How Long Do Bagels Last and How to Keep Them Fresh?

You’ll probably agree that a stale bagel is among the worst things to bite. 

There are numerous purported fixes for stale bagels involving water, microwaving, and toaster ovens, but they can never truly be as fresh as they once were. 

The only real solution is not to let them go stale in the first place. 

Keep reading to find out how to store bagels to keep them fresh and a few tips on what to do when you want to eat them.

How Long Do Bagels Last?

There’s no answer to that question. Bagel shelf life depends on how and when it’s put into storage. Left out, bagels will become stale in a day, so it’s essential to store them properly.

If you’re dealing with a freshly-baked bagel, cooled, and stored in a sealed plastic bag, you can expect it to stay fresh for about five days. 

But you can significantly extend their lifespan by freezing them. Freezing bagels is not complicated, but a few best practices will help them stay good longer and make for an easier time when you’re defrosting. 

Frozen bagels can last several months without losing much in terms of flavor and texture.

How to Keep Bagels Fresh 

If you’re just wondering about how to keep bagels fresh overnight, that’s simple enough. Don’t put your bagels in the refrigerator since it will make them go stale faster. 

For an overnight stay on the counter, placing bags in a paper bag at room temperature is perfectly fine. The paper bag helps preserve the crust and flavor, but it offers little protection so they won’t last much longer than a day.

If you won’t eat them for at least a few days, your best bet is to use a plastic bag.

Place bagels in a plastic bag and expel as much air as possible without crushing the bagels. Seal the bag with a rubber band or twist tie. Store them at room temperature if you plan to eat them within the next few days. Otherwise, freeze them. 

In the freezer, bagels can stay fresh for several months, so there’s no hurry. However, you should note that they will be as fresh or as stale when they come out of the freezer as they were when they went in.

Tips for Defrosting Bagels

You might run into a little trouble when it’s time to defrost bagels if you just leave them out. 

If you let them defrost at room temperature, they may turn a little stale while they thaw. Instead, slice the bagels before you even freeze them. Then, pop them directly into a toaster oven. 

They will defrost and toast at the same time, giving you a perfect, crispy bite. 

Note, though, that there’s no going back once you defrost them. Bagels won’t stay fresh if you refreeze them, so only take out as much as you will immediately eat.

The Perfect Bagel Every Time

Now you’re ready to store your bagels like a pro. The best bagel is one that’s freshly baked, but they can stay pretty close to that if you follow the instructions in this post. 

Sometimes you might consider buying frozen bagels instead of fresh ones. You won’t miss out on any flavors and you can put them directly in the freezer without any hassle.

For more great tips on how to keep your baked goods fresh, read our other blogs. And if you want to stock up on frozen bagels that you can enjoy whenever you want them, take a look at our wholesale frozen bagel supplier page.