Bagels are a classic carb. They're delicious slathered with cream cheese, loaded up with smoked salmon and all the toppings or used as the base for a next-level breakfast sandwich. But have you ever really stopped to think about the best way to toast a bagel?If you’ve ever stood in front of your toaster waiting for a bagel to pop up only to find it unevenly browned, dried out or still cold in the middle, or worse yet, not been able to fit the halved bread into the slots, there might be a better way.One popular Instagram video shows bagel expert Sam Silvermanair frying his bagels whole, claiming it preserves the interior texture while still creating a crisp exterior, and it immediately got our attention.The idea makes good sense. Air fryers heat quickly, circulate hot air evenly and give foods a crisp exterior while maintaining moisture inside, which is exactly what many people want from a bagel. As always, commenters hopped into the post to debate the nuances of this technique. Is it better to air fry a bagel whole or sliced in half? How long should you heat the bagel? Does it work with frozen bagels?All of this chatter made me curious too. Was this truly a better way to toast a bagel? To find out, I tested multiple approaches for air frying a bagel: air frying a fresh bagel whole and sliced and air frying a frozen bagel straight from the freezer. Each method produced a slightly different result. Read on for everything you need to know.Related: 12 Surprising Things You Can Make in an Air Fryer, According to Pro Chefs
Courtesy Angel Albring
Why You Should Toast a Bagel in the Air Fryer
Toasting a bagel in the air fryer works differently from using a pop-up toaster or conventional oven. Instead of heating primarily from the sides or bottom, the air fryer circulates hot air around the entire bagel, creating a more even crust while gently warming the interior. This is especially noticeable when air frying a bagel whole, a method some bagel purists, including Silverman, swear by.
View this post on InstagramWhen toasted whole, the bagel develops a lightly crisp exterior while staying soft, warm and chewy inside, which is closer to the texture of a freshly baked bagel. Slicing the bagel before air frying produces a more classic toasted experience, with both cut sides becoming crisp and golden.
Courtesy Angel Albring
Another advantage is control. Unlike a toaster with limited settings, the air fryer allows you to adjust the temperature and time, making it easier to fine-tune the results based on whether the bagel is fresh, frozen, whole or sliced. For anyone frustrated with uneven toasting or burnt edges, the air fryer offers a more reliable way to heat a bagel exactly the way you like it.
Courtesy Angel Albring
How to Toast a Bagel in the Air Fryer
Here are the different ways to make an air fryer bagel, depending on whether the popular breakfast choice is whole, sliced or frozen.
Whole bagel
To toast a bagel whole, place the bagel directly in the basket, leaving space for air to circulate. Air fry at 350° for about three minutes, checking for light browning on the outside. The bagel will be crisp on the outside and warm and soft inside. Let it cool briefly before slicing.
Courtesy Angel Albring
Frozen bagel
Frozen bagels require a longer cook time. Place the frozen bagel in the air fryer whole and cook at 350° for about seven minutes. The exterior becomes crisp while the inside stays chewy (even more so than the whole, unfrozen bagel) rather than dry. If you prefer, you can slice the bagel after cooking or toast it further once thawed.
Courtesy Angel Albring
Related: 34 Air Fryer Snack Recipes for a Healthier Crunch and Crisp
My Honest Thoughts About Toasting a Bagel in the Air Fryer
After testing all three methods, toasting an unfrozen bagel in the air fryer whole is my clear favorite. The texture was noticeably better than the sliced version. It was warm and chewy inside with a crisp exterior that didn’t feel dried out. The only challenge was slicing it immediately, because the trapped heat made it hotter and slightly harder to cut, but letting it rest briefly solved that issue.
Courtesy Angel Albring
The air-fried frozen bagels surprised me the most. Toasted whole, they came out crispy on the outside and pleasantly chewy inside, without the tough texture frozen bagels sometimes develop. They were so chewy, in fact, that it was hard to slice them, so the bread was squished by the time I did slice through it. That didn't change the flavor, though!
Courtesy Angel Albring
Related: How To Make Air Fryer Hard ‘Boiled’ Eggs Plus 6 Egg-cellent Recipes To Try Them In
Tips for Air Frying Bagels
The biggest tip when making a bagel in the air fryer is choosing the method that fits your texture preference. Toasting whole creates a softer interior, while slicing first delivers a more traditional crunch.
Courtesy Angel Albring
This is a great hack for bagels that are going a little stale. The water did seem to help the exterior brown more, but that could also be because I cooked the frozen bagel for longer.
Courtesy Angel Albring
Related: Martha Stewart Divides Fans With 'Unhinged' Bagel-Eating Technique: 'Straight to Jail'
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