A well known bagel store published this guide to how to preserve your bagels after they have been bought fresh from the bagel baker. Follow these instructions or else your fresh bagel will taste and have the consistency of a hockey puck:

A bagel’s fresh taste and chewy texture come from the moisture rich center which is protected by its baked skin. Over time, however, the bagel will dry out if its moisture is not sealed in. To that end, we offer the following tips to help you preserve your bagel’s freshness.

Freezing your bagels while they are still fresh is the key to preserving their taste and texture over time. At home, keep as many bagels out as you plan to eat over the next day and prepare the rest for freezing.

One option is to slice the bagels first and place them in a plastic bag (freezer bags are preferable) to freeze them. This allows you to take out a pre-sliced bagel and place it directly in the toaster (our bagels toast well directly from the freezer).

A second option is to place the unsliced bagels in a plastic bag and freeze them. Some bagel connoisseurs believe that this better seals in the moisture within the bagel. When ready to eat, place the frozen bagel in a microwave on High for 25-30 seconds to defrost it (defrost time will vary with different microwaves) or longer to make it warm inside. Then slice the bagel and toast it to your liking or enjoy it as is!