How to cook bagel sandwiches in an air fryer

Bagel Bites are a favorite snack for many people. Being a fusion of pizza and rolls, these delicious morsels come in a range of varieties to suit anyone’s taste.

Per the manufacturer’s instructions, you can cook the Bagel Bites in the oven, in a toaster oven, and in the microwave.

But you can also cook the Bagel Bites in the air fryer.

How do you cook Bagel Bites in the air fryer? The general instructions for cooking Bagel Bites in the air fryer are the same as for cooking them in the oven or in a toaster. It will take about 5-6 minutes to cook the bites in the air fryer at 375°F. 

In this article, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions for cooking Bagel Bites not only in the air fryer, but also in the oven, toaster oven, and microwave.

You will also learn important things about Bagel Bites and how to make them yourself.

What are Bagel Bites?

Bagel Bites are bite-sized snacks that are made by fusing the idea of bagels and pizza. These mini snacks were invented by Bob Mosher and Stanley Garkzynski in 1985.

Once tennis buddies, Mosher and Garkzynski established a successful business, then passed it on to Heinz in 1991. Kraft Heinz is now the owner of Bagel Bites.

There are six varieties of Bagel Bite. Cheese and pepperoni is perhaps the most popular.

But you can also choose between the other five flavors: Cheese, Sausage and Pepperoni, Mozzarella, Three Cheese, Nacho Extreme and Supreme. 

Apart from the mentioned varieties, you can also buy the breakfast sandwiches of the same brand. These are snacks with typical breakfast ingredients: eggs, cheese, bacon, etc.

Bagel Bites come in packages of different sizes, with anywhere from 9 to 40 pieces per package. The snacks come on a crisp tray wrapped in plastic and placed in a box that has nutrition facts for the snacks and cooking instructions.

How to Store Bagel Bites

You should put the Bagel Bites in the freezer as soon as you bring them home. This makes the Bagel Bites very durable. They keep well in the freezer for at least 12 months.

The snack will most likely still be safe to eat beyond that time. However, remember that the flavor and texture of food deteriorate over time.

Therefore, you can consume Bagel Bites after the expiration date printed on the box. It is simply the manufacturer’s estimate of how long the product will retain its best flavor and texture qualities.

If you only use some of the bagel bites from the package and need to return the rest to the freezer, be sure to save the remaining bites so they don’t get freezer burn.

You can wrap the box or bites in cling film or transfer the frozen bagel bites to an airtight bag. 

If you’ve had the Bagel Bites longer than the date on the package indicates or haven’t stored them properly, check for signs of spoilage before cooking the bites.

Discard the bagel bites if you notice discoloration or if the bites are severely freezer burned.

Eating freezer-burned donut bites is not dangerous. However, the bites will not taste the same and will have an unpleasant texture when cooked.

3 Things to Know Before Cooking Bagel Bites

Bagel Bites are a very easy snack. It seems that there is nothing complicated in cooking and enjoying them. But there are a few things you need to know before cooking Bagel Bites.

• Regardless of the cooking method you choose for the Bagel Bites, make sure they reach 165°F. You can use a food thermometer to check. After cooking Bagel Bites a few times, you’ll know when they’re done just by looking at them. 
• Baking time for Bagel Bites can vary from variety to variety. Some varieties of Bagel Bites, like the Supreme and Mozzarella types, require a couple more minutes to cook. We recommend that you check the cooking instructions on the box before baking the bites. 
• A serving of Bagel Bites consists of 4 pieces of these tasty snacks. Keep this in mind when cooking Bagel Bites for your family or guests. 

Can Bagel Bites be cooked in an air fryer?

The air fryer is a very popular kitchen appliance, especially for people who want their frying to be healthier.  You don’t need to add oil to the air fryer . It makes food crisp by circulating hot air around the food.

Therefore, an air fryer makes fried foods healthier. But there is no difference when it comes to Bagel Bites as they are not cooked with oil.

So, yes, you can cook Bagel Bites in an air fryer. 

How to Cook Bagel Bites in the Air Fryer

Cooking the Bagel Bites in the air fryer does not make them taste different. But it does make the bites crispier, as the hot air from the air fryer cooks the inside of the food and crisps it up on the outside.

Here are step-by-step instructions for cooking Bagel Bites in an air fryer.

1. Preheat air fryer to 375°F. 
2. Take as many Bagel Bites out of the container as you need. 
3. Place the Bagel Bites in the air fryer. Don’t crowd them. Arrange them in the air fryer basket in a single layer making sure to leave some space for the bites to cook evenly. 
4. Fry the bagel bites for 5-6 minutes. Check the bagel bites after 5 minutes to make sure they aren’t overcooked. 
5. Remove the Bagel Bites from the air fryer and let them rest for 1-2 minutes before serving.

Time to Fry the Bagel Bites in the Air Fryer

As mentioned above, you need to leave the bagel bites in the air fryer for 5-6 minutes. However, you have to remember that not all air fryers are created equal.

The temperatures of different air fryers can vary, which means that the cooking time will vary as well.

For this reason, we recommend that you check the bagel bites after 5 minutes. Depending on your air fryer, you may need to remove the bites or allow them to continue cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes.

Other Cooking Methods for Bagel Bites

Air frying isn’t the only method of cooking Bagel Bites, which is great since not everyone has an air fryer at home.

And in fact, while the air fryer works well for cooking Bagel Bites, it’s not the best method for cooking them according to the manufacturer.

You’ll find instructions for cooking Bagel Bites in the microwave, oven, and toaster oven on the box of these frozen snacks. 

Also, as recommended by the manufacturer, take into account the performance of your appliance, since the cooking time and temperature may vary from one appliance to another.

Here are step-by-step instructions for cooking Bagel Bites in the microwave, in the oven, and in a toaster.

Microwave oven

Microwave is the best cooking method for Bagel Bites if you want your mini pizza bites to be soft. If your microwave has 1100 watts, it will only take 2 and a half minutes to cook all 9 Bagel Bites. 

Here’s how to make Bagel Bites in the microwave.

1. To get started, take the crisper tray out of the box. Remove the plastic wrap and make sure the bites are well placed on the tray. 
2. Place the crisping tray in the microwave with the shiny side up. 
3. Turn on the microwave by setting it on HIGH. 
4. Let the Bagel Bites cook for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. 
5. Take out the bites and let them rest for 60 seconds before serving. 

Oven

For Bagel Bites to have a crispier finish compared to microwaved bites, baking is a great option. This is what you need to do to cook Bagel Bites in the oven.

1. Preheat oven to 425°F As you prepare the frozen bites, the oven will reach the desired temperature. 
2. Take the Bagel Bites out of the box and out of the crunch tray. You can use the crisping tray in the microwave, but never in the oven. 
3. Line your baking sheet with a layer of parchment paper. Even if you’re not using parchment paper, you don’t need to grease the tray. 
4. Arrange the Bagel Bites on the baking sheet leaving a little space between the pieces. In this way, the bites are cooked evenly. 
5. Put the tray in the oven. Do not place the tray either too low or too high. If you set the pan too high, the tops of the morsels will burn and the bottoms will go uncooked. The opposite will happen if you put the baking tray too low. 
6. Bake the Bagel Bites for the recommended time. To be sure, she checks the sandwiches a few times as they cook to make sure they don’t burn. 9 frozen Bagel Bites will take about 14 minutes to cook in the oven. 
7. Once the Bagel Bites are fully cooked, remove them from the oven. Let them rest for 60 seconds before serving. 

Toaster

If you are only going to cook a few Bagel Bites, using a toaster oven is a good way to cook them. Here’s how to cook Bagel Bites in a toaster oven.

1. Preheat toaster oven to 400°F. 
2. Take the Bagel Bites out of the box and the crunch tray they come on.
3. Arrange as many Bagel Bites on the toaster oven tray as you need. Since toaster oven pans are usually quite small, you may need two baking sessions if you are cooking a lot of items. 
4. Bake 9 Bagel Bites for about 16 minutes.
5. Once you turn off the toaster oven and remove the baking sheet, let the sandwiches rest for 60 seconds before serving. 

Can you make your own Bagel Bites?

If you find commercially made bagel bites too unhealthy or just can’t find a flavor combination you like, you can make your own bagel bites with just a few ingredients.

what you will need

• mini rolls
• pizza sauce 
• Mozzarella cheese
• pepperoni slices 
• Other ingredients of your choice 

How to make bagel sandwiches

Making your own muffin bites takes more time than baking ready-made frozen bites. Even so, the process is quite easy.

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Prepare the rest of the ingredients while the oven reaches the desired temperature. 
2. Cut mini bagels in half. So each mini bagel makes two bagel bites. You will only need 4 mini bagels for 8 bagel bites (2 servings).
3. Line the baking tray with a layer of parchment paper and arrange the mini bagel slices on the tray. You can skip the parchment paper. However, since you will be adding cheese to the bagels, the paper will help you avoid having to wash the pan. 
4. Bake the mini bagels for about 5 minutes or until the tops just start to brown. 
5. Remove the buns from the oven and add the ingredients. Add the pizza sauce, some grated mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, and any other topping of your choice. You can omit the pepperoni and instead add vegetables, such as sliced bell peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms. You can also make all-cheese bagel bites if that’s your thing. 
6. Put the bread bites back in the oven. Use the middle rack so sandwiches cook evenly from top to bottom. 
7. Cook the bagel bites for 10-15 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on your oven. So, check the mini muffins after 8-9 minutes to make sure they aren’t overcooking. 
8. Take the homemade bagel bites out of the oven, let them cool for a minute, and serve. 

Are Bagel Bites Good For You?

Bagel Bites are nostalgic, but they’re certainly not healthy. These mini pizza-like snacks are high in calories and very low in nutrients.

For example, the Cheese and Pepperoni Bagel Bites contain 190 calories per serving (4 Bagel Bites). The bites are high in sodium, yet contain 7 grams of protein per serving. 

Although the ingredients in Bagel Bites differ from variety to variety, they all contain unhealthy ingredients and additives.

If you like Bagel Bites, be sure to have them as a snack from time to time. However, make sure you don’t overheat them. Incorporate some fresh and healthy snacks into your diet to balance things out.