Name: Exactly How To Soften Stale Bagels
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 portion bagel; 1 portion water

Table of Contents

Have you got a few bagels that have turned hard and unappetizing?

Don’t throw them out just yet, because I’ve experimented with four different ways to soften stale bagels so they’re as good as new.

I’ve also included information on how to store and freeze your bagels to keep them fresh.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

The best way to soften a bagel is in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Before heating the bagel, run it under the hot tap for a few seconds. Once the outside of the bagel is wet, place it on the oven rack and heat it for 5 minutes. This softens the bagel without burning the exterior.

A note on my experiment

4 pieces of bagel on a wire rack after being softened using 4 different methods

I made a big batch of bagels and left them out overnight to get stale.

The following day, I tested four different methods of softening the bagels to see which one worked best.

I tested softening the bagels:

In the microwave (a bit chewy)
In the oven (almost fresh)
By steaming (good as new)
In a toaster (quick but ineffective)

Heating the bagels in the oven and the steamer worked best to restore the bagel to its original texture.

Using the microwave worked fine, but the bagel got a bit chewy.

The toaster didn’t soften the bagels much, but it will still get you a warm bagel if you need a quick snack.

Tip: the easiest way to soften bagels is by dipping them in something! Hot soup is perfect for this.

Softening stale bagels in the microwave

To soften stale bagels in the microwave, start by sprinkling your bagel lightly with water. Then cover it with a damp paper towel and microwave it in 10-second intervals. Once it’s warm and soft, eat it quickly before it goes stale again.

How to soften stale bagels in the microwave:

Sprinkle water over the top of your bagel.
Cover with a damp paper towel.
Microwave in 10-second intervals until warm and soft.
Eat immediately.

If you don’t have a damp paper towel, spritz the outside of the bagel until it’s pretty moist. Or put a glass of water in the microwave next to the bagel.

Heat the bagel in short intervals and take it out of the microwave as soon as it’s warm.

Overheating the bagel could make it go irreversibly hard.

As with reheating any bread-based thing in the microwave, moisture loss will mean the bagel goes stale again once it cools down.

So eat it as soon as possible!

My verdict

I like this method for a quick snack or breakfast, but it’s not perfect.

While the bagel definitely got softer, it came out kind of chewy.

If you want a little bit of crunch, pop the bagel into the toaster for a minute after microwaving.

Softening stale bagels in the oven

To soften a bagel in the oven, first preheat it to 350°F (180°C). Before you heat the bagel, run it under your hot tap for a few seconds (I know this sounds crazy, but trust me). Once the outside of the bagel is wet, place it on the oven rack and heat it for 5 minutes.

How to soften stale bagels in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
Run your bagel under hot water until the outside is completely damp but not saturated.
Place the bagel on a wire rack in the oven and heat it for 5 minutes.
Remove the bagel once it’s soft and fluffy.

Don’t worry about getting your bagel getting soggy from the water.

The crust on the outside will protect the inside of the bagel.

There are also a few other options for re-moisturizing bagels in the oven:

Put a tray of water into the oven while it’s preheating to fill it with steam, then put the bagel in.
Put the bagel in a wet paper bag to reheat.
Mist the bagel with water and then wrap it in foil to warm. This will keep the outside crust soft too.

My verdict

While this method was a bit slow, my bagels tasted almost fresh.

This oven is great if you want a soft inside but also want a bit of crunch on the outside of the bagel.

Softening stale bagels by steaming them

The steamer is a really effective way to soften bagels. Set up your steamer as usual and bring the water to a simmer. Place your bagels in the steamer and cover them with a lid. Steam for 3-4 minutes, pat the outside dry, then enjoy!

How to soften stale bagels by steaming them:

Set up your steamer as usual, bringing the water to a simmer.
Spread the bagels in the steamer and cover with a lid.
Steam for 3 to 4 minutes.
If desired, wipe excess moisture off before serving. Or let the bagels air dry for a minute.

Be careful not to steam the bagels for too long, or they’ll get chewy.

If you don’t have a steamer but want to try this method, you can create a makeshift steamer with a pan, a colander, and a lid.

My verdict

Steaming the bagels turned out to be my favorite method.

It was fast, and I would say the bagels turned out good as new!

Softening stale bagels in the toaster

To soften a stale bagel in the toaster, first moisten the outside of your bagel by spritzing it with water. Cut the bagel in half, then toast it for about 1 to 2 minutes.

How to soften stale bagels in the toaster:

Moisten the outside of your bagel by spritzing it with water.
Cut the bagel in half.
Toast in the toaster for 1 to 2 minutes.

Keep a close eye on your bagel while it’s in the toaster.

If it’s in there too long, it will become crouton-worthy.

Bonus tip: tap your bagel on the counter before toasting it to remove loose crumbs.

This will save you from the smell of burnt bread bits.

My verdict

This method was fast, and you can get a nice crisp on the bagel, but it doesn’t do too much for the staleness factor.

If your bagel is only slightly stale, the toaster is good for a quick refresh.

bagels being softened in 4 different vessels: toaster, steamer, oven, microwave

How to store bagels

For short-term storage (2-3 days) wrap your bagels in plastic or put them in a paper bag and leave them at room temperature. Go for plastic if you want a soft bagel and don’t mind losing the crunchy outside. Opt for a paper bag if you want to keep the crust crisp. Freeze bagels for longer-term storage.

If your bagels are homemade, make sure they’re completely cool before wrapping them.

Otherwise, condensation will build up in the packaging and turn the bagels soggy.

Avoid keeping the bagels in the fridge. The cold temperatures speed up the staling process.

Can you freeze bagels?

Bagels freeze really well. In fact, the best way to keep bagels fresh for longer than a few days is to freeze them. When stored correctly, frozen bagels can last 3 to 4 months in peak condition. Wrap them tightly, removing any air to prevent freezer burn.

How to freeze bagels:

Cool your bagels to room temperature (if not already).
Wrap each bagel, whole, in plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil.
Freeze for up to four months!

It’s best not to cut the bagels in half before freezing them.

Cutting them in half exposes the inside and will accelerate moisture loss.

However, if you want to put them in the toaster straight from frozen, you’ll have to cut them in half.

In this case, separate the halves with a piece of parchment paper so they don’t stick together.

Using two layers of wrapping provides good protection against freezer burn.

If you have a vacuum sealer, that would be even better.

How to reheat frozen bagels

I recommend reheating bagels straight from frozen to get the best texture. Preheat your oven (or toaster oven) to 300F/150C. Mist the frozen bagels with water and wrap them in foil, leaving a tiny vent hole. Heat for around 15 minutes and your bagel should be good as new.

Microwave the bagel for 10-20 seconds before putting it in the oven to speed up the reheating process.

This will give it a head start on thawing.

What to do with stale bagels

If you’re tired of the regular old cream cheese or butter-basted bagel, there are actually plenty of other things to do with stale bagels.

Get out of your comfort zone and try these quick and easy ideas that will save those stale bagels and give them a new purpose.

Crispy bagel chips. Cut your stale bagel into slices about a quarter of an inch thick. Put them on a baking sheet with some oil and whatever spices you want, then bake at 375°F (190°C). Let them bake until they’re golden and crispy. Enjoy your bagel chips alone or with dips and soups!
Sweet bread pudding. Using a recipe of your choice, combine your stale bagels with eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter to make a sort of casserole. The moisture from the milk and eggs will make your chewy, stale bagels soft, sweet, and decadent.
Crunchy croutons. Tear up your bagels and toss them with oil and some light seasoning. Bake them on a sheet pan at 375°F (190°C) for around 15 minutes. Enjoy on your salads or in your soups…or as very small crackers. No one will judge you.
Pizza bagels. Smear some pesto or pizza sauce on your half bagels, add your cheese and toppings, then bake at about 375°F (190°C) for ten minutes.
Crispy, fluffy bread bowl. Gut your bagel by taking out all of the soft bits and leaving the hard crust. Put your soup, dip, or other fillings into the shell and bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) until your filling is warm and your bagel crust is golden brown and crisp.