You can freeze bagels as a whole or cut, together or separately, without the fear of losing their taste or texture. If you plan to preserve them for more than 5 days, freezing is the best way to go.
Freezing is key when it comes to food preservation, particularly to delicious bagels that you often can’t say no to and end up bringing home a whole bag.
Hence, no need to worry about the excess. Instead, go with us to clarify the question, “Can you freeze bagels?” as well as the most effective ways to regain the flavor and texture after freezing.
How To Freeze Bagels
Typically, there are two options to freeze the bread: Put them together or wrap them individually. The first option helps minimize preparation but may cause some inconvenience when you take them one by one. Meanwhile, the other takes more labor to prepare but offers more convenience when you don’t want to enjoy them all at once.
Option 1: Store them together
- Put all the unwrapped products in a paper bag.
- Place the paper bag in a good freezer bag or container.
- Push out the excess air as much as possible.
- Locate them in a proper space in the freezer.
Option 2: Keep them separately
- Wrap each bread with plastic wrap or parchment paper.
- Put all of them in a sealed freezer bag or container and let all the air out before placing them in the freezer.
How Long Do Bagels Last In Freezer?
Frozen bagels can last up to 12 months with proper preservation and remain safe to eat beyond that. Still, it is recommended to have them within three months for the best quality.
Also, you can check if the bread has gone bad by looking at its surface. Once there are dry spots or discoloration, chances are freezer burn has developed and affected the texture and flavor.
Do Fresh Bagels Freeze Well?
Fresh bagels can freeze well. Once you plan to keep them fresh for months, freezing will be your go-to option that maintains the flavor, texture, and safety.
Hence, don’t hesitate to get home a whole bag of fresh warm bagels, enjoy some, freeze the rest, and have them whenever you want.
Should You Cut Bagels Before Freezing?
Some prefer to freeze them whole, and others tend to cut them. The answer depends on your needs. Let’s see the pros and cons of each and choose the one that suits you the best.
Store the cuts: You won’t have to microwave the bread or wait to defrost to get them ready for sliced. Still, this way tends to increase the risk of freezer burn as there will be more surface area exposed to the cold, plus take more space in the freezer.
Store the whole: You will spend less space in the freezer to store the bread, plus reduce the risk of freezer burn. Still, cutting frozen round bread or waiting until it is ready to cut is not a pleasure. Who wants to wait for 30 minutes and dirty his hands in a hurried breakfast before work?
Bonus tips: How to cut bagels after freezing?
- Let the bread air defrost or microwave it in 30 seconds.
- Put its edge on a non-slip cutting board. Grasp the bottom part.
- Use a clean bread knife to saw back and forth until touching the cutting board gradually.
- Cautions: Hold the bread tightly to avoid tilting from side to side during the cut and risking injury. Also, use a light downward pressure to get a smooth cut.
How Do You Reheat Frozen Bagels?
The best ways to reheat frozen bagels are to bake them in the oven or the air fryer. But before that, you should let the bread thaw in the fridge overnight. In case you take it out directly from the freezer, microwave them first to defrost it partly. Here are the steps.
Microwave the bread:
- Let the frozen bagels thaw in about 20 to 30 minutes on the counter (if possible).
- Clean and dry the microwave plate, then put all the bread onto it.
- Set the microwave to a high level and bake in 15 seconds, then turn the bread over and keep it in 15 seconds more.
- Set the microwave to moderate temperature and bake for 30 seconds.
Now, choose one option from the following.
Bake the bread in the oven:
- Set the oven to 350°F (176°C).
- Quickly pass the bread under running water or flick some water on the bread’s surface to help the bread become soft instead of hard.
- Bake the bread in the oven and check it every 5 minutes until you are satisfied with the result. Typically, it takes around 10 minutes.
Bake the bread in the air fryer:
- Slice the bread into halves, then put them in the air fryer.
- Set the temperature to 350°F and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes. Don’t forget to check the toasting state frequently.
Notes:
- Don’t try to speed up the reheating process by using a higher temperature, resulting in dry and hard bread.
- The bread can get affected by smells of raw food in the fridge. Thus we don’t recommend you thaw it overnight in the fridge without covering it tightly.
Can You Freeze Costco Bagels?
You can freeze Costco bagels like other round bread. However, this type doesn’t work well in the fridge. Some have said that they find it wrong after refrigerating but still retain good flavor and texture in the freezer.
Costco bagels often go with no preservative, thus easy to grow mold and get worse in a short period. Hence, to keep this type of bread for long-term storage, put it in the freezer.
Can You Put A Frozen Bagel In The Toaster?
You shouldn’t put frozen bagels in the toaster without defrosting. Otherwise, the surface will turn black while the inside is still frozen. Instead, you can refer to the steps below to toast frozen them in the toaster.
- Let them thaw overnight in the fridge or 30 minutes on the counter first. Or, if your toaster has a defrost setting, use it to thaw the bread before baking.
- Cut the bread into halves to achieve a similar thickness to sliced bread. (optional)
- Set the toaster to 350°F and bake in 10 to 15 minutes. It will take longer once you toast the whole thing.
In this way, many have reviewed that the result is quite similar to toasting fresh bread.
When Should You Freeze Homemade Bagels?
Once you decide to keep your homemade bagels for more than two days, you should freeze them right when they cool down entirely. Homemade bread without preservatives can’t stay long in the air; thus, it should be frozen as early as possible for the most extended longevity.
To freeze homemade bagels, let them at room temperature for 30 minutes to cool down, then put them in foil or plastic wrap. Next, place them in a freezer bag or container and store them in the freezer like other types.