Are you looking to make quick breakfast with a frozen bagel? Defrosting helps to restore a bagel as close to freshly baked.
Due to the dense texture of bagels, defrosting a bagel at room temperature or in the fridge may not produce the result you are looking for. Similar to defrosting bread in the microwave, a quick zap in the microwave freshens the bagel and gives it a delicate chewiness without feeling soggy.
How do you defrost a bagel in the microwave? Place a frozen bagel on a microwave-safe plate, wrap with a damp paper towel and use the defrost button to nuke for 30 seconds.
To speed up the defrosting time, cut the bagel in half and cover with a damp paper towel or slice a few pads of butter. If the microwaved bagel loses too much moisture and became hard or stale, a slightly wet paper towel will keep it moisturized and revive its freshness.
Bagel is classic breakfast item that is usually purchased when fresh, it is super easy for anyone to freeze the remaining at home. It’s advisable to use the frozen bagel within a span of six months, otherwise the will really become dried out with freezer burn.
In this article, we will investigate what happens when you place frozen bagel in the microwave. Answered below are frequently asked questions about defrosting bagels in a microwave, along with tips for the best way to thaw a bagel in a microwave to keep them tasting like fresh baked.
Can you microwave a frozen bagel?
Yes, you can microwave a frozen bagel. In fact, refreshing a bagel that has been frozen or refrigerated is the quickest and easiest way to warm the dense bread roll.
Preserving a bagel in the refrigerator or in the freezer helps to prolong the shelf life to a maximum of 6 months.
To thaw bagel, microwave is best quickest way to do instead of leaving room temperature or in the fridge overnight. At room temperature it might take about 60 minutes to defrost, while microwave defrosting takes about 30 seconds or less.
When microwaving a frozen bagel, the temperature should always be set to low or use the defrost button. This will ensure that the bagel receives low levels of heat that evenly thaws the bagel.
Check the condition of the bagel at the halfway point, then flip and rotate so that all side are evenly warmed. If the bagel is not yet warm after the time elapses, return it on the same setting and check at different intervals until the bagel is hot and ready for consumption.
What happens when you microwave a bagel?
When a bagel is frozen, much of the moisture escapes during the ice crystallization phase. When defrosting, the melting ice crystals puddles escapes the dense bread roll, which leads to concerns over dryness.
Some use a toaster to warm the bagel or use an oven and check at different intervals. But we’re here to discuss defrosting a bagel in the microwave, so let’s get into it.
Either way, a warm bagel is ideal for cream cheese or an egg and cheese sandwich. So give it a quick zap and freshen up your frozen bagel in under a minute.
How do you defrost frozen bagels?
There are couple of ways to defrost frozen bagels properly to maintain its fresh flavor and texture.
To defrost, place the frozen bagel in the microwave for 30 seconds or the toaster for approximately 5 minutes. Before placing it in the oven, moistening with water helps to preserve its authentic flavor and chewy texture.
Put the whole bagel that is already sliced in half on a microwave-safe plate and expose it to heat until it splits into two. Divide in half and then continue nuking for 15 to 30 seconds until fully thawed.
Once you have initially defrosted the whole bagel in a microwave and it splits in two, then you can place the frozen halves in a toaster for a minute to achieve a crispy crunch.
How long does a frozen bagel take to thaw?
To thaw a bagel in the microwave, it usually takes approximately 30 seconds. Use the defrost setting, and nuke the bagel until fully defrosted to room temperature.
It is wise to wrap it with a damp paper towel when defrosting in the microwave; this will take control of the water that is lost during freezing, and so it won’t dry out completely.
How do you thaw frozen bagels quickly?
A quick way to thaw frozen bagel is by exposing it to heat after moisturizing it with flowing cool water.
Simply, moistening the bagel under running water for about 10 seconds, then nuking it for 30 seconds with a damp paper towel wrapped around it will do the trick.
Place it on a microwave safe plate and nuke until the internal temperature reaches 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Monitor the microwave cooking at different intervals until it is soft and warm for consumption
Best way to defrost bagel in a microwave
From running water to counter top, defrost bagels in a microwave is the best way to get the job done quickly.
Always moisturize the bagel with cold water and microwave it until a sweet scent is achieved and bread roll is warm both inside and out.
After placing the bagel in the microwave, the bagel should not exceed a cook time or 30 seconds. Overheating the bagel can cause it to be inedible due to a hard or dried out texture.
The other best method to defrost a bagel is by moistening a paper towel and wrapping the bagel with it. After individually wrapping the frozen bagel, place it on a microwave-safe plate and nuke for 10 second intervals.
Continuously heat for approximately 10 seconds at a time until it is fully defrosted. However, defrosting for longer than one minute may dry out the bagel and completely change the taste or texture.
Microwave Defrosting Bagel: Conclusion
Defrost a bagel in a microwave to make it soft and chewy. The microwave is the quickest and easiest method to thaw the bagel in under a minute.
Though it is effective, the taste of the bagel changes slightly, as does the color and texture. But, isn’t that to be expected since it is no longer fresh?
To prevent bagel from drying out, lightly dampen a paper towel with cold water or hold the bagel under a cold running water for 10 seconds. This will help to keep the moisture locked within while microwaving.
Wrap the damp paper towel around the bagel and place it on a microwave-safe plate. Nuke for 10 second interval using the defrost setting, then periodically return to flip, rotate and check the doneness for the thawed bagel.
A successfully defrosted bagel will have a tender chewiness with soft inside. Thaw it in the microwave to room temperature, or nuke it even further to warm the bagel so that it is warm and delicious.