How to Freeze Bagels Without Plastic

Looking for a way to keep your bagels fresher for longer? We’ll show you how to freeze bagels without plastic, and how to make them taste fresher afterwards.

Bagels are a must-have food item in most American households. It is hard to go wrong with a warm, crunchy bagel with some tasty topping. Whether you are going to have it alongside your morning coffee, or for brunch on the weekends, bagels are an alternative to regular bread or toast. One of the best parts of bagels compared to regular bread is the freshness and crunchiness of it. In this article, we’ll show you how to freeze bagels without plastic, and we’ll give you some tips and tricks to make them feel fresher once you are ready to eat them.

How To Freeze Bagels Without Using Plastic

Bagels, just like fresh bread, don’t stay soft and crunchy indefinitely. Most stores sell processed bagels that stay good for a week or two, just like processed white bread. However, when you buy fresh bagels at the bakery, or when you make bagels yourself, they will harden up within a few days. For this reason, we recommend freezing them so that they can stay fresher for a longer time. Here’s how to freeze bagels without using plastic:

1. Slice your bagels: If you cut your bagels in half before you freeze them it will save you time later: You will be able to take them out of the freezer shortly before eating them. Try to use a serrated knife designed to cut bread to avoid any injuries. The best way to cut it is by placing it on its edge in a cutting board and cutting downward – make sure to keep your fingers out of the way! 
2. Wrap your bagels with parchment paper: Get a parchment paper sheet and wrap your bagel with it like you would wrap a sandwich. You can also use paper bags instead of parchment paper. 
3. Store in the freezer: Place your wrapped bagels in the freezer, preferably all together in a drawer. Once in the freezer, we recommend you eat the bagels within the next three months.

Note: Both paper bags and parchment paper can be reused many times to freeze bagels, so you don’t need to throw them away every time you unfreeze one.

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After Freezing: Tips for Thawing Bagels

Now you know how to freeze bagels properly and you don’t have to worry about them going bad for a few months. But how do you defrost your bagels properly? Defrosting bagels is very easy, especially if they are already sliced. There’s two easy ways to thaw your bagels:

• Using a toaster: You can toast your frozen bagels just like you would toast a slice of frozen bread. You can take advantage of the ‘defrost’ button if your toaster has one, and they will be ready in only a few minutes.
• Using the oven: Spray a little water over your frozen bagel to get a crunchy texture in the exterior of the bagel. Leave it in the oven for about 20 minutes and you will get a fresh-tasting, crunchy bagel again.

If you are aiming for a fresh bagel, we recommend using the oven instead of a toaster. The toaster will save you a lot of time, but if you want to get the most of out the flavor and texture of your bagel, the oven will be your best option.

Tasty Toppings for Fresh Bagels

A bagel on its own is already a tasty snack for many, but it can be a little too plain for others. Adding toppings will make your meal more complete and nutritious. Here are a few ideas:

• Cream cheese bagel: This is probably the all-time favorite bagel topping for most Americans. There are many different cream cheese flavors that you can use: plain, strawberry, chive & onion, honey pecan, brown sugar & cinnamon, etc. If you prefer a plant-based alternative, you can make vegan cashew cream cheese.
• PB&J: Peanut butter and jelly is another classic topping you can never go wrong with. Pro tip: you can make your own homemade peanut butter for your bagel to be healthier and tastier.
• Avocado, egg, tomato: You can spread your avocado in your bagel and add tomato slices and a fried (or scrambled) organic egg on top. But remember: On top of their many benefits, avocados do have some serious drawbacks – for example their environmental footprint. So we do not recommend eating this treat every day – instead, try some of the other variations.
• Hummus, spinach, and bell pepper: This combination is a high-protein option perfect for vegans and vegetarians. After thawing and toasting your frozen bagel, simply spread hummus on it and add the spinach and bell peppers raw. You can also sauté them in a pan first if you prefer. Instead of regular hummus, you can also try it with DIY vegan spreads.
• Nut butter & fruit slices: If you are feeling more like a sweet bagel, you can use any nut butter and combine it with fruit slices (banana, strawberry, apple, etc). You can sprinkle some cinnamon on top for extra flavor. Note: When possible, we recommend using locally sourced nut butter. Many nut butters contain palm oil, which is associated with mass deforestation, so we recommend you avoid these.

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