Tips For Storing The Leftover Bagels From Your Favorite Bagel Shop
If your local bagel shop makes great bagels but you don't have the opportunity to eat there very often due to a busy schedule, then you can always purchase extra bagels to enjoy at a later date. While store-bought bagels will last for a long time because they are often loaded with preservatives, freshly cooked bagels require special storage to keep them fresh.
To keep your bagels fresh and wonderful, follow each of these tips:
1. Store Your Fresh Bagels in a Sealed Plastic Bag
When you bring your bagels home, remove them from their paper bag and place them into a plastic zipper bag. Squeeze out the air to keep the bagels from getting hard, and then close up the bag. You can store your bagels for about a week by simply placing the closed bag on your kitchen counter.
2. Consider Freezing Your Bagels for a Later Date
If you will not be able to enjoy all of the bagels you purchased within a few days, you should freeze them. Since bagels do not contain any dairy products or salt, they are one of the few bread items that freeze very well. Bagels will not get hard or mushy once they are defrosted as many other types of bread will.
For best results, place the bagels into a zipper bag and squeeze out as much air as possible before you seal the top. Put the bag of bagels in the back of your freezer where it is coldest. This will hasten the freezing process and keep the bagels fresher for a longer period of time.
3. Slice Your Bagels Before Freezing Them for Easy Toasting
If you decide to freeze some bagels from your favorite bagel restaurant so you can enjoy them at a later date, then take a moment to slice them in half first. Once sliced, you can easily pop them into your toaster even if they are not fully defrosted. Bagels are a lot easier to cleanly slice before they have been frozen, and it only takes a moment to do it.
4. Always Use a Safe Technique for Slicing Bagels
Finally, don't forget to always slice your bagels safely! You would be surprised how many people are injured each year accomplishing this basic kitchen task. To safely slice a bagel, place it on your cutting board and cut it from the top in a downward motion with your fingers always above the cutting surface of the blade. Cutting a bagel in your hand is a sure way to slice open your palm.
Remember to follow this advice the next time you get extra bagels from Goldberg's New York Bagels or your local bagel shop.