Perfectly Reheated Donuts: Foolproof Methods for Microwave, Oven, and Air Fryer

Stale donuts are never as delicious as fresh ones right out of the fryer or oven. Luckily, there are several easy ways to reheat donuts and restore their texture and flavor. This article will provide instructions on reheating donuts using a microwave, oven, air fryer and toaster oven. It will also answer common questions and provide tips for getting perfect results.

Microwave Method

The microwave is the quickest and easiest way to reheat a few donuts.

Instructions:

1. Place donuts on a microwave-safe plate in a single layer, evenly spaced apart.
2. Microwave on HIGH power for 10-15 seconds. The time will depend on your microwave wattage and the number of donuts.
3. Check donuts and microwave in 5 second intervals until heated through. Donuts with fillings may require more time.
4. Let donuts cool slightly before eating, as the filling can get extremely hot.

Oven Method

The oven allows you to reheat multiple donuts evenly. The hot air will make the exterior crispy again.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Place donuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Make sure donuts are evenly spaced.
3. Bake for 4-5 minutes until heated through. Check frequently to avoid over-baking.
4. For glazed donuts, you can place them directly on the oven rack to recrisp the bottom. Flip halfway through.

Air Fryer Method

An air fryer is great for reheating a small batch of donuts until crispy on the outside.

Instructions:

1. Preheat air fryer to 300°F.
2. Place donuts in air fryer basket in a single layer, not overcrowded.
3. Cook for 3-5 minutes, flipping donuts halfway through. Check frequently as cooking times vary.
4. Glazed donuts may need to be placed on foil or parchment to prevent sticking.

Toaster Oven Method

A toaster oven provides a small space for heating up just a few donuts.

Instructions:

1. Preheat toaster oven to 300°F.
2. Place donuts on rack in a single layer.
3. Toast for 3-5 minutes until hot, keeping a close eye to avoid over-browning.
4. For glazed donuts, line the rack with foil or parchment paper first.

Tips for Reheating Donuts

• Allow donuts to cool slightly after reheating since fillings get extremely hot.
• Avoid reheating in the microwave more than once as it can make donuts rubbery.
• Reheat glazed donuts just until warm if you want to preserve the crispy glaze texture.
• DAY OLD donuts reheat better than WEEK OLD ones. The fresher the better!
• Let glazed donuts cool completely after reheating before handling or the glaze can pull off.
• Day old donuts tend to reheat better than really stale donuts. For best results, reheat within 2-3 days.
• Old fashioned cake donuts can be crisped back up by slicing and toasting lightly.

FAQs

Q: How long should I microwave donuts for?
A: Start with 10-15 seconds on HIGH for 1-3 donuts. Add 5 extra seconds for each additional donut. Monitor closely and heat in short intervals to avoid overcooking.

Q: Can I microwave all kinds of donuts?
A: Most cake and yeasted donuts reheat well in the microwave. Exceptions are donuts with delicate toppings like glazes or sprinkles that may melt.

Q: Should I use a baking sheet or directly place donuts on the rack?
A: For even crisping and heating, place donuts directly on the metal rack. If any fillings ooze out, line with foil first.

Q: Can I reheat frozen donuts in an air fryer?
A: Yes, air fryers work great for reheating frozen donuts. Add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time and monitor closely. The donuts should be crispy and heated through.

Q: Should I cover the donuts while oven heating?
A: It’s best to leave them uncovered so the outside becomes crispy while the inside gets heated through.

Q: What is the best way to reheat custard-filled donuts?
A: Custard-filled donuts should be reheated gently to avoid the filling from separating or curdling. Use the microwave method and heat for only 5-10 seconds at a time. Check frequently and stop when just warmed through.

Q: How do I reheat vegan or dairy-free donuts?
A: Vegan donuts without dairy components can be reheated using any of the methods in this article. Take care not to overheat as vegan donuts can become dry quickly. Heat just until warmed through.

Recipes

Cinnamon Sugar Baked Donut Holes
Makes 12 donut holes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup milk
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a donut pan or line with parchment.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Mix in milk and melted butter until combined.
4. Pour batter into donut pan openings, filling 2/3 full.
5. Bake for 7-9 minutes until cooked through.
6. Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl.
7. Toss hot donut holes in cinnamon sugar to coat. Serve warm.

Glazed Yeast Donut Holes
Makes 15-20 donut holes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 tbsp active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• Oil for frying
• Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar + 2-3 tbsp milk

Instructions:

1. Combine the milk, yeast and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl. Allow to bloom for 5 minutes.
2. Make the dough by mixing flour, remaining sugar, salt, egg, yeast mixture and melted butter. Knead until smooth.
3. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
4. Punch down dough and roll out to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into circles with a round cutter.
5. Cover and rise for 30 minutes.
6. Fry donut holes in 350°F oil for 1-2 minutes per side until golden.
7. Glaze while warm by mixing powdered sugar and milk until smooth.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Makes 12 donuts

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 apple, diced small

Instructions:

1. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.
2. In another bowl, mix apple cider, egg, brown sugar, oil, vanilla and melted butter.
3. Fold in diced apple.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix just until combined.
5. Scoop batter into greased donut pans.
6. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until cooked through.
7. Glaze or coat in cinnamon sugar while still warm.

Product Recommendations

Microwave:

1. Panasonic NN-SN936B – 1.2 cubic feet, 1200W
2. Toshiba EM131A5C-BS – 1.2 cubic feet, 1100W
3. GE JES1097SMSS – 1.0 cubic feet, 1000W
4. Sharp SMC1131CB – 1.1 cubic feet, 1100W
5. LG LMC0975ST – 0.9 cubic feet, 950W

Oven:

1. GE JB650SKSS – 5.3 cubic feet capacity
2. Samsung NV51K7770DS – 5.8 cubic feet capacity
3. Bosch HGI8054UC – 4.8 cubic feet capacity
4. Frigidaire FFTW4120SW – 4.5 cubic feet capacity
5. Whirlpool WOS31ES7JS – 4.3 cubic feet capacity

Air Fryer:

1. Cosori Air Fryer Max XL
2. Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
3. Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven
4. Philips Premium Airfryer XXL
5. Chefman TurboFry 3.5 Liter Air Fryer

Toaster Oven:

1. Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro
2. Cuisinart TOB-260N1 Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven
3. Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Toaster Oven
4. Hamilton Beach 31230 Set & Forget Toaster Oven
5. Black+Decker TO3265XSSD Extra Wide Toaster Oven

With the proper technique, leftovers or day old donuts can taste nearly as delicious as the day they were purchased. Experiment with these reheating methods using your microwave, oven, air fryer or toaster oven to revive stale donuts. Just be careful not to overheat or they will become dried out. Enjoy your reheated treats!