As a baker, I understand the importance of freshly baked goods. There’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, soft bagel that’s just come out of the oven. But what happens when you have leftover bagels? How do you keep them fresh and tasty for days to come?
Well, I’ve got some tips and tricks up my sleeves that will help you preserve your bagels’ freshness and flavor. Whether you prefer a classic plain bagel or a sweet cinnamon raisin one, these tips will work for all types of bagels.
With these tips, you’ll never have to settle for a stale bagel again.
How To Keep Bagels Fresh?
How to store bagels to keep them fresh? You have three storage options: in the pantry, the fridge, and the freezer, and the last method can keep your food’s freshness the longest.
In the pantry
How to keep bagels fresh for next day? It’s advisable to keep them in the pantry to prolong their freshness and quality.
No matter you buy or make the buns, divide them into two parts. Only keep what you’ll eat in the coming days and put the rest in your freezer.
To retain the freshness of handmade bread, use paper bags to wrap them. Then, please put them in a zip-top bag. This method works best to keep the buns fresh for longer.
Remember to remove the air from the bag before sealing the buns in to keep the moisture out.
Also, please note that the differences between store-bought and homemade bread matter. They differ in price, freshness, and lifespan.
If you are dealing with store-bought bread, first check the bags for tears or holes. Most retailers carry baked products in thin, fragile plastic bags.
You may easily store the buns in the same bag for one week if the bag is in excellent condition. Before closing the bag, make sure to push out any excess air.
If you notice tears in the bag, place the buns in a zip lock bag and squeeze out excess air before closing.
You can keep freshly-made bread in the pantry for six days. However, they may get stale after three days.
On the other hand, store-bought buns can last for one week in the pantry.
In the fridge
How to keep bagels fresh overnight? You can refrigerate your food to save it for later use.
Although this method is not excellent, you may still warm the refrigerated buns nicely after two to three days. Here is how to do it:
- Preheat the oven for a while at 350°F.
- Spray some water on the surface and place the buns on the center of the oven rack.
- Check the buns continuously to make sure that they are baking to your preference.
- If you want the buns to be crispy, bake them for about five minutes.
How to keep bakery bagels fresh? Try spritzing water on the bagel before baking to soften the bread. It will become less dry and retain its freshness.
If you don’t want to put the buns directly on the oven rack, you can use the baking sheet instead but do not add oil.
However, please note that the result is not the same as when you bake the bagel kept in the pantry.
Another way to warm up the refrigerated bagel is microwaving. Nevertheless, since the outcome is not ideal, only use the microwave if you don’t have an oven or toaster.
Microwaving bagels will change their texture. Furthermore, the food will not taste as tasty or fresh as if baked or toasted.
If you don’t have any other options, make sure you microwave your bread on medium heat for only 30 seconds. If you cook them any longer, they will lose their crunchiness.
In the freezer
Freezing is the best option for long-term storage. Bagels can last for up to 6 months in the freezer.
How to keep bagels fresh and soft in the freezer? To begin, cut the buns in half before placing them in the freezer. This tip helps you toast frozen bread without having to defrost them first before cutting them.
Wrap the buns in plastic wraps. Remember to use a large sheet to wrap them completely. The sheet can then protect your food from freezer burns.
Place all of the wrapped buns in a freezer bag with a zip lock closure. This freezer bag provides an extra layer of protection for your food while also keeping your freezer tidy.
Mark the bag with the storage date before putting it in the freezer so you know when your food will expire.
To retain the freshness of the flavor, place the buns in the freezer the day you buy or make them.
You can learn more tips to freeze the bread properly from this video.
After six months, though, there’s a risk the bagels may acquire freezer burns. They’ll also be hard and stale to eat and won’t bake properly.
After six months, you can bring your food and warm it up in the oven or the microwave and enjoy it.
How To Thaw Frozen Bagels?
If you wonder how to keep bagels fresh longer, freezing must be the first option that springs to mind.
However, you must defrost frozen bagels properly to bring them to their freshly-made sweetness. Here are some methods for this purpose.
Keep at room temperature
The easiest method to defrost bagels is to leave them out in the pantry. The thawing process may need one night to complete.
Simply put them in a tray and set them aside at room temperature to defrost. Make sure you keep the bread in a cool and dry place.
Microwave
Place the bread on a microwave-safe dish and cook for 30 seconds on high heat. If you haven’t already cut them before freezing, you can do so now.
However, if you have sliced the buns before and there is not much time left, microwaving is not a good way to thaw them.
Toast
You can heat the sliced buns in the toaster until they are crisp. Some toasters include a bagel setting.
Meanwhile, others need you to read the instructions or use the same mode as when toasting bread.
Bake in the oven
Properly-toasted bagels have the best taste. If you like crispy pies, you can bake them instead.
Start by preheating the oven and bake the buns for about 20 minutes. Then, allow them to cool down for ten minutes before serving.
