How to Store Bagels So They Don't Get Stale and Moldy (2024)

It’s always a good idea to have some bagels on hand to make a mean breakfast sandwich or pair with some cream cheese and smoked salmon, but what good are hearty, doughy bagels if they’re stale and bespeckled with mold once you get around to enjoying them?

While fresh bagels will stay that way for a few days, they’re really best enjoyed the day you bring them home, and otherwise have a relatively short shelf life. However, if you know how to store bagels properly, you can extend their lifespan by days, weeks, or even months. Keep reading for our tips on the best ways to store bagels so they stay fluffy and fresh.

You picked up a dozen bagels from the grocery store or your local bakery but have only managed to eat two. Now what? If you’re looking to preserve whole bagels for a short period of time, your best bet is to store your bagels in a paper bag, which you can keep out on the counter or in the pantry, so long as the bagels stay at room temperature. To preserve the bagels’ freshness, be sure to tightly fold or roll the top of the bag to prevent too much air from getting in. This method is great if you want to store whole bagels overnight, and will keep them fresh for a day or two, maybe three if you’re lucky.

To really ensure that your whole bagels stay fresh, you can also place them in a tightly sealed plastic bag at room temperature. If the bagels are fresh from the bakery, make sure they cool completely before you put them in the plastic bag. It’s also important to squeeze any excess air out of the bag before sealing it, otherwise the bagels might harden. Stored this way, whole bagels should stay fresh for about six days.

If you plan on going through your fresh bagel stash in a few days, it’s best to keep your bagels whole instead of slicing them, as more exposure to oxygen will cause them to harden at a faster rate.

However, if you must cut a bagel, the best way to store any pieces is to follow the plastic bag method above. In other words, place any bagel halves in a tightly sealed plastic bag at room temperature, and squeeze out any excess air before you close said bag. Stored this way, bagel slices should stay fresh for about three days, though you might want to revive them in the toaster before digging in.