We all know that donuts can become a tasteless dough and hard the next day, which is far from the flavor and texture that we like. The donuts we eat and love are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and incredibly delicious.
The last thing you want to do is throw away your leftover donuts, since donuts stored and reheated properly they may taste just as good as fresh.
Which the best way to reheat donuts? The best methods you can use to reheat donuts are the microwave and air fryer. If you don’t have these devices, an oven, toaster, or skillet can also do the trick.
The best ways to reheat donuts
What are your favorite donuts? We know it can be hard to choose just one among all the delicious varieties, from icing to chocolate-filled to dusted with powdered sugar. Donuts are the favorite sweet of many, and there is almost no one who can resist them.
Regardless of your favorite donuts, and whether you make them at home or prefer to buy them at your favorite local bakery, we already know that they don’t taste the same after a couple of hours, let alone the next day.
However, this is not a reason for you to throw away your leftover donuts, as you can save them and reheat them whenever you want. Reheating donuts, especially frozen ones, may seem like a huge hassle, but it’s actually not that complicated.
And what better than having donuts whenever you want, without having to bake and prepare them all over again? You can even make a big batch at home and freeze them for future use when you see how easy it is to reheat them “again.”
To properly store your donuts, place them in an airtight container or storage bag and put them in the freezer or fridge, depending on when you plan to use them. If you keep them at room temperature, they should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Also, keep in mind that the donuts should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 days. In this case, you should store the freshly baked donuts in a paper bag or napkin to preserve their freshness as much as possible.
If you leave them out too long, they will become stale, tough, and tasteless, so you may want to store them in the fridge or freezer before this happens. The best thing you can do is store freshly baked donuts to ensure they stay fresh.
Also, if you’re making homemade donuts and you plan to freeze them, the best way to store them is without frosting or topping. Just store the freshly baked donuts once they’ve cooled completely, and you can add your desired toppings when you reheat them.
What is the best way to reheat donuts? It depends on the type of donuts you are going to reheat, if they have been frozen or refrigerated and, of course, what appliances you have at home.
How to reheat donuts in the oven
Reheating the donuts in the oven is probably the best method, especially if you have a large number of donuts to heat. If you think about it, the oven is the most spacious appliance you can use, and you can probably fit the whole batch on one tray.
Some people avoid this method for two reasons. First of all, it requires preheating, so it will definitely take more time than other practical gadgets. Second, it generates a lot of heat and is a real pain to use when it’s hot.
Other than that, the oven is arguably the most versatile method, as you can use it to reheat any type of donut, whether store-bought, homemade, glazed, stuffed, or bare. Plus, it will keep the outer layer crisp while warming the inside well.
Here are the steps to reheat donuts in the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Wrap each donut in a piece of aluminum foil to prevent drying out, especially if you want to reheat old donuts.
- The foil method is also a great solution if you want to reheat glazed donuts, so they don’t melt all over the pan and other donuts.
- Place the wrapped donuts on a tray and put them in the preheated oven for about 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, check one donut to see if it has warmed to your liking.
How to reheat donuts in the microwave
When it comes to microwaving, it can be said that many people have a love-hate relationship with this method. On the one hand, it’s extremely convenient and fast, while on the other, it can turn your food into mush if you’re not careful.
As with the regular oven, we suggest wrapping your donuts, especially if you want to reheat cream donuts. Otherwise, you may end up with the melted cream filling all over the plate in your microwave.
You shouldn’t use foil in the microwave though, but you can put the donuts in a microwave-safe bowl and cover the bowl with regular plastic wrap.
Be sure to poke a hole in the plastic wrap so the inside of the bowl doesn’t get too foggy.
Keep in mind that you can’t microwave a huge batch of donuts, so if that’s the case, stick with the regular oven to save yourself a lot of time. The regular microwave is a great solution for a couple of donuts, or for reheating mini donuts.
Here are the steps to reheat donuts in the microwave:
- Put the donuts on a microwave-safe plate or bowl.
- Cover with plastic wrap (optional). Be sure to poke a hole in the wrapper.
- Choose the medium setting and reheat for 20-30 seconds.
- Take the donuts out of the microwave and make sure they have heated through.
How to reheat donuts in an air fryer
If you have an air fryer, you may not be aware of its reheating capabilities. In fact, it’s one of the best methods of heating food, as it doesn’t require preheating like a normal oven does, and it doesn’t leave food dry and tasteless.
The air fryer is a great way to reheat homemade donuts, as it “revives” the dough and preserves all its flavors and aromas. You can use it to reheat both bare donuts and those with a frozen topping and/or filling.
We also recommend using parchment paper to prevent the dough from drying out, but also to return the moisture to the donuts. Also, if you are going to reheat stale donuts, you can also drizzle a little oil on top.
Here are the steps to reheat donuts in an air fryer:
- Set the air fryer to 350°F.
- Wrap the donuts in parchment paper (in case you want to reheat powdered sugar donuts, or any type of donut with a topping).
- Put the donuts in the air fryer and let them reheat for about 5 minutes before taking them out.
- If you want a crispier dough, let them heat up a bit longer and use the bare basket.
How to reheat donuts in a toaster oven
When you don’t feel like using your big oven, a toaster oven can always come in handy, especially if you don’t have a big batch of donuts to reheat.
It may not be as spacious as your regular oven, but it’s certainly efficient enough to perfectly heat up your donuts.
Here are the steps to reheat donuts in a toaster oven:
- Set your toaster oven to 350°F.
- Wrap each donut in a piece of aluminum foil, or cover all of them with a piece of damp kitchen paper if you want a softer dough.
- For a crispier dough, simply drizzle/brush a little oil over the donuts.
- Reheat donuts for about 5 minutes, or until crisp to your liking.
How to reheat donuts in a skillet
This method is the best solution if you want to reheat the fried donuts, since it is the same method that was used to prepare them. In case you are looking for healthier options and want to avoid any extra calories, this technique is definitely not for you.
Also, this option is not suitable for donuts with any kind of topping, and can even be a bit risky with the filling inside. For these types of donuts, choose one of the methods we’ve mentioned above, while this one will work great for bare donuts.
This method is perfect if you want to reheat frozen donuts, and it also works great for reheating stale donuts, which may not turn out as crisp and fresh using the other methods we’ve discussed.
Here are the steps to reheat donuts in a skillet:
- Choose a deeper pan, as you will be filling it with oil.
- Fill the pan with oil, as there should be enough oil for the donuts to “float” on top.
- Heat the oil over high heat for one minute, then turn the heat down to medium before adding the donuts.
- Carefully add the donuts one by one, making sure they are not touching, as you don’t want them to stick together.
- Fry the donuts on one side for 3-4 minutes, or until you see a nice golden crust.
- Flip the donuts over and cook on that side for the same amount of time.
- When the donuts reach that golden color, check the inside with a fork to make sure it’s not frozen.
- Remove the donuts from the pan and place them on a few pieces of kitchen paper that will absorb the excess oil.
Can the donuts be reheated?
Yes, it is possible to reheat donuts and make them just as crispy and tasty as before. Although it’s much easier to reheat donuts that have been refrigerated or frozen fresh, it’s also possible to do so with stale donuts.
The oven is the best option if you’re reheating a large batch of donuts, as it will take less time than other appliances that don’t offer as much space. However, similar results can be achieved using a microwave, air fryer, or toaster oven.
On the other hand, our best bet for reheating stale, frozen donuts is to fry them in oil. Although this is not the healthiest option, there is no doubt that both the taste and the texture are excellent.