Bagel care

The ideal way to eat a bagel is fresh out of the oven from a reputable and friend-recommended bagel shop.

Refrigerator Storage: If your bagel is not eaten while exiting your favorite bagel shop, let it cool in a paper bag. To keep bagels 5-7 days, they should be stored in a carefully closed paper bag, then wrapped tightly in a plastic bag, and placed in the fridge.

Proper Revival Method: To properly revive a refrigerated bagel to near fresh-baked status, remove bagel from the fridge, slice in two and lightly moisten, or 'banetz' (Yiddish term for 'moisten') surfaces with a small amount of cold water. Toast or bake the bagel until hot throughout and slightly crispy on surfaces. Keep bagels away from microwave ovens as these machines are not a proper means of reheating bagels.

Freezing: Bagels can be frozen quite reliably. Remove air from freezer-bag of room-temperature bagels, freeze. To thaw, moisten lightly banetz (see above) with cool water and bake in toaster-oven or stove. Once half-baked you may cut open then toast to perfection. You may freeze bagels pre-cut to save a step. Bagels that are frozen are good up to six months.