable for freezing.

Step 6: Label the bag or container with the storage date.

You need to maintain better control over the donuts.

Step 7: Save in the freezer.

Finally, place your container with donuts in the freezer.

Donuts can stay frozen for 2 or 3 months.

How to preserve donuts with filling?

The fillings and frostings add an extra flavor to the donuts, enhancing much of this delicious dessert. These fillings and frostings can be of any kind.

However, stuffed, or glazed donuts cannot be stored at room temperature, as they would melt entirely in a couple of hours and spoil the doughnut.

The freezer is also not a viable option for most of these donuts because not all freeze well. However, the real problem would arise when thawing because they would still moisten the entire doughnut.

And a very wet donut is just as bad as a hard donut. Therefore, the refrigerator is presented as the ideal option for storing stuffed or glazed donuts.

How to preserve donuts with filling or icing in the refrigerator

Step 1: Have an airtight container.

Stuffed donuts, particularly icing donuts, should not be stored inside an airtight bag.

Step 2: Line the container internally with parchment paper.

You can also use aluminum foil, but parchment paper protects better from moisture.

Step 3: Place the donuts inside the container.

Make sure you are leaving space between them, especially glazed donuts, so they do not absorb the moisture of the other.

Step 4: Store in the coldest area of the fridge.

The coldest zone of the fridge is the bottom, away from the door. The donuts are placed there because the filling and glaze need the temperature to be stable.

Preserving stuffed or glazed doughnuts can last between 2 and 3 days in the fridge.

How to preserve Krispy Kreme donuts?

Krispy Kreme is a renowned donut shop with a worldwide presence. Their donuts are recognized around the world for being incredibly delicious.

The company’s page recommends storing your donuts inside an airtight container at room temperature in a cool and dark place for up to two days. [2]

Otherwise, they advise freezing them for up to two months inside a container suitable for the freezer. However, I consider that it is better to follow the steps on freezing the donuts explained above.

How to store the donut dough?

Storing the donut dough is a great option to advance part of the preparation. In this case, you can keep the donut dough in the fridge and freezer.

How to keep doughnut dough in the fridge

Although in this way they will not last long, it serves when you want to prepare them in advance from one day to another.

To do it the right way and prevent the dough from being damaged, do the following:

Step 1: Oil the container.

This will prevent the dough from sticking to the bowl.

Step 2: Cover the container.

I recommend you use an airtight container. Otherwise, it would help if you covered the dough with plastic film. In this way, you avoid cross-contamination.

Step 3: Store at the bottom of the fridge.

The yeast process will slow down better if you place it in the bottom of the fridge, although it will still grow. Doughnut dough can only be inside the refrigerator for about 24 hours.

How to freeze donut dough?

Can doughnut doughnuts be frozen? Freezing is the perfect option for storing donut dough for over two months. It is a good option if you sell donuts and need to speed up the preparation process by leaving the dough ready.

But in this case, you should store the dough with a donut shape because if the whole dough is frozen together, then thawing it would ruin its consistency.

With this in mind, to store doughnut dough in the freezer, do the following:

Step 1: Cut the dough into a doughnut shape.

Freezing and thawing will be better if you do apply this step.

Step 2: Prepare the tray.

Place a layer of parchment paper on the tray, and then arrange the pieces of dough on it, ensuring those do not touch each other.

Step 3: Put in the freezer for 3-4 hours.

This way, the donut pieces will freeze and not stick together, making them easier to thaw.

Step 4: Store in an airtight container or bag.

The airtight container prevents frost burns.

Step 5: Place the storage date.

To keep a check on the frozen dough.

Step 6: Save in the freezer.

In this way, the doughnut can be frozen for two months. [3]

You should wait for the dough to reach room temperature to fry the donuts. So, you can leave it at room temperature for 6 hours or leave the dough overnight in the refrigerator.

How do you know when donuts are in bad shape?

Like other baking recipes, donuts are known to be spoiled when:

Mold is present.
They have a rotten smell.
They taste bad.

The filling or icing is in poor condition.

In this case, and to avoid poisoning, it is advisable to discard the donuts.

How long do donuts last?

Product	Conservation time
Donuts at room temperature	2 – 3 days
Donuts in the fridge	1 week
Donuts in the freezer	2 – 3 months
Donuts with icing or filling in the fridge	2 – 3 days
Donuts dough in the fridge	24 hours
Donuts dough in the freezer	2 months

What is the best way to store donuts?

The truth is that freshly made donuts are a pleasure to the palate. However, if stored well at room temperature, donuts can better retain their flavor.

Although you should always be aware of the weather because if you live in a very hot place, you should store the donuts in the fridge, in addition, they could last a little longer.

However, yes or yes, stuffed or glazed donuts should be stored in the refrigerator, no matter where you live.

Donuts freeze very well; in case you have no choice but to freeze a bunch of them without worrying about eating them all ahead of time.

But not all stuffed or glazed donuts freeze well, so it is best not to consider this option.

Now, the secret to enjoying fresh donuts all the time is to freeze the dough of the donuts, already chopped, and prepare only the ones you want to eat.

If you are still reading here, I leave you these super-related posts.