It’s only natural to make sure not a single doughnut goes to waste! Luckily, you can freeze doughnuts for up to two months, giving your glazed treats a nice, long life. Here’s everything you need to know about freezing doughnuts, whether they’re homemade or from a local doughnut shop. While you’re at this, you can also learn how to make your own sugar doughnuts and strawberry doughnuts at home.

How to Freeze Doughnuts

Freezing food is simple. The greatest threat to your doughnuts isn’t time or temperature—it’s air. When packing these doughy delights, the goal is to get as much air away from them as possible. But of course, we want to do that without damaging the delectable and delicate layer of glaze. From parsley to tomato paste, here are a few freezer-friendly foods.

Step 1: Gather your materials

First, grab the largest freezer bag you have (usually one or two gallons). Then, cut two pieces of wax paper that are slightly smaller than the bag. (This makes sliding the paper in and out of the bag easier.)

Step 2: Bag ’em up

You’ll want to slide one piece of cut waxed paper into the bag. Next, place doughnuts in a single layer inside the bag on top of the waxed paper. Next, top the doughnuts with the other piece of waxed paper. Push as much as air possible out of the bag and seal the top almost all the way to the edge, leaving about a quarter-inch unsealed.

Step 3: Suck out the air

This is the secret to keeping doughnuts fresh! Slide a straw into the unsealed section of the bag. Gently suck the air out of the bag through the straw. This will cause the bag to constrict, pulling the waxed paper around the doughnuts. Seal the bag; lay it flat in your freezer.

Can You Freeze Homemade Doughnuts?

Absolutely! The best way to freeze doughnuts is unfilled and unglazed, as soon as they cool to room temperature after frying or baking.

Once you’ve finished a batch of homemade doughnuts, set aside the doughnuts you want to serve and follow the steps above to freeze the rest. If you plan to fill your doughnuts with buttercream, wrap it tightly in a freezer bag and seal it. Learn how to store your baked goods.

Can You Freeze Krispy Kreme Doughnuts?

Yes—and the best way to freeze Krispy Kreme doughnuts is to seal them in an airtight package. You can follow the steps above. Krispy Kreme also has specific directions for reheating their glazed doughnuts: Heat each doughnut in the microwave for exactly eight seconds.

Tips for Freezing Doughnuts

• You can freeze cake doughnuts the same way you’d freeze yeast doughnuts, in an airtight freezer bag.
• If there’s freezer burn on your doughnuts, they’re technically safe to eat—but the flavor and texture will be off.
• To prevent freezer burn and keep food tasting fresh, make sure the doughnuts are completely cool before they go in the freezer. Store them in the main part of the freezer (not the door) and leave space for air to circulate.

How to Thaw Doughnuts

For best results, warm doughnuts in the microwave on 50% power for ten seconds. If they aren’t warm enough (doughnuts will vary by size and density), warm for seven-second increments on 50% power until heated through. Do not overheat your doughnut, though, or you’ll dry, inedible disks.

If you froze unglazed doughnuts, glaze them once they’ve been reheated. Since doughnuts will need to cool to room temperature before the glaze can set, make sure you don’t get them too warm in the microwave. You can make doughnut glaze in less than five minutes!