Quick Answer: How Do You Toast A Bagel In The Oven?
Preparing your bagel in the oven is the best way to toast it, as it provides you with a delicious, crispy exterior and soft interior. If you’re working with fresh bagels, simply coat the bagel with a little water, pop it in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 6-8 minutes (making sure to flip it halfway through) and you’re done! If you’re using frozen bagels, just ensure to take them out the night before so that they can come to room temperature prior to being put in the oven.
Many believe bagels are strictly a breakfast food. We are here to tell you that this is a great misconception.
Don’t get us wrong. We love starting our day off with a good toasted bagel with cream cheese just as much as the next person.
But for us, bagels are a delicious addition to not only our morning routine but also our afternoon and evening meals.
When it comes to bagels, the possibilities are endless. Want something savory? Go for smoked salmon. Looking for a topping that is more on the sweet side? Try spreading a little jam or honey on your bread.
Finding a bagel that suits your preference isn’t difficult. The tricky part about preparing a DIY bagel is more about achieving that perfectly toasted bread.
While most people will tell you to simply put your bagel in the toaster, another great alternative is the oven.
Toasting your bagel in the oven is super easy and will give you an end result that is golden brown and crunchy on the exterior and soft and chewy on the inside.
Now, it’s important to note that depending on whether you’re toasting a fresh or frozen bagel will require slightly different steps. To know more, make sure to check out the following sections for detailed instructions and tips.
Oh, and if you arrived in the kitchen and realized you forgot to wrap up your bagels the night before and are facing an unappealing, stale piece of bread, don’t worry. We’re going to show you how you can easily remedy this as well.
How To Toast Fresh Bagels In The Oven?
Toasting your bagels in the oven is the best method when it comes to different approaches.
Unlike a regular toaster, a bagel can be cooked in the oven without having to compress it.
In addition, the oven cooks the bagel at a slower pace so that the bread can be cooked evenly all the way through.
Make sure to check out the following table for further info (there’s a secret tip that will give you the perfect toasted bagel every time).
Pro Tips
- Make sure you preheat your oven before preparing the bagels so that it’s nice and hot once the bagels are ready to go in.
- Don’t skip out on the water step! This will help to keep your bagels nice and moist.
- Instead of using a bowl, you can also apply the water to the bagel using a brush.
- Greasing the baking sheet isn’t necessary, but for easier clean up, you can add parchment paper.
- You can also skip this step altogether and place the bagel on the middle rack of the oven directly.
- Remember not to cut your bagel in half before heating it up, as this will cause it to dry out faster.
- If you notice the bagel blistering, don’t worry! This is totally normal and will increase the crisp factor even more.
- All ovens are different, so the cooking times might vary slightly (between 6-10 minutes). Just make sure to keep an eye out on them and when they are crispy and golden brown, they are done!
How To Toast Frozen Bagels In The Oven?
If you’re a person who likes to meal prep, storing bagels in the freezer is always an excellent idea.
Frozen bagels require a little more planning ahead, so if you’re a person who is more on the spontaneous side, we would recommend simply toasting fresh ones.
The requirements for toasting a frozen bagel are actually pretty similar to fresh bagels in terms of the actual cooking process- it’s the initial thawing steps that make all the difference.
Note: keep in mind that there are multiple ways of defrosting bagels, such as in the microwave, but this approach compliments the oven method for optimal results.
For more info, check out this table
Pro Tips
- If you’re worried about anything getting at your bagels during the night, try covering them with a towel or lid while they are defrosting.
- If you want your bagels to taste fresh when you defrost them, you need to make sure they are fresh when you initially put them in the freezer: the more fresh they are when you put them in, the more fresh they will be when you take them out.
- Your bagels will be ready to be put in the oven when they have reached room temperature.
- Make sure you preheat your oven before preparing the bagels so that it’s nice and hot once the bagels are ready to go in.
- Don’t skip out on the water step! This will help to keep your bagels nice and moist.
- Instead of using a bowl, you can also apply the water to the bagel using a brush.
- Greasing the baking sheet isn’t necessary, but for easier cleanup, you can add parchment paper.
- You can also skip this step altogether and place the bagel on the middle rack of the oven directly.
- Remember not to cut your bagel in half before heating it up, as this will cause it to dry out faster.
- If you notice the bagel blistering, don’t worry! This is totally normal and will increase the crisp factor even more.
- All ovens are different, so the cooking times might vary slightly (between 6-10 minutes). Just make sure to keep an eye out on them and when they are crispy and golden brown, they are done!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have To Moisten My Bagel Before Toasting It?
Moistening your bagel before toasting it is not absolutely necessary, but if you want to achieve that bakery-level crispy, soft bagel, we highly recommend it.
Putting your bagel in a bowl of water (making sure to remove excess water) or applying water to it with a brush allows the moisture to evaporate while toasting, leaving the outside layer of the bread extra crunchy.
Not only this, but if you find your bagel is a little on the stale side one morning, adding a bit of water to it will help to revive it to its original state.
If you would like to add some extra flavor, replace the water with olive oil.
Do I Need To Cut The Bagel Before Toasting It?
Personally, we do not recommend slicing your bagel in two when completing the oven method, as it won’t allow you to achieve that soft and chewy interior.
For this reason, we suggest cooking the bagel whole and then slicing it as soon as you’re ready to add your toppings and serve it.
However, if you don’t mind a little extra crispiness, cutting your bagel in half and cooking it this way will give you 4 sides of toasty goodness (just make sure to keep an eye out on it as it can easily overbake this way and dry out).
Of course, if you are low on time and need a quick bagel fix, using a toaster is your best bet, and for that, you’ll have to cut your bagel into two slices.
How To Toast A Bagel In The Toaster?
If you’re in a hurry, the best alternative to the oven is a toaster.
Unlike the oven, for this method, it is vital that you cut the bagel in half (trying to shove whole bagels in the toaster can be both messy and dangerous).
The next thing you’re going to want to do is set the temperature to low-medium.
- Using a higher heat setting may cause the bagel to be too dark. A lower setting may require two toasting sessions, but it will provide you with a perfectly golden brown, crispy bagel (this is when you know your bagel is done).
How Can I Save A Stale Bagel?
Arriving in the kitchen only to discover that someone left the bag of bagels open all night is definitely one of the less thrilling moments in life- especially when you’re in a hurry and haven’t made a plan b for breakfast.
Luckily, when you’re faced with stale bread, there’s a way to remedy this!
All you need is a microwave and a little water.
Here’s what you need to do
- Set the temperature of your microwave to high.
- Place the whole bagel on a microwave-safe plate or in a microwave-safe container.
- Add a small layer of water to the plate or container.
- Heat the bagel in the microwave for 15 seconds.
- Turn the bagel over and heat the other side for an additional 15 seconds.
- Remove from the microwave and enjoy!
What Can I Eat With My Bagel?
One of the great things about bagels is their versatility. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory or something simple or extravagant, there’s a kind for everyone.
Here are our favorites
Simple Toppings: butter/margarine, cream cheese (we recommend a flavored cream cheese such as herb and garlic or strawberry), peanut butter, jam, marshmallow fluff, butter with cinnamon sugar, and Nutella.
Perfect For Breakfast: eggs, eggs and bacon, eggs with cheese and ham.
Perfect For Lunch/Dinner: avocado with sun-dried tomatoes, smoked salmon, pizza, tuna, ham and cheese, turkey, BLT, cream cheese and cucumber.
How Do You Properly Freeze A Bagel?
If you wish to store your bagel to be eaten at a later date, the freezer is a great option.
Bagels can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month when wrapped tightly in aluminum foil.
Just make sure they are fully cooled off before wrapping them up!
How To Toast Fresh Bagels In The Oven?
Bagels are moistened with water and toasted in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 6-8 minutes, ensuring to flip them halfway through.
Materials
- Bagels
- Water
Tools
- Oven
- Bowl
- Baking sheet
Instructions
- Set your oven to a temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit
- Retrieve a bowl big enough to place the bagel in and fill it with warm water
- Dunk the bagel into the warm water (don’t soak it too much or it will be soggy)
- Allow it to sit in the water for 1 minute
- Drain off any excess water
- Place the whole bagel on a baking sheet
- Put the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven
- Toast for 3-4 minutes
- Flip the bagel over and toast for an additional 3-4 minutes
- Once crispy and golden brown, remove and enjoy!
How To Toast Frozen Bagels In The Oven?
Frozen bagels are removed from the freezer and defrosted overnight until they reach room temperature. The following day they are moistened with water and toasted in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 6-8 minutes, ensuring to flip them halfway through.
Materials
- Bagels
- Water
Tools
- Plate/tray
- Oven
- Bowl
- Baking sheet
Instructions
- Remove your bagels the night before consuming them from the freezer
- Place them on a plate or tray and allow them to thaw in an area that is dry and cool
The Next day
- Set your oven to a temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit
- Retrieve a bowl big enough to place the bagel in and fill it with warm water
- Dunk the bagel into the warm water
- Allow it to sit in the water for 1 minute
- Drain off any excess water
- Place the whole bagel on a baking sheet
- Put the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven
- Toast for 3-4 minutes
- Flip the bagel over and toast for an additional 3-4 minutes
- Once crispy and golden brown, remove and enjoy!
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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