Yes, you can reheat a doughnut, and they respond well to brief gentle heat. A day-old doughnut that has gone slightly dry and firm comes back to nearly fresh in under a minute in the microwave or five minutes in the oven. The filling, glaze, and topping each behave differently on reheating, so the method depends partly on what kind of doughnut you’re working with.
Can You Reheat a Doughnut?
Yes. Doughnuts keep at room temperature for one to two days, or in the fridge for three to four days in a sealed container. They can be frozen for up to two months. The main issue is staling: the starch in the dough retrogrades as it cools, making the texture firmer and drier. A short application of heat reverses this and softens the crumb. The food safety risk for a plain or glazed doughnut is very low. Custard-filled doughnuts carry slightly more risk because dairy fillings should not be left at room temperature for extended periods.
Reheating a Doughnut in the Microwave
The fastest method and very effective for most types.
- Place on a microwave-safe plate.
- For a plain or glazed doughnut: microwave on full power for 10 seconds only. Check: it should be warm and soft. Add 5-second increments if needed.
- For a filled doughnut: microwave at 50% power for 15 seconds. The filling heats faster than the dough and can become scalding while the outside feels only warm. Let it rest for 30 seconds before eating.
The glaze on a glazed doughnut will melt slightly in the microwave, becoming sticky and glossy. This is normal and is actually a good indicator that the doughnut is warm throughout.
Reheating a Doughnut in the Oven
Better than the microwave for glazed ring doughnuts where you want the glaze to firm back up after warming.
- Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F).
- Place on a baking tray.
- Heat for four to five minutes.
- Remove and allow to cool for two minutes: the glaze will re-set slightly as it cools.
Reheating Frozen Doughnuts
Thaw at room temperature for one to two hours, then reheat as above. Or reheat directly from frozen in the oven at 150°C for 10 to 12 minutes.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Doughnut Type | Best Method | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Plain/sugared | Microwave, full power | 10 sec |
| Glazed ring | Oven 150°C | 4-5 min |
| Filled (custard/jam) | Microwave 50% power | 15 sec, rest 30 sec |
| From frozen | Oven 150°C | 10-12 min |
I love to treat myself to fresh doughnuts from time to time, but after a while, they get hard. I’ve heard of microwaving bread to soften it; can I do the same with a frosted doughnut? Can you reheat a doughnut?
Reheating doughnuts is super easy, it is a shame more people throw away three-day-old doughnuts because they are less than fresh.
Jelly doughnuts, Boston Creams, and other “filled” doughnuts should be reheated with caution. Since we cannot see how the insides are faring, you should only reheat your doughnut up to three days after their initial packaging, or when they become stiff for non-filled doughnuts. While food poisoning is uncommon from eating old doughnuts, it is not recommended to try and reheat a brick like pastry.
The Microwave
The microwave is almost always the default appliance when it comes to reheating food quickly. Doughnuts are no exception, especially when they are frosted.
Place your doughnut on a microwave-safe plate or paper towel, and reheat in the microwave on MEDIUM power for about 15 seconds. If you would like it to be warmer, be careful that you do not melt the frosting!
Be careful when handling, as overheated frosting is extremely hot and likely to cause burns. Otherwise, enjoy your sweet treat!