One of the challenges that everyone faces with Bagels is that they go bad quickly. I have had the bad luck of not knowing this and had a dozen or so bagels go stale on me as I kept them on the counter for a long period.
However, with this, I delved deep into researching how to keep bagels fresh for a long time, and the best method I came across to achieve this was to freeze them.
But just chucking your bag of bagels into the freezer is not the end of the story, and there is a lot to be learned about freezing bagels which is why in this article, I am going to be going in-depth about how to freeze bagels so that they can be kept fresh for a prolonged period of time.
So without wasting any more time, let us get right into the topic.
Can You Freeze Bagels?
If you want the simple answer to the question, then yes, you can freeze bagels. However, the answer does not end right there.
I know so many people who make the mistake of chucking their bagels in the Fridge and later find out that this wonder snack has gone bad on them. Similarly, there is a right method to preserve the bagels in the freezer.
So if you have bagels that have been with you for a day or two, the best way to preserve them is to freeze them in the right type of packaging so that you can enjoy them for many days. The next heading deals with how to freeze bagels correctly.
How To Freeze Bagels?
When it comes to freezing bagels, many people make the mistake of just putting the bagel in a freezer bag without splitting it into two halves and using a freezer bag which is not ideal for preserving a bagel. This will cause freezer burns on the bagel.
Similarly, bagels have a certain texture that needs to be preserved, giving them distinctive crunchiness, which freezer burns will ruin. Therefore, you can freeze bagels without compromising their texture and flavor.
First, you will need to cut the bagel in two halves using a knife and then place each of these halves into a plastic bag.
Ensure that these plastic bags are airtight. Once you have done so, put the bagels in a freezer bag and label the bag with a sharpie with the date.
Once you have done so, put the bagel in the freezer and call it a day. You should be able to keep the bagels fresh for at most four months by freezing them.
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How Do You Thaw Frozen Bagels?
There are a few methods that can be used to thaw frozen bagels. I am going to explain each one of them in each successive paragraph.
First up, you can thaw the frozen bagel at room temperature. All you have to do is put the frozen bagels on the countertop for two to three hours. This will ensure that the bagels slowly return to their original form and texture.
You can also use the toaster to thaw your frozen bagels quickly. All you have to do is put your cut bagels in the toaster and apply medium to high heat so that you can enjoy a warm bagel in a few minutes.
Similarly, you can also use an Oven to thaw your bagels. All you have to do is put the bagels in the oven and turn up the heat to 375 degrees F. Keep the bagels in the oven for six minutes, and you should be done.
How Long Do Bagels Last In The Fridge?
When it comes to keeping Bagels in the Fridge, you cannot expect them to last the fridge for more than two to three days before they lose all their texture and go stale. That is why I and many other professional bakers ask you not to keep bagels in the fridge.
To keep bagels preserved for a long time, the best course of action is to freeze them properly so they are also safe from freezer burns. This will ensure that you can enjoy bagels for at least four months.
Can You Refreeze Bagels?
Yes, Bagels can be refrozen, and there are no health issues that a refrozen bagel is known to cause.
However, you can bet that if you refreeze a bagel, its quality will be highly diminished; hence it is better that you freeze a bagel only once, and if it gets thawed, it should be consumed.
Will Bagels That Have Been Frozen Taste Good?
Yes, bagels that have been frozen will retain their original taste and will taste just as good as the day they were baked, provided that you have frozen them in the proper way, which I have given you in the preceding paragraphs.
Final Verdict:
This was everything that you needed to know about freezing bagels. To summarise, all you have to do is cut up the bagel into two pieces by using a knife. Then you are going to put the bagel pieces in different plastic bags.
Then you are going to put these bags in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer. This will ensure that the bagel can be kept fresh for at max four months.
