This Is The Best Way to Store Bagels, According to Bagel Bakers (2024)

FAQs

This Is The Best Way to Store Bagels, According to Bagel Bakers? ›

Contrary to popular belief, refrigerating your bagels will actually make them go stale more quickly. You should store them in plastic bags at room temperature, or freeze them immediately. Make sure your bagels aren't still warm when you put them in bags or they will get soggy.

Refrigerating bagels can cause them to become stale faster. Keep your bagels on the counter in a paper or zip-top bag, or freeze them for long-term storage.

Wrap both halves of a fresh bagel in plastic wrap, foil, or wax paper — this step will prevent the bagel halves from sticking together and freezing to each other in storage. Place both wrapped halves of the bagels together in a sealable freezer-safe bag. Freeze and store for up to 3-4 months. Thaw at room temperature.

So no, bagels do not need to be refrigerated. This is the same for any bread, but bagels often seem to stale faster, in part because they're smaller than bread loaves. Bagels are also often made from low hydration dough, meaning they don't have as much water in them in the first place.

In other words, place any bagel halves in a tightly sealed plastic bag at room temperature, and squeeze out any excess air before you close said bag. Stored this way, bagel slices should stay fresh for about three days, though you might want to revive them in the toaster before digging in.

To keep bread fresh, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and sources of moisture. Options include a bread box, a breathable container, or a paper bag.

If you want to take that next step for an extra day's worth of preservation, place the rolled up paper bag in a resealable container (plastic bag, tupperware, etc.). The bagels may still harden a little bit, but should not go completely stale.

To help soften a hard bagel, simply wrap it in a moist paper towel and microwave it for 15 seconds. You can also set the bagel on a microwave-safe plate, then surround it with a few water drops or lightly mist it and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.

How to Freeze Loaves of Bread. Both store-bought and homemade bread should freeze well, says Lisa Brooks, the chef and owner of Heart & Soul, a personal chef service. Her go-to method involves wrapping the bread in two layers of plastic wrap and then storing the loaf in a resealable plastic freezer bag before freezing.

How long do bagels last after the best by date? ›

Packaged Bagels & Breads

Trying to extend the shelf life is not recommended for freshly baked bread, but the preservatives in packaged bagels and bread allow it to last one to two weeks beyond the "Use Buy" date, if refrigerated. Just keep an eye out for mold or a crunchy, stale texture.

Shape each bagel and add them to the cornmeal-sprinkled baking sheet. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and let the rolled bagels proof for 45 to 60 minutes at room temperature. Alternatively, the bagels can be placed in the fridge to proof overnight or even up to two days.

Bagels taste best when they're warm, as their insides get hard and tough once they've cooled off. Unless you've purchased a fresh-baked bagel - meaning less than six hours old - you'll want to toast your bagel before eating it.

Contrary to popular belief, refrigerating your bagels will actually make them go stale more quickly. You should store them in plastic bags at room temperature, or freeze them immediately. Make sure your bagels aren't still warm when you put them in bags or they will get soggy.

Refrigerated bagels can last from 5 to 7 days in the fridge, much longer than when left at normal room temperature. Freezing bagels allows them to last even longer, typically up to 3 months or even longer depending on the type of bagel and how they are stored.

Quick tip: Bagels get moldy when spores in the air land on the bread and use the residual moisture to propagate. If your bagels are preservative-free, this could happen within a day or two. Wilson suggests freezing bagels immediately unless you will enjoy them the same day.

However, after 2 to 3 days, they'll start to go a bit stale. Your best bet is to freeze bagels you're not sure you can eat within a 2-day timeframe. Store-bought bagels will usually keep for about 5 to 7 days in the pantry. They should be frozen if you won't eat them within the week.

The microwave is a quick solution for many kitchen tasks. To help soften a hard bagel, simply wrap it in a moist paper towel and microwave it for 15 seconds. You can also set the bagel on a microwave-safe plate, then surround it with a few water drops or lightly mist it and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Packaged Bagels & Breads

Trying to extend the shelf life is not recommended for freshly baked bread, but the preservatives in packaged bagels and bread allow it to last one to two weeks beyond the "Use Buy" date, if refrigerated. Just keep an eye out for mold or a crunchy, stale texture.