Fresh Bagels Melting Sales Of Frozen Ones

They used to be an ethnic favorite, but these days bagels seem to appeal to everyone. They are not just popping up in bagel shops (one of the hottest franchises around), but are sold frozen, fresh and refrigerated in the supermarket.

Industry leaders Lender’s and Sara Lee originally offered only frozen bagels, but frozen bagel sales are suffering while fresh packaged bagel sales are rising.

Fresh bagels, averaging 35 to 40 cents each, tend to be slightly more expensive than refrigerated bagels, which cost about 25 to 30 cents apiece.

Both varieties cost more than frozen, which average around 22 cents each, according to the Chicago-based Information Resources Inc.

Freeze fresh bagels to preserve the flavor. While they’re still fresh, wrap them individually in aluminum foil. When ready to serve, remove foil and place on a paper towel in a microwave oven. Heat for about 30 seconds, then lightly toast. Eat soon after toasting; many breads that are microwaved harden quickly.