Bagels are a delicious lunchtime snack. You can get them plain, or flavored. Pumpernickel, blueberry, sun-dried tomato, jalapeno, onion, and raisin are all popular flavors. You can top them with virtually anything you want.
Salmon and cream cheese is probably the most recognized flavor but pastrami and egg mayo are also popular. However, you might not want to go to the bakery every day to buy one for your lunch so can you buy them in bulk and freeze them? The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze bagels and how to defrost them (See also Freezing Crescent Rolls).
How To Freeze Bagels
It’s not difficult to freeze bagels and you should have success if you follow our simple instructions. Freezing bagels won’t make them hard. You are more likely to get dry bagels if you put them in the fridge. If you freeze them, they will be almost as good as fresh.
This is the way to freeze them:
1. Cool down the bagels if you have cooked them fresh.
They need to be at room temperature when you put them in the freezer. If they’re still warm, ice crystals will form and when they are defrosted, they will be mushy. In addition, warm bagels will also bring up the temperature in the freezer and other food may start to defrost. When this food refreezes, it may lose taste and texture.
2. Slice the bagels in half.
It is easier to do this now than when the bagels are defrosted.
3. Wrap each bagel in cling film or aluminum foil.
Doing this will stop them from sticking to each other. You will then be able to defrost as many or as few as you need.
4. Put the bagels in a freezer bag.
Make sure that you squeeze all the air out of the freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of your bagels. Alternatively, you can put the bagels in an airtight container. Put a label on the bag or container with the date frozen and the contents. It is important to put on the contents if you are freezing different flavors of bagels.
5. Freeze.
How To Freeze Bagel Dough?
It’s a good idea to make a big batch of bagel dough and then freeze some for use at a later date. This will save time in the long run.
It is simple to freeze bagel dough. Knead the dough well so that you get rid of any air bubbles. If there are air bubbles, the taste and texture of the dough will be ruined. Divide the dough into portions if you don’t want to use it all at once when defrosted. Wrap the dough in cling film and then in aluminum foil. Put the portions in separate freezer bags, squeezing out the air to stop freezer burn from occurring. Label the bags and freeze.
Tips For Freezing Bagels
- You can freeze any flavor of bagel.
- Slice the bagels in half before freezing as they hold their texture better than if you cut them in half when you have defrosted them.
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
- It is best to eat bagels within two weeks of being defrosted. The flavor will then begin to deteriorate. This is why it is best to remove from the freezer only as many bagels as you want to eat in the next couple of days. They will then taste at their freshest.
- Store in an airtight container when you have defrosted your bagels.
For How Long Can You Freeze Bagels?
As long as you have frozen them correctly, bagels can be frozen for up to six months. However, the sooner you defrost them, the fresher they will taste.
Bagel dough can be frozen for up to three months.
How Do You Defrost Bagels?
Put the bagels in the fridge overnight for the best results. This will help them maintain their taste and texture, especially if you see that ice crystals have formed on the bagels. You can then leave them at room temperature for 20 minutes to finally thaw out.
There are lots of ways to warm up your bagels. You can put them in a toaster, under the grill, or in a toaster oven. You can warm them up in the microwave but this can make them go mushy if you don’t keep an eye on them.
Bagel dough needs to be defrosted in the fridge overnight. The following day, knead the dough to release the air bubbles. You are then ready to make a fresh batch of bagels.
Can You Refreeze Bagels?
Yes, you can refreeze bagels as you can most baked goods. However, be prepared for some changes in texture. Refreezing creates another batch of ice crystals that can make the bagels mushy. They might also not be quite as tasty.
We don’t advise you refreezing bagel dough. Refreezing can make it lose some of its moisture and elasticity and when you come to make the bagels, they won’t have the right texture. They could even end up dry. However, if you make bagels out of the dough you have defrosted, you can freeze the bagels once they have been baked and cooled down.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Bagels?
Bagels do freeze well so if you want to make them in bulk and freeze some, go ahead. You will be able to enjoy a quick and easy lunch which won’t be boring as there is no end to the choice of toppings. No baked goods are as good frozen and defrosted as when they are fresh but you will find that bagels are almost as tasty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing bagels, but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
Can you freeze gluten-free bagels?
Yes, you can, and you can freeze them in the same way as we have described in this article.
Can you freeze store-bought bagels in their original packaging?
You can but there might be air in the bags and as a result, freezer burn might occur. It is better to remove them from their original packaging and freeze them in the way we have described in this article.
What are good toppings for my defrosted bagels?
Simple toppings include peanut butter, cream cheese, jelly, and marshmallow fluff. Breakfast bagels could comprise any combination of eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, and cheese. For lunch, choose tuna melt, turkey melt, or cream cheese and cucumber. For a more substantial meal, spread your bagel halves with spaghetti sauce, sliced meatballs, and mozzarella cheese. Toast in the oven.
