How to Freeze Bagels?

If you’re a fan of bagels but don’t want to have them ready all the time, freezing is the way to go. This method will keep your bagels fresh and tasty for months to come.

First, wrap the bagel dough tightly in cling film or plastic wrap before placing it in a freezer bag. Next, squeeze all the excess air out of the freezer bag to ensure it’s as airtight as possible. For more information on freezing bagels check out our below guide.

How to Freeze Bagels (2)

How to Freeze Bagels?

There are two ways to freeze bagels: one is simple, and the other is labor-intensive.

This is our preferred way of freezing bagels without plastic, but we’ll also share it with you.

Place the bagels into a Ziploc bag or stasher bag that is freezer safe. Remove as much air as possible for the greatest quality and freeze for three to four months. To preserve the bagels’ airtightness as much as possible, we advise freezing them in tiny batches per bag. As a result, the bag is opened for shorter periods. Since we are a family of 4, we buy up to 6–8 packs and consume them immediately after defrosting.

The bagels should be split lengthwise, with each half carefully wrapped in plastic before being placed into a freezer-safe bag.

1. Wrapping

The best way to protect bagels from freezer burn is to wrap them individually before freezing. It’s the only way to prevent the oxidation/dehydration double whammy that can leave a bagel’s cut surface prone to freezer burn.

The next step is to place the bagels in a freezer-safe, resealable plastic bag. Ideally, you’ll want to squeeze out as much air as possible before tying the bag.

Plastic wrap is the ideal way to freeze bagels because it protects against freezer burn. Besides, it helps retain the bagel’s freshness when storing them in the freezer.

If your bagels are already sliced, you can skip the wrapping and store them in their original packaging. However, if you’re planning on keeping them for longer than a week, it’s better to wrap them in plastic or foil before placing them in the freezer. The longer they’re stored in the original bag, the more likely they will develop freezer burn.

2. Freezing Bagels

Whether you enjoy buying bagels at your local bagel shop or baking them yourself, freezing bagels is an excellent way to ensure they stay fresh for longer. And, of course, it’s also a great way to prevent food waste.

Freezing is when a liquid changes to a solid and occurs at a different temperature for every substance. In most cases, this is 0 deg C for water (via Serious Eats).

While freezing bagels can be a good option for keeping them fresh for a long time, it’s important to do it correctly to ensure that they don’t become freezer burned and won’t taste or smell bad.

The first step to freezing your bagels properly is to remove them from their packaging and place them in a resealable freezer bag. Be sure to remove as much air as possible from the bag before placing them in the freezer, and write the date on the bag so you know when it will expire.

Reheating Bagels

You can defrost your bagels in several ways, ranging from room temperature to the microwave. However, the fastest way is to use your oven.

When you reheat food, you kill most bacteria that can grow in cold or room temperatures and make it safer to eat. Reheating your food also makes it taste better than letting it go stale.

Whenever you have leftover bagel dough in your freezer, don’t just throw it out. It’s a great addition to other meals, like baked french toast or bread pudding.

It’s important to remove as much air from your frozen bagels before you put them in the freezer. An airtight bag, saran wrap, or even aluminum foil will help protect your bagels from freezer burn and moisture loss.

You can reheat a frozen bagel in the toaster for a few minutes. This is a quick and easy method of heating your bagels, but it’s not the best for preserving the texture or freshness of the bagel.

Storing Bagels

If you have fresh bagels, they need to be stored properly. Otherwise, they will quickly become stale and lose their texture and taste.

When storing bagels, please keep them in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. An excellent place to store them is a bread box or deep drawer.

You can also freeze them in a freezer-safe bag, but that isn’t the best option for long-term storage. If you do, removing all the air from the bag before putting it in the freezer is important.

Then, let it defrost before reheating or using it for any other recipe.

One of the most effective ways to freeze bagels is to wrap them tightly in aluminum foil. This helps protect them from freezer burn, which destroys their texture and taste.

How do you Defrost Frozen Bagels?

When it comes to defrosting frozen bagels, there are numerous possibilities. You can choose a different approach depending on how soon you want to eat your bagel. The best defrosting method is at room temperature, whereas the quickest way is in the microwave. Let’s go over each approach, its advantages, and disadvantages.

Defrost at Room Temperature

Let your bagel defrost at room temperature on the counter for two to three hours. This is a fantastic choice if you need your bagel for another recipe, like baked french toast, bread pudding, or a sandwich. The bagel will taste and feel its best after gently returning to its former shape while defrosting at room temperature.

How Long do Bagels Last in the Fridge?

Bagels should be eaten as soon as possible if you decide to refrigerate them rather than freeze them. Bagels retain their freshness when frozen while they are at their best. Therefore, storing fresh bagels in the fridge will only extend their shelf life by five days.

Bagels that have been kept in the fridge tend to dry out and rapidly go bad. Make sure they are chilled and stored in a sealed plastic bag if you decide to put them in the refrigerator.

Can Frozen Bagels Go Bad?

After a lot of time in the freezer, frozen bagels can start to “go bad.” Food loses some flavor and texture when frozen, just like anything else frozen.

Freezer burn, which happens when you improperly cover newly baked bagels in plastic wrap, is another thing that might make your bagels spoil. The bagels will probably become freezer scorched and, regrettably, become unusable if air gets to them.

Additionally, you could notice that the bagel does not toast well in the oven and instead seems dry and has a strange flavor. You can follow some advice to prevent this unfortunate situation.

How do you Freeze Bagels Without Freezer Burn?

There is a chance that any food you freeze could get freezer burn. When food is not sufficiently chilled before being placed in the freezer, an excess of moisture results in the formation of crystals on the surface.

Ensure that the bagels are cooled before freezing them, especially if you just bought them hot and fresh from the bakery, to avoid this from happening.

Next, if you like, slice the bagels. This is merely a step to assist you in defrosting so that you do not need to wait for the frozen bagel to defrost before you can slice it in two. Additionally, saving bagel halves allows you to enjoy a portion of a bagel if you don’t feel like eating the whole thing. Cover them tightly in plastic wrap to keep as much air from contacting the cut bagels as possible.

Finally, put the wrapped bagels in an airtight freezer bag or, if you have one at home, a cryovac bag.

Is it Better to Freeze Bagels Whole or Sliced?

As I already indicated, you can slice your bagels ahead of time to make the defrosting process simpler. Just be aware that cutting them can expose more of the bagel to freezer burn.

This is less likely to happen to your sliced surface if you follow the instructions and thoroughly cool down and wrap your bagels. Additionally, the less time the bagel spends in the freezer, the less likely any burn will appear.

So, whether or not you want to slice your bagel is entirely up to you!

Can you Freeze Bagels in their Original Packaging?

I do not advise freezing your bagels in their original packaging because it is crucial to remove as much air as possible from the packing before freezing. Better alternatives include using an airtight bag, saran wrap, an airtight container, or even aluminum foil.

If you don’t have any of them, attempt to squeeze out as much air as possible before freezing the original package. If you must freeze something in its original packaging, don’t freeze it for more than a few weeks.

Do Bagels Freeze Well?

They do, indeed. You may take them out whenever you want a fast snack because the flavor lasts for several months.

No baked product that has been frozen will taste as excellent as one that has been freshly baked. But one of those baked goods that freezes almost as well as it would when it was in the pantry is frozen bagels.

Conclusion

As a result, freezing bagels is an easy and practical technique to increase their shelf life and enjoy them later. For optimal results, freeze bagels as soon as possible after purchase when you’re ready to eat, microwave, or thaw the frozen bagels on the counter before toasting or reheating them as needed. With this technique, you can always have tasty, freshly baked bagels!