Trader Joe’s is known for making some very delicious baked goods that keep people coming back for more. However, their bagels are known for turning quickly, so can you freeze Trader Joe’s bagels to keep them fresh for longer?
It’s actually highly recommended that you freeze your Trader Joe’s bagels and take them out of the freezer as you plan on eating them. So long as you freeze them properly, you aren’t going to lose the flavor and texture you know and love from these bagels.
Trader Joe’s bagels don’t spoil quickly because they aren’t made with quality; it’s because they aren’t filled with preservatives.
How to Freeze Trader Joe’s Bagels
Trader Joe’s associates recommend slicing your bagels before you put them in the freezer. This simple tip only takes a couple of extra minutes but makes a dramatic difference in how your bagels maintain their quality and freshness when in the freezer. It also saves you the hassle of waiting for your bagels to thaw out before slicing them.
When you bring home Trader Joe’s bagels, you might be tempted to store them in the fridge. It’s a myth that refrigerated bagels stay fresh for longer; your bagels actually dry out pretty quickly this way.
Keep any bagels you’re planning on eating in the next couple of days wrapped up in your pantry. If you aren’t going to eat through your bagels in a couple of days, you’ll want to freeze them.
Wrap your sliced bagels up in plastic wrap or parchment paper, place them in a paper bag or an airtight container, and freeze them.
It’s also a good idea to write the date on your bag before putting your bagels in the freezer so you can remind yourself when you should eat up your bagels. They retain a lot of their flavor in the freezer, but that dwindles the longer they’re kept frozen.
Thawing and Reheating Trader Joe’s Bagels
When you freeze your bagels sliced, all you have to do is take bagels out of the freezer as you want them and pop them in your toaster. Most toasters have a defrost setting to help eliminate freezing before warming up your bread product.
In a pinch, you can microwave your bagel to defrost it, but this isn’t the best approach. You will most likely end up with a bagel that is dry yet also soggy.
If you like a soft bagel, you may not mind, but the best tasting, defrosted bagel is one that’s either toasted or baked.
For the optimal bagel, you can heat your bagels up in the oven to crisp them up a bit. To do this, you can spread your sliced bagels onto a baking sheet that’s lined in foil.
Let them bake in an oven at about 350 degrees for anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes depending on your preferred level of crispness.
Tips for Maintaining the Quality of Frozen Trader Joe’s Bagels
You want to ensure that you’re sealing your bagels up completely before putting them in the freezer. Most bagels will stay in good condition for about three months in the freezer. After this point, they might not come out as fluffy once they’re reheated but they should still taste good.
Some people will also bake their bagels before freezing them, swearing that it helps them retain their flavor.
To do this, you can spread your sliced bagels on a baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray them with a light layer of cooking spray or oil, and bake them as you would when reheating them.
You can then freeze them for a couple of hours before packing them in Ziploc bags, containers, or paper bags to store them in the freezer.
Wrapping your bagels before putting them in another bag or container can help you avoid that nasty freezer burn that can alter the taste of your bagels.
Alternatives to Freezing Trader Joe’s Bagels
While you can simply place your bag of bagels in the freezer, that’s not the optimal way to freeze them. After you’ve sliced them, you should consider wrapping them before placing them in Ziploc bags or an alternative in order to avoid freezer burn and dried out bagels.
You can use parchment paper or paper bags to wrap up your bagels. Wrapping them individually is recommended so you can easily grab a bagel as needed.
Other Ways to Use Frozen Trader Joe’s Bagels
Frozen Trader Joe’s bagels can be used in a lot of different ways. For example, you can cut bagels into smaller pieces and bake them with some oil and spices and enjoy them as a snack with dips.
If your bagels have dried out, you can also grind them up and use them for breadcrumbs or chop them up as salad croutons.
Bagels also make for fantastically indulgent sandwiches, from your basic meat and cheese sandwich to your staple breakfast sandwich. They can also be used to make grilled cheese sandwiches or pizza bagels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Keep Trader Joe’s Bagels Fresh?
Since Trader Joe’s bagels are made fresh without any preservatives to maintain their shelf life, they don’t stay bakery fresh for long. This is why it’s so crucial to consider freezing them to avoid having to throw them out.
Final Thoughts
Anyone who has enjoyed a Trader Joe’s bagel knows they are worth the effort to keep them around for a deliciously indulgent breakfast or snack. They can go bad quickly if kept on your counter so freezing bagels you won’t eat right away is ideal.
So long as you freeze them sliced and sealed well, they won’t diminish in quality in your freezer. They can be taken out of the freezer and heated up right away so you can enjoy them without having to wait for them to completely thaw out.
If you can’t eat as many bagels as you’ve purchased, you can use bagels for a variety of creative dishes to avoid getting bored of them and avoid having to throw some away.