How to keep bagels fresh and mold free? archived

We always freeze them asap and defrost as needed.

Eat them.

sbenois beat me to it

Don't know , but I'd reach out to that lady with the 12-year old McDonald's hamburger.

Posted By: drummerboyDon't know , but I'd reach out to that lady with the 12-year old McDonald's hamburger.

:rolling:

After a day or so, put them in the freezer.

I keep 6 bagles in the refrigerator, take them out and heat therm in the toaster oven as needed. I keep a couple of dozen more in the freezer, and take out 6 at time. We never get any mold that way.

brilliant, drummer!

I would elaborate on SHH's suggestion and say:

1. Never buy more than will leave you w/ six not eaten after first fress*;

2. Post-fress, preslice remaining bagels in half, steering clear of arteries;

3. Put bagels in individual ziplock or foldover sandwich bags (zip are preferable) and freeze;

4. Remove as needed and toast--you could prefer allowing to defrost for a few minutes but I just toast while frozen. Have a half, have a whole, whatever you want...!

5. Historically the best bagels anywhere around us are Super Duper in Livingston; Sonny's are a close (and closer) 2nd.


* fress \fress\ v. i. [Yiddish, fresn fr. G. fressen to eat (used
of animals).]
to eat copiously and without restraint; to snack frequently.
[slang]

Eat well, all.

David

Freeze them. Put them in the microwave for 45 seconds to defrost. Good as new.

I usually slice them before freezing, so you can put them in the toater. My toaster has a defrost setting, as well as a bagel setting. IMO, the microwave make bagels too hard.

I do like the idea of pre-slicing before freezing. For school lunches and snacking though, I admit I buy them frozen from Sonny's. I either set them on the counter (away from the dog!) for a half hour or micowave for 20-30 secs, just to defrost. (45 is wayyyy too long in my microwave.) I prefer them toasted too, so I microwave just enough to slice.

Keep them in the paper bag and then over that a plastic bag. Separate any with salt (moisture). Airtight like a tuperware just makes them mold faster. In the paper bag with plastic around it, should last 4-5 days.

in 4-5 days the bagel should be hard enough to be considered a weapon

Not if you put it in paper bag, then plastic bag. You'll have to toast it but it won't be rock hard or moldy.

I like bagels from my native city (Montreal) so every time I visit or when my mom comes here I get 3 to 4 dozen bagels. I pre-slice them all and freeze them - a dozen in a large plastic bag. Makes it super easy to pop them in the toaster and they freeze really well.

Bagels from Montreal? Isn't that like bringing coals to Newcastle?

eh. I boil/bake my own as I need 'em. Much easier, and no mould!! :wink: (I realise this solution won't suit everyone, but if the bagels are more than 2 hours old to me they're stale)

Bagels should be eaten warm from the bagel shop. Anything else is, well, uncivilized.

http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/montreals-bagels-are-they-the-best-in-the-world.html
:fingersear:

Posted By: elizAccording to native Montrealers their bagels are the best in the world!

Well Christ, I assumed THEY think so!

Posted By: bobkBagels should be eaten warm from the bagel shop. Anything else is, well, uncivilized.

Well, I think it's more uncivilized to have melting cream cheese splurge out of the sides of a warm bagel and drizzle down your tie onto your shoes.

But that's just me.

so then, warm from your own oven, so you can wear a huge tea towel down the front of your shirt!!!

I buy them either frozen at Sonny's or freeze them whole. Bread should never go in the refrigerator. Bread basket for a day or two or freezer right away. I then put a whole bagel wrapped in a paper towel in the microwave for about 30 to 40 seconds on power level 3 - the defrost setting until defrosted enough to slice and then place in toaster. If someone just wants a half bagel I throw the other half back in the bag of frozen bagels.

Posted By: joanneeh. I boil/bake my own as I need 'em. Much easier, and no mould!!(I realise this solution won't suit everyone, but if the bagels are more than 2 hours old to me they're stale)

Got a recipe to share? Homemade bagels sound, well, they sound... unbelievable.

I'll hunt it up and send it tonight (my time) - racing out for an appt.

joanne, you sound so cosmopolitan! :wink: "I'll hunt it up" -- loves it! Where are you in the universe?

rural Australia! :bigsmile:

Thanks for the freezer rule! I cut them up, froze them and used as directed and so far, no Kibbeboy complaints! Great idea!

Bagels, like Bialys, need to be eaten right after buying. There are just some things that don't freeze or keep well, sort of like frozen custard--you have to eat it then and there, basically.

I have tried all the tricks, including sprinkling with water before warming up in a 200 degree oven. They just change after the cool off and there's not much you can do about it.

Of course, if you buy bagels that are steamed instead of boiled, or don't know the difference, well then, it's a different story, as those fake bagels were developed to have a soft crust and stay fresh much longer.

If you've ever had a bialy right out of the oven at Kossar's on the Lower East Side, well then, you would know what I mean. They're heaven right out of the oven and just not nearly the same an hour later.