Can you freeze bagel dough

There is nothing better than a freshly made bagel for breakfast, especially if it's a homemade bagel!

Did you know that bagel dough freezes very well and can easily be saved for later use? That means you can make a big batch of homemade bagels at once, freeze some of the dough then have freshly made bagels whenever you'd like!

Looking to make homemade bagels? New York bagels are the famously crispy, yet perfectly chewy bagels you can have without leaving home. And these Jerusalem Bagels are way better than store-bought bagels or the ones from the bagel shop.

Bagel dough o a baking sheet ready to be baked or frozen.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How long does bagel dough last in the freezer?

There are some instructions you will want to follow to be sure that your bagel dough retains its quality and flavor. Find all of the tips and tricks you'll need below.

If you prepare bagel dough and don't have time to bake it to make fresh bagels, or made more than you needed, you're in luck. Bagel dough is super easy to freeze.

When properly stored, unbaked bagel dough will last in the freezer for up to three months. After three months, the dough will still be safe to prepare and eat. However, the texture and taste may be compromised by freezer burn.

Hand holding up a raw piece of bagel dough that is shaped and a hole poked in the middle. — Use two fingers to make a large hole

How to freeze bagel dough

There are a couple of simple steps involved in the freezing process that you will want to take to make sure your bagel dough is properly packaged before storing. This can help prevent freezer burn and the development of ice crystals on your dough.

After you have let the yeasted dough rise, push out the air as instructed by the recipe, and roll it into a ball.
Next, tightly wrap your ball of dough in plastic wrap, ensuring that it is entirely covered.
If you want to be extra careful, you can cover your wrapped dough ball in aluminum foil or saran wrap (cling film) to give an added layer of protection. Place the dough in a freezer bag, such as a ziplock bag, or airtight container, and make sure that you have removed as much air as possible.
Label the outside of the plastic bag or container with the date of freezing. The best way to store the dough is in the back of the freezer to be sure that it is not impacted by temperature fluctuations when the door is opened.

Rising dough laying in a greased glass bowl. — After rising

How to defrost bagel dough

If you froze your bagel dough before baking, you will need to defrost it prior to shaping into the traditional bagel shape.

To do this, remove the dough from the freezer the night before, and defrost in the refrigerator. Once it is entirely thawed, remove it from its wrapping and press out the air.

If the thawing process is taking too long in the refrigerator, you can remove the dough from the fridge to finish defrosting at room temperature on the counter for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Once the dough is malleable, you can now shape the bagels and bake.

Finger poking a whole into a round piece of bagel dough. — Poke a hole in each bagel

FAQs

Can you store bagel dough in the fridge?

You can prepare bagel dough ahead of time and store it in the fridge to prepare the next day. Again, be sure to carefully wrap it with plastic wrap, or parchment paper so that it doesn't dry out.

Baked bagels can also be stored in the fridge to extend their shelf life and texture of the bagels. And bagels also store really well in the freezer!

A frozen bagel makes for a super convenient breakfast to pop in the toaster or microwave oven on busy mornings. Tip: frozen individually wrapped bagels make it super easy to grab one whole bagel at a time for a quick breakfast.

Check out this guide on storing bagels to get all the tips and tricks you need for properly refrigerating and freezing bagels. Tip: remove those bagels from the paper bag they come in and store them properly to make them last a long time.

Is bagel dough different than bread dough?

Most bagel dough calls for bread flour instead of all purpose flour, as it has a high protein content and gives bagels their signature chewy texture.

You will find that bagels have a stiffer dough than traditional bread dough because bagel dough is made with less water. Many bagel recipes also contained barley malt syrup, to give a mild sweetness and a nice crust.

Homemade bagel recipes

New York Style Bagels Recipe

New York bagels are known for their perfectly thin, crisp crust and chewy inside. And these delicious bagels are undoubtedly best when fresh!

With this recipe you can have your own, fresh New York style traditional bagels whenever you like (they are the best bagels!).

Top them with cream cheese or jelly. Or throw in the toaster oven to get it toasty then add eggs and bacon to make an unbeatable breakfast sandwich.

Get the Recipe

Two bagels laying on a plate with a basket of bagels behind it.

Jerusalem Bagels Recipe

Jerusalem bagels have a lighter, more airy texture than New York style bagels. And they are only baked, not boiled bagels, making for a very good bagel.

While they still require a bit of patience, because yeasted breads take some time to rise, they are surprisingly simple to make at home!

Top with your favorite bagel toppings such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds or everything bagel seasoning. Once baked, slice one up and smear on the cream cheese for the best breakfast.

Get the Recipe

Easy homemade everything bagels

Everything bagels are such a classic! Use a store-bought everything bagel seasoning for best results, or easily make your own with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion, and sea salt!

Get the Recipe

Homemade everything bagels from the busy baker.ca.

Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

This bagel recipe is perfect for all of the sweet bagel lover's out there! And if you are'nt a fan of raisins, try substituting in chocolate chips instead. Toast it and spread it with jam or peanut butter for s nice change from the usual cream cheese!

Get the Recipe