How to Keep Bagels Fresh

As a product that can be used for sandwiches, produced cheaply and easily transported, the bagel is a staple in coffee shops and cafes that serve only limited food varieties. Bagels are a hardy food, but you have to know how to keep them fresh.

Instructions

1. Keep bagels in moisture-free containers. Bagels will mold if they have to endure moisture or dampness over a period. Make sure your bagels are in a cool, dry place.

2. Refrigerate. If you plan to eat your bagels over a few days, refrigerating them will keep them dry and fresh, and you don't have to worry about thawing them for use.

3. Slice right before you eat. Keeping bagels whole seals in moisture and protects them from going stale, especially for bagels that are made with a harder "shell."

4. Freeze sliced bagels. For long-term storage, freezing is the best option. But if you want to eat the bagels quickly after thawing, slicing them before freezing is a good option. It takes less time to thaw a frozen sliced bagel than a frozen whole bagel. The sliced bagel will heat up quicker in a toaster oven on low heat.

5. Freeze whole bagels. For maximum freshness over a long period of time, just freeze the whole bagels. When you thaw them, you'll have to wait longer before eating. Freezing whole bagels is a good option if you can plan when you will use the bagels later, and you have at least several hours to thaw them.

Tips & Warnings

• You can freshen bagels that are still hard after thawing or have gone stale in storage by placing them in a commercial bagel steamer.