Who doesn’t love donuts? Donuts are soft-fried nut-shaped dough balls that are glazed and layered with creams and sauces. We all love their delicious taste and might buy more than we can eat.
So the main question is how long donuts last, and how would you preserve them? They are quite cumbersome to store as they tend to deteriorate faster as days pass by. You may not even taste the same delicious donut as it would have gone bad the next day.
Regular donuts can be kept on the kitchen counter for 1 or 2 days when stored properly. You can maintain their shelf life in the fridge for about a week. Cream-filled donuts last a week in the fridge.
This is the main thumb rule which is subject to changes according to the condition of the donuts and the temperature of storage.
This article will review the protocols for storing donuts and identifying a bad donut. It will also show you what needs to be done to prolong their shelf life so you can have them even a week later.
How Long Do Donuts Last?
Before I answer this question, we need to understand that donut as a whole subsumes lots of ingredients and is made differently to suit different flavors. There are coated, glazed, powdered donuts with toppings and cream-filled donuts.
Each of them has different shelf life and durability depending on many factors, including storage condition and the condition of the donut itself.
If we move on to the specific timeline of its durability, we have to take them with a pinch of salt as there is tentativeness on how long they will last.
Regular donuts, which include coated donuts, glazed donuts, powdered donuts, and donuts with toppings, will last for a day or two at room temperature. If they are stored in the fridge, they can last for a week.
Cream-filled donuts are shoved in the fridge as soon as they are purchased, and they can stay good there for 3 or 5 days, depending on the condition.
As mentioned before, the above timeline is just a rough estimate which may not hold precision if there is an alteration in the storage condition or the donut is already not fresh.
If you harbor any doubt regarding the condition of the donut and smell something off, then discard it without a second thought.
Donuts that are not cream-filled can be refrigerated and can last up to 7 days at a stretch if undisturbed and stored intact.
How To Store Donuts?
Donuts are very similar to bread and usually retain their shelf life as long as the latter does. When exposed to air, they become tight and dry, rendering themselves waste. So sealing them tightly and leaving them no exposure to air would prolong their shelf life.
Airtight containers or freezer bags would be the right way to store them. If you have glazed donuts, keeping them in one layer will save them from becoming messier.
The container or the bag can be placed on the counter or the fridge. Cream-filled donuts can be stored only in the refrigerator.
Airtight containers are the best choice when it comes to storing donuts. If you opt for sealable bags, the topping will get stuck on the inner layers of the cover, making it messier. If you have a plain donut, bags will serve the purpose without much ado.
Should Donuts Be Refrigerated?
If your donuts are cream-filled or topped with dairy, they must be placed in the fridge. It can be kept at room temperature if they are normally glazed or coated.
Leaving the container on the kitchen counter is still ok, but you have to make sure that it does not have access to sunlight or any heated temperature. Frosting can’t take direct sunlight; even sprinkled donuts will not benefit from high temperatures.
Donuts in refrigerators can greatly benefit them as the temperature will help them retain their freshness for some more time.
However, the frosting in the donuts can melt away in the temperature and get absorbed with the layer of the donut, making it soggy and loose.
Plain or sprinkled donuts keep well in the fridge instead of glazed or coated donuts. Cream-filled donuts definitely have to go through the process of refrigeration, leaving is with no choice in that regard.
Can You Freeze Donuts?
The answer is not very straight and requires an explanation based on classification.
1. Plain And Powdered Donuts
They can be frozen all right without any problem. They are not like bread, where there are no stakes while thawing. However, while being thawed, donuts can also lose their texture and taste. Hence freezing is not the best option.
2. Glazed And Topped Donuts
The topping and icing can be melted away when they are defrosted. This might hamper their taste and flavor altogether. They can also make them messy and soggy in that process.
3. Cream-Filled Donuts
Cream-filled donuts don’t freeze well. The thawing process also becomes cumbersome in this case. If you think of filling the cream again, it will dwindle the quality of the donut even more.
The below protocols will hold good if you want to freeze the donut,
4. Packaging The Donuts
The donuts have to be packaged properly in airtight containers or freezer bags. If the donuts are topped or glazed, they cannot be overlapped.
They have to be thawed one at a time. Separate them in layers with aluminum foils or wax papers before freezing them.
5. Defrosting
Defrosting the donuts requires opening them on the counter for 15 to 30 minutes. Just leave them uncovered so that all the moisture and wetness are evaporated.
How To Tell If Donuts Have Gone Bad?
You will know that donuts have turned bad instantly without much effort. The below signs will be obvious indications.
1. Look
If you spot molds or any discoloration on the surface of the donuts, they may have turned bad and qualified to be not eligible for consumption.
2. Smell
This is a rare indication that almost never happens. However, if it happens, then it has to be tossed off without a doubt.
3. Taste
We all devour donuts for their taste, but if you feel it is not as tasty as when you munched it first, there is no reason to put up with it.
Spoiled donuts do not necessarily cause any harm to health. Rather they taste very bad, making them completely useless for consumption.
If cream-filled donuts have been kept out or stayed in the fridge for more than 5 days, they must be thrown out without even second-guessing their condition. Creams are vulnerable and become bad every minute they are exposed to external air.
Conclusion
We all love donuts, but we cannot keep having them once they lose all their taste and flavor. Maintaining their freshness requires storing them intact and making sure we complete them on time.
The above article is a clear guide to tell you how you preserve the donuts and how long they can last.
Before you decide to buy donuts, make sure you have acquainted yourself with the above-mentioned information on their durability so that you don’t falter with the storage of donuts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do donuts last?
Regular donuts, which include coated donuts, glazed donuts, powdered donuts, and donuts with toppings, will last for a day or two at room temperature. If they are stored in the fridge, they can last for a week. Cream-filled donuts are shoved in the fridge as soon as they are purchased, and they can stay good there for 3 or 5 days, depending on the condition.
How to store donuts?
Donuts are very similar to bread and usually retain their shelf life as long as the latter does. When exposed to air, they become tight and dry, rendering themselves waste. So sealing them tightly and leaving them no exposure to air would prolong their shelf life.
Should donuts be refrigerated?
If your donuts are cream-filled or topped with dairy, they must be placed in the fridge. It can be kept at room temperature if they are normally glazed or coated. Leaving the container on the kitchen counter is still ok, but you have to make sure that it does not have access to sunlight or any heated temperature.
Can you freeze donuts?
Plain and powdered donuts can be frozen without any problem. They are not like bread, where there are no stakes while thawing. However, while being thawed, donuts can also lose their texture and taste. Hence freezing is not the best option.
