Why Freezing Donuts Might Not Be The Best Idea
Was there anything better than finding a big box of donuts set out on the breakfast table during your childhood years? Pillowy soft rings of fried dough topped with a sugary glaze, sprinkles, or maybe even bits of candy; the pastries are basically a dessert in disguise, and, as a kid, each bite felt like getting away with eating something that definitely should not have been on the menu so early in the day.
Nowadays, waking up to a plate full of crullers and Boston creams might not be quite as magical as it was in your youth, but that doesn't make indulging in a donut any less delicious. Even better, as an adult, you have the luxury of snacking on one whenever your heart desires. Hungry at 9 a.m.? Have a donut. Feeling peckish at 2 p.m.? Have a donut. Tummy starting to rumble around midnight? Well, you get the idea.
As an adult, you also have the luxury of bulk-buying donuts whenever you want, even on the occasions that Krispy Kreme isn't running a deal — though this also presents the conundrum of having to figure out how to store the leftovers after your donut feast is done. Stowing them in the freezer is one possible option, however, despite being a seemingly easy solution, this might not be ideal for every type of donut.
These are the types of donuts you might not want to store in the freezer
It's never easy to pass up a good deal, especially one that involves getting two dozen donuts for the price of one. But, unless you're Joey Chestnut, scarfing down 24 donuts in one sitting probably won't be a walk in the park. Freezing the leftovers seems like a plausible solution and certified professional in food safety Katie Heil told POPSUGAR is a "perfectly safe" option when you're oversupplied in pastries. Unless, that is, your surplus includes a few cream-filled treats.
According to Heil, donuts such as the Bavarian or Boston cream "don't freeze well" because "when cream is frozen, the ice crystals cause it to separate, which makes it look curdled." These types of donuts contain ingredients that will spoil, so Still Tasty advises that they should be stored in the refrigerator instead, where they can last for up to one week in an air-tight container.
Non-cream-filled donuts, meanwhile, are safe at room temperature for two days, but if you don't think you'll be digging into your stash for a while, into the freezer they can go. To ensure maximum freshness, Heil suggests getting them into the icebox as soon as possible, first on a cookie sheet covered with a piece of wax paper. Once completely frozen, transfer the donuts into a sealed container or freezer bag and return them to the freezer, where they can be kept for as long as three months.