Bagel Tips

Bagels are best enjoyed within 3 hours after baking. However, a bagel will stay fresh for up to 8 hours if kept in a paper bag. After a day, a bagel starts to go pretty hard but can still be tolerated if toasted. After a week it makes a great chew toy for your dog.

To keep bagels longer than a day it is best to first slice and then freeze them in an air tight plastic bag. Freezing bagels is a great way to preserve freshness. When thawed or toasted a frozen bagel tastes surprisingly fresh. I often bake and freeze a few dozen bagels. It makes for a tasty, quick on the go breakfast or healthy afternoon snack for my kids.

Bagel Do's

1. Do eat bagels fresh.
2. Do share bagels with family and friends.
3. Do freeze bagels to preserve their freshness.
4. Do store bagels in a paper bag when not freezing them.
5. Do take caution when slicing your bagels. (be safe and use an official bagel slicer or practice good slicing technique)

Bagel Don'ts

1. Don't nuke your bagels. (unless you like rubber bagels)
2. Don't mix smelly bagels with non-smelly varieties in the same bag. (unless you like onion flavored cinnamon raisin)
3. Don't store salt, onion, garlic or everything bagels in a plastic bag unless freezing them. (they go soggy)
4. Don't store bagels in the fridge. (it hardens them)
5. Don't cut bagels like you are slicing a tomato. (A bagel and countertop are two slippery surfaces that when combined with a knife can be hazardous to your fingers.)