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Food and Entertaining
Recipes
Baking
Donuts and Doughnuts
How to Keep Donuts Fresh Download Article Co-authored by Sporked
Last Updated: May 31, 2025
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Keeping Donuts at Room Temperature
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Putting Donuts in the Refrigerator
|
Freezing Unfrosted Donuts
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Video
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Expert Interview
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Q&A
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Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Sporked. Sporked is a team of expert food writers and editors dedicated to finding the best food products for consumers through in-house taste tests. Their reviews and rankings cover all categories of food and drink, ensuring that their readers will find the right products for their needs. Sporked is a part of Mythical, along with popular YouTube channels Good Mythical Morning and Mythical Kitchen. This article has been viewed 234,974 times.
Having leftover donuts doesn’t happen often, but when it does, you want to store them the right way so you have a fresh, delicious treat waiting for you another day (or maybe in a few hours). Since donuts contain butter, fat, and sugar, they can easily spoil or grow stale. Don’t worry though—we’ll show you a few different ways you can store donuts so they stay fresh. We’ve also included a couple of tricks you can use to reheat donuts if you want them to taste like they came straight from the bakery.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Keeping Donuts at Room Temperature
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1 Place your donuts in storage bags or airtight containers.[1]X Expert Source SporkedFood Testing ExpertsExpert Interview If you plan on eating your donuts within 1-2 days, you can just keep them at room temperature. Definitely put them in airtight bags or containers though so they stay fresh![2]XResearch source
The only time this isn’t a good idea is when your donuts are cream-filled. In that case, you’ll want to store them in the fridge so they don’t spoil.[3]XResearch source
2 Seal the donuts in the storage bags or containers. Make sure those storage bags or containers are tightly sealed so you don’t find yourself biting into stale donuts.[4]XResearch source
If you are using a storage bag, try to squeeze as much air from the bag as possible (without damaging the toppings on the donuts).[5]XResearch source
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3 Store the donuts in a cool, dry area. Freshly baked donuts will last longer if kept out of direct sunlight. Like air, sunlight is the enemy here—not only will it cause your donuts to become stale, it will also melt off any delicious, beautiful icing or glaze.
4 Place the donuts in the microwave for 5 seconds to freshen them up. When you’re ready to enjoy one of your donuts, here’s a good trick: place the donut on a plate and microwave it for a few seconds. This will soften, warm, and put moisture back into the donut—yum![6]XResearch source
Since your donuts are still at room temperature, be careful not to go crazy with the microwave. If you microwave them too much, any icing or glaze on the donuts will melt, and the donuts might actually become harder.[7]XResearch source
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Putting Donuts in the Refrigerator
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1 Place your donuts in a storage bag or airtight container. Triple-check that the bag or container is properly sealed. Air will make your delicious donuts go bad faster![8]XResearch source
2 Put the packed donuts in the refrigerator. You can keep your donuts fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week.[9]XResearch source
Be warned that any icing or glaze on your donuts might become runny the longer they’re in the fridge. This won’t affect the freshness, but try to eat donuts with icing or glaze sooner rather than later if you’re worried about the appearance.
3 Freshen the chilled donuts by microwaving them at 15-second intervals. A quick pop in the microwave can add moisture back to the donuts and really revive them. Just keep in mind that if the donuts are glazed or topped with icing, it may slightly melt.[10]XResearch source
Be careful if your donuts have jelly or cream inside since it will be hot![11]XResearch source
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Freezing Unfrosted Donuts
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1 Put your donuts in an airtight container and layer them with wax paper. The wax paper will keep your donuts from sticking together in the freezer. That way, if you just want one donut, you can easily pull them apart without having to defrost the whole container.[12]XResearch source
Powdered and plain donuts will freeze the best. Glazes and icings tend to melt and become tacky when defrosted.[13]XResearch source
2 Put the container in a sealed, heavy-duty freezer bag. This step is important since it prevents pesky ice crystals from forming on the inside of the container or on the donuts themselves.[14]XResearch source
3 Store your donuts in the freezer. They should stay fresh there for 2-3 months. You can eat your donuts for a few weeks beyond that time, but they just won't be as fresh.[15]XResearch source
4 Leave the donuts uncovered on the counter for 15 minutes to defrost them. Make sure you don’t cover the donuts. Covering them will trap moisture and make them soggy, which nobody wants! Chef Nettie Frank, Chef
Donuts are the new thing. They never go out of style. Dress it up, make it savory, make it sweet. Elevate it, be innovative, be creative. These are fun little pastries that we want to pipe and decorate.
5 Defrost the donuts by microwaving them at 15-second intervals. The microwave will finish defrosting the donuts and make them nice and moist again.[16]XResearch source
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Community Q&A
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Question What if I want to store it in freezer but I do not have a microwave? Community Answer You can put it in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes to reheat. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 14
Question How do I keep glazed donuts from melting while keeping them? Itisme Community Answer You must cool them down before you put the glaze on. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 22 Helpful 7
Question Can I make my donuts this evening and eat them tomorrow afternoon? Community Answer Of course you can. Make sure you refrigerate your donuts overnight. Donuts will stay fresh for about a week if stored properly. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 4
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Warnings
Regardless of how you store the donuts, always double-check that they haven’t spoiled before eating or serving them. If the donuts have an off-putting smell or appearance, throw them away.[17]XResearch source Check the donuts for signs of mold. Mold can present itself in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. Typically look for green or black speckling or fuzzing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about storing food, check out our in-depth interview with Sporked.
Co-authored by: Sporked Food Testing Experts This article was co-authored by Sporked. Sporked is a team of expert food writers and editors dedicated to finding the best food products for consumers through in-house taste tests. Their reviews and rankings cover all categories of food and drink, ensuring that their readers will find the right products for their needs. Sporked is a part of Mythical, along with popular YouTube channels Good Mythical Morning and Mythical Kitchen. This article has been viewed 234,974 times. 10 votes - 40% Co-authors: 12Updated: May 31, 2025 Views: 234,974 Categories: Donuts and DoughnutsArticle SummaryX
To keep your donuts fresh, place them in a storage bag or airtight container and keep them for 1-2 days. When you want to eat them, put your donuts in the microwave for 5 seconds to soften them. Alternatively, place your donuts in a storage bag or container and keep them in the refrigerator for about a week. If your donuts have a cream filling, always refrigerate them to keep the filling from spoiling . Once you take your donuts out of the fridge, microwave them for 15 seconds at a time until they’re softer. For more tips, including how to freeze your unfrosted donuts, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Sporked Food Testing Experts 10 votes - 40% Click a star to vote 40% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 12Updated: May 31, 2025 Views: 234,974
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Download Article Co-authored by Sporked 
How toFreeze Muffins 
How to Store Fresh Scones (Short & Longterm) 
How toStore Cornbread 
How toStore and Reheat Pizza 
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Co-authored by: Sporked Food Testing Experts This article was co-authored by Sporked. Sporked is a team of expert food writers and editors dedicated to finding the best food products for consumers through in-house taste tests. Their reviews and rankings cover all categories of food and drink, ensuring that their readers will find the right products for their needs. Sporked is a part of Mythical, along with popular YouTube channels Good Mythical Morning and Mythical Kitchen. This article has been viewed 234,974 times. 10 votes - 40% Co-authors: 12 Updated: May 31, 2025 Views: 234,974 Categories: Donuts and Doughnuts Article SummaryX
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1 Place your donuts in storage bags or airtight containers.[1] If you plan on eating your donuts within 1-2 days, you can just keep them at room temperature. Definitely put them in airtight bags or containers though so they stay fresh![2] 
2 Seal the donuts in the storage bags or containers. Make sure those storage bags or containers are tightly sealed so you don’t find yourself biting into stale donuts.[4] 
3 Store the donuts in a cool, dry area. Freshly baked donuts will last longer if kept out of direct sunlight. Like air, sunlight is the enemy here—not only will it cause your donuts to become stale, it will also melt off any delicious, beautiful icing or glaze. 
4 Place the donuts in the microwave for 5 seconds to freshen them up. When you’re ready to enjoy one of your donuts, here’s a good trick: place the donut on a plate and microwave it for a few seconds. This will soften, warm, and put moisture back into the donut—yum![6] 
1 Place your donuts in a storage bag or airtight container. Triple-check that the bag or container is properly sealed. Air will make your delicious donuts go bad faster![8] 
2 Put the packed donuts in the refrigerator. You can keep your donuts fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week.[9] 
3 Freshen the chilled donuts by microwaving them at 15-second intervals. A quick pop in the microwave can add moisture back to the donuts and really revive them. Just keep in mind that if the donuts are glazed or topped with icing, it may slightly melt.[10] 
1 Put your donuts in an airtight container and layer them with wax paper. The wax paper will keep your donuts from sticking together in the freezer. That way, if you just want one donut, you can easily pull them apart without having to defrost the whole container.[12] 
2 Put the container in a sealed, heavy-duty freezer bag. This step is important since it prevents pesky ice crystals from forming on the inside of the container or on the donuts themselves.[14] 
3 Store your donuts in the freezer. They should stay fresh there for 2-3 months. You can eat your donuts for a few weeks beyond that time, but they just won't be as fresh.[15] 
4 Leave the donuts uncovered on the counter for 15 minutes to defrost them. Make sure you don’t cover the donuts. Covering them will trap moisture and make them soggy, which nobody wants! 
Chef Nettie Frank, Chef 
5 Defrost the donuts by microwaving them at 15-second intervals. The microwave will finish defrosting the donuts and make them nice and moist again.[16] Advertisement 
Community Answer You can put it in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes to reheat. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 14 
Itisme Community Answer You must cool them down before you put the glaze on. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 22 Helpful 7 
Community Answer Of course you can. Make sure you refrigerate your donuts overnight. Donuts will stay fresh for about a week if stored properly. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 4 
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