Don’t know how to toast a bagel in the oven yet? That is okay because we have prepared a guide below that will teach you everything you need to know about properly reheating bagels.
With our tips, you can finally have your perfectly toasted breakfast bagels. All you need to do is buy a batch, store them properly, and then toast them when you’re ready to eat them.
Sounds simple? Well, it should, because it really is.
Toasting is entirely unnecessary if you have a fresh bagel. However, if you have day-old bagels or even older ones that may have already gone slightly stale, toasting them in a regular oven or even a toaster oven is a great way to reverse the staling process and give them back their texture.
Toasted bagels might not make them taste as delicious as freshly baked bagels, but they will taste much better than cold or frozen bagels.
Yes, you can indeed eat bagels without toasting them. It all boils down to personal preference – there is no need to toast bagels if you don’t want to.
Here is the step-by-step procedure for toasting bagels in the oven:
If you made the mistake of placing bagels inside the refrigerator, chances are they have already gone stale. However, this does not mean they are no longer safe to eat. Remember that staling is a reversible process.
To revive a stale bagel, you should slightly sprinkle your bagels with water before toasting them.
Another trick is to quickly dip them in the water. Do this for about 2 seconds each and take them out quickly. The goal is to ensure that the whole bagels get wet, but not to the point that they are dripping.
Moisturizing the bagels before toasting will ensure that you have a crunchy crust and a soft inside.
Toasted bagels are best enjoyed with orange juice, warm coffee, and hot chocolate. You can also make a bagel sandwich by adding your favorite fillings.
Slather a toasted bagel with butter, jams, and marmalades. Pile them with your favorite salad greens, tomatoes, bacon, or smoked salmon slices, and toss in some diced green onions and chopped olives.
Pairing it with good, spreadable cream cheese and topping with fresh berries also works.
Properly storing bagels ensures that they maintain their quality and stay mold-free. It also guarantees that you get the best out of the toasting process.
Just like any other bread, refrigerating bagels does not prolong their life but instead makes them go stale faster.
Keeping bagels in a paper bag placed inside a plastic bag, away from moisture and sunlight, is still best if you are going to consume them within the next 4 days.
However, freezing them is the best way to store bagels if you plan on keeping them for an extended period. To do this, you need to keep them in freezer bags and remove as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn. When frozen properly, bagels can last for up to 4 months.
The best way to toast a bagel in the oven is to ensure that they get dipped in a bowl of warm water before being toasted.
Another toasting best practice to achieve a soft and chewy texture with a crispy crust is to toast the entire bagel whole instead of slicing it.
Yes, you can toast frozen bagels. However, this will not give you the best texture. For best results, it is best to thaw frozen bagels for at least 30 minutes before toasting them using the procedure above.
When the bagel becomes stale and dry, moistening is a way of restoring the lost moisture during storage. Moistening them will get the bagels back to their desired quality – soft and chewy.
It is best to toast the entire intact bagel and then cut it in half afterward. Because the moisture inside the bagel is kept intact, you get a crispy crust on the outside and a chewy texture inside.
Knowing how to toast a bagel in the oven is not rocket science. One crucial thing to remember is to ensure that they are stored correctly before you reheat bagels. The toasting process will be useless if your bagels have gone bad before they are toasted.
Make it a habit to check for signs of spoilage, such as discoloration, pungent smell, or the presence of molds, before toasting your bagels. Again, if you are in doubt, it is best to throw it out than run the risk of food poisoning.
