What is a water bagel?

(bā′gəl) n. A glazed, ring-shaped roll with a tough, chewy texture, made from plain yeast dough that is dropped briefly into nearly boiling water and then baked.

What is the difference between water bagels and regular bagels?

Harder water strengthens the gluten in the dough, resulting in tough bagels (no bueño). But the American Chemical Society says water actually has only a small effect on the outcome of the bagel and America's Test Kitchen found no difference in bagels made with Brooklyn or even softer Massachusetts water.

What is a New York water bagel?

In fact, New York bagels are superior to other bagels due to two things: The New York water, which is a key ingredient, plus the way the bagels are cooked. Tap water in New York is very soft, meaning it has low concentrations of minerals like calcium and magnesium.

What are water boiled bagels?

Breads such as bagels and pretzels are made by boiling them first because boiling sets the crust before it is placed in the oven. The starch on the exterior quickly gels and forms a barrier. This keeps the water from penetrating very far into the bread. Bagels are usually boiled for 30 to 60 seconds per side.

Why do you put bagels in water?

A brief boil gives bagels a thin and fairly elastic crust that will still allow the bagels rise quite a bit in the oven, resulting in a softer texture. A longer boil and a thicker crust prevents the bagel from rising very much at all, giving you a very dense interior.

The Secrets of New York's Best Bagel — Handmade

Does Einstein bagels boil their bagels?

Einstein: Soft, fresh, and chewy are the main characteristics. Unlike at traditional bagelries, the bagels here as well as at Panera are not boiled before baking; that's why the crust is never crusty (the bagels instead get steamed while in the oven).

Why are New Jersey bagels so good?

NJ gets its water from the Catskill Mountains which has very soft water, meaning it has low concentrations of calcium and magnesium. This softness of the water affects the gluten in the dough. Hard water strengthens gluten and makes bread hard, bust soft NJ water gives the perfect fluff.

Are Einstein bagels water boiled?

Now, bagels can be found everywhere in supermarkets and national bakery chains including Dunkin' Donuts, Bruegger's Bagel and Einstein's Bagels. Bagels, like pretzels, are boiled first to create a crunchy exterior. Bagels are boiled in water usually 30 to 60 seconds before hitting the oven.

Why are NY bagels different?

Many people claim the main difference in taste and texture of a real New York bagel compared to other styles of bagels, is due to the use of New York City tap water, which contains certain minerals which they attribute to creating a better bagel, specifically the low concentrations of calcium and magnesium found in New ...

Are Thomas bagels water boiled?

Bagels are the only bread that are boiled before they are baked.

Is New York water really different?

The American Chemical Society has noted that New York City's water supply is "soft" water, which means that it has lower concentrations of calcium and magnesium. Soft water also affects gluten differently than hard water does, which means dough made with the former can be softer and stickier than the latter.

What is so special about New York water?

The secret lies all in the water that makes the dough. New York City's tap water comes from three main sources outside of the city: the Delaware, Catskill, and Croton watersheds. These watersheds have limited limestone and a natural pH balance of 7.2—as close as it gets to a "pure water" pH balance of 7.

Is New York water actually different?

Every city's water differs slightly, depending on where the water comes from. New York water is considered to be “soft,” meaning it has low concentrations of calcium and magnesium due to the makeup of the water that flows into the Catskills and Delaware Watershed.

Why does NY pizza taste better?

Some pizza-makers “import” their water from NYC.

Those that employ New York water boast about the crust's perfect balance between springy and crunchy and insist that its flavor is superior to competitors who rely on the local tap.

Why are Long Island bagels so good?

The mineral content (low amounts of calcium and magnesium) makes our water softer than other places. This has been touted as a contributing factor to a superior bagel. To the point where Florida bagel shops imported New York water or invented ways to mimic the water in New York trying to capture that distinct flavor.

Why do New Yorkers love bagels?

Bagels, however, did not make their way over to New York until the 1800s when many European Jewish immigrants migrated over, taking their bagel recipes with them. As time went on and the immigrants of New York began to assimilate more, bagels became more popular as more people from different cultures came across them.

Why is there a hole in a bagel?

Ever wondered why bagels have holes in the middle? The basic shape is hundreds of years old and serves lots of practical advantages besides an even cooking and baking of the dough. The hole also allowed them to be threaded or piled high on a dowel which made them easier to transport and display.

What state has the best bagels?

New York: Our schmear winner

It's no surprise that New York City came in first place overall and in every category of our ranking — bagels are a prime breakfast choice in The City That Never Sleeps. Bagels first arrived in the U.S. in the late 1800s as Eastern European immigrants moved into New York's East Side.

Why is it called an egg bagel?

Egg bagels do actually get their special name from the addition of eggs to the mix before baking! They often also contain a bit of sugar and yellowing coloring.

Can I steam bagels instead of boiling?

Some bagel shops break from tradition and steam their bagels instead of boiling before baking them. This can still produce a good bagel, but it will look and taste different. One is not better or worse than the other; it is a matter of personal preference.

Are Costco bagels boiled?

The staffer said they are new, probably just added in the past two weeks, they are baked there and yes, they are boiled before baking.

Do all bagels have to be boiled?

Bagels need to be boiled for 30-60 seconds per side before baking in order to develop a chewy crust (outside) and dense chewy crumb (inside). By boiling bagels before baking the dough's surface develops a gel wall.

Are bagels better in NJ or NY?

While it may not have been as eye-catching as the Jersey bagel, my Russ & Daughters circle of dough achieved the perfect balance. The New York bagel earned a 5/5 in my opinion for its ideal cream-cheese-to-bagel ratio, while the New Jersey edition earned a 3/5 because of its sickly layer of spread.

What is the bagel capital of the world?

Mattoon is the bagel capital of the world, at least it claims to be. And they celebrate their every summer with bagel fest. It features the world's largest bagel breakfast and the consumption of more than 60,000 bagels.

Does New Jersey have better bagels than New York?

The bagels of NJ and NY are fluffier, doughier, and thicker... must I go on? The bagels everywhere else are relatively similar to one another. They are dense and solid, smaller, significantly thinner, and do not come with the same quality (or variety) of bagel-condiments.