Bagels are a staple in most households. They’re delicious, they’re versatile, and they are eaten by millions of people every morning. If you end up with some leftovers, you may wonder if you can store them in the fridge. If so, how long will bagels last?
How Long Do Bagels Last In The Fridge?
Bagels have a short shelf life because of their high moisture content and lack of preservatives. You can expect bagels to last about 5-7 days in the refrigerator if properly stored. After being refrigerated, the moisture in the dough starts to leach out and make them soggy. To prevent this from happening, you should place your bagels in an airtight container before putting them in the fridge.
How To Store Bagels In The Fridge
There are two main ways to store bagels in the fridge. The first is in a paper bag, and the second is in parchment paper. Either way will work just fine, but we’d recommend using paper bags if you like your bagels fresh and soft. Plastic bags tend to make them more stale-tasting and dry than they would otherwise be.
Use parchment paper or foil if necessary. Parchment paper works great for this purpose, but if you don’t have any on hand, aluminum foil will work just as well (though it may leave a metallic taste behind). You can also use waxed paper if you prefer that over foil or parchment paper — just make sure it’s not scented with anything other than wax (which is probably going to smell terrible after a few days).
Don’t store them near strong smells. When storing any food item in your refrigerator, make sure it’s not next to something that will give off.
How To Tell If The Bagels Have Gone Bad
Bagels are one of the most popular breakfast items in the United States. They have a crunchy crust and soft interior that just melts in your mouth. They are also easy to make at home, but if you do not store them properly, you might end up with stale bagels or even moldy ones that can make you sick. Here is how to tell if your bagels have gone bad:
1. The Crust Has Become Hard And Hardens Even Further If You Leave It Out For A While
The crust of the bagel is what gives it its crunchiness. If it has hardened too much, it means that they are already stale and should not be eaten anymore. The only way to soften them again is by putting them in a warm oven for ten minutes or so until they become soft again.
2. There Is A Musty Odor Coming From The Bagels
You should never buy bagels that have gone bad because they will give off a musty odor when they are exposed to air for too long. This is often caused by mold growing on the surface of the bagel itself and inside its core as well if you leave them exposed for too long after buying them from the store or bakery where they were made.
3 Tips To Keep Bagels Fresh Longer in the Fridge
Bagels are one of those foods that can be difficult to store for long periods of time. They have a tendency to become stale and dry, especially if you don’t eat them right away. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to keep your bagels fresh longer.
Tip 1: Store bagels in an airtight container or zip-top bag. If you don’t have an airtight container, wrap them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before placing them in your refrigerator’s produce drawer
Tip 2: Keep the bread bin on the lowest shelf of your refrigerator, which is the coldest part of the appliance; this will help keep your bagels from getting too warm and stale
Tip 3: Make sure the bagel is completely dry before storing them in the fridge. This will prevent it from getting soggy due to the moisture.
Can You Freeze Bagels?
Bagels are one of those foods that you can’t eat too many of in one sitting. They’re heavy, filling, and delicious — but only two bagels at a time are usually enough for most people. If you want to keep them around for longer than a week, freezing them is an option.
Freezing bagels is a great way to preserve them so that they can last longer than just a few days. It’s also very convenient if you want to enjoy them with your favorite toppings later on without having to make them fresh each time.
Here’s how to freeze bagels so they stay fresh and delicious:
Clean your bagels: Wash them thoroughly before freezing so that they don’t get moldy while they’re stored in the freezer.
Wrap tightly: Wrap each bagel tightly in plastic wrap before placing it into an airtight container or freezer bag so that it doesn’t get freezer burn or develop freezer burn marks on its surface. This will also help prevent freezer burn marks from forming on any toppings you might add later on as well (like sesame seeds).
Label and date: Label your containers clearly with the contents inside (such as “Bagels” or “Bagel”). Then write the date on the container or freezer bag. This will help you keep track of how long the bagels are frozen.
Place into the freezer: After it’s labeled, place the bagels into the freezer for storage. It’s a good idea to place it at the farthest end of the freezer. This will prevent it from being thawed prematurely due to the fluctuation of temperature when the freezer door is opened and closed.
Conclusion
As you can see, bagels are a hearty breakfast treat that can last for days in the refrigerator. To keep them fresh longer, wrap them in foil or plastic wrap before storing them and use your senses to check for spoilage. If anything looks off or smells odd, throw it out!
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
