How to Store and Keep Bagels Fresh | KitchenAid (2024)

FAQs

How to Store and Keep Bagels Fresh | KitchenAid? ›

STORING IN A PAPER BAG AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Contrary to popular belief, refrigerating your bagels will actually make them go stale more quickly. You should store them in plastic bags at room temperature, or freeze them immediately. Make sure your bagels aren't still warm when you put them in bags or they will get soggy.

"Paper leaves the crust and flavor intact, and while the bagels do get chewier, they're perfectly fine within a day of buying them," they write, adding that you can also keep the paper bag of bagels in a plastic bag.

In other words, place any bagel halves in a tightly sealed plastic bag at room temperature, and squeeze out any excess air before you close said bag.

To help soften a hard bagel, simply wrap it in a moist paper towel and microwave it for 15 seconds. You can also set the bagel on a microwave-safe plate, then surround it with a few water drops or lightly mist it and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.

This should allow enough protection from the air/moisture for a day or two. If you want to take that next step for an extra day's worth of preservation, place the rolled up paper bag in a resealable container (plastic bag, tupperware, etc.). The bagels may still harden a little bit, but should not go completely stale.

Cover the bagels and leave them out at room temperature to proof. After thirty minutes the bagels should feel inflated but also nice and strong. We don't want these to proof to their full potential otherwise they will overproof in the fridge.

Opt for a paper bag if you plan to enjoy your bagels within a couple of days. You can simply leave the paper bag out on the counter or put it in the pantry—just make sure it is rolled or folded tightly. This method is more ideal for keeping bagels fresh overnight.

Be sure to squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible. This method can store bagels for up to five days. But, be careful. Putting warm bagels in a plastic bag can cause them to be soggy.

It's best to store bagels on the counter in a paper or zip-top bag (make sure your bagels aren't still warm when you put them in bags or they will get soggy). Avoid storing bagels in the fridge.

Is it OK to eat a bagel with a little mold? ›

Most likely, you'll be okay.” However, in certain cases, the mold found on spoiled food could be dangerous, so if you suddenly develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, an elevated temperature or diarrhea, you should immediately seek medical help.

Quick tip: Bagels get moldy when spores in the air land on the bread and use the residual moisture to propagate. If your bagels are preservative-free, this could happen within a day or two. Wilson suggests freezing bagels immediately unless you will enjoy them the same day.

Understanding Bagel Freshness

Shelf life of bagels varies depending on storage conditions: Room Temperature: Typically lasts 2-4 days. Refrigerated: Can extend freshness up to 7 days. Freezer: Preserves quality for up to 3 months.

If your bagels are fresh-baked, put them in a paper bag, then put the paper bag inside a resealable plastic bag before storing them in the pantry. If you need to store bagels for longer than 7 days, wrap each bagel in plastic wrap, then place the individually wrapped bagels together in a resealable freezer bag.

The loss of air and super-long fermentation can also make bagels seem tough rather than chewy, so be careful when pushing the upper limits of the proof time.

Bagels have a pretty short shelf life in general — about four, maybe five days maximum before they're too hard to eat. So if you're making bagels with a lot of additions, consider trying to freeze or eat them sooner rather than later. Stale bagels are salvageable. Moldy bagels are not.

Packaged Bagels & Breads

Trying to extend the shelf life is not recommended for freshly baked bread, but the preservatives in packaged bagels and bread allow it to last one to two weeks beyond the "Use Buy" date, if refrigerated. Just keep an eye out for mold or a crunchy, stale texture.

If you are going to freeze them, individually wrapping them tightly in aluminum foil helps reduce freezer burn. When you are ready to eat a bagel, you can toast the entire bagel before cutting it. Try placing the intact bagel in a toaster oven or in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for around 5 minutes.

So no, bagels do not need to be refrigerated. This is the same for any bread, but bagels often seem to stale faster, in part because they're smaller than bread loaves. Bagels are also often made from low hydration dough, meaning they don't have as much water in them in the first place.