Why are New York bagels better? (2023)

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What makes New York style bagels different from regular bagels?

A New York style bagel is always boiled in water that has had barley malt added, which gives a bagel its signature taste, texture, and leathery skin.

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(Eater)
Are bagels better from New York or New Jersey?

Passionate New York bagel-eaters did not take New Jersey's self-proclaimed title lightly. New York City's mayor, Bill de Blasio, responded on Twitter to give his two cents that New York was home to the world's best bagels.

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(Reactions)
Why are NY and NJ bagels so good?

“Here in Jersey, we have thicker skins and softer water,” McHugh said. New Jersey's soft water has a low mineral concentration that compliments the high protein concentration of the bread flour. In short, it's great natural chemistry. “The classic New Jersey bagel has a unique texture.

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(Food Insider)
Why are bagels better in North?

The idea is that New York's water has low concentrations of calcium and magnesium, making it really soft. Harder water strengthens the gluten in the dough, resulting in tough bagels (no bueño).

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What do New Yorkers put on bagels?

Toppings — Traditionally accepted toppings are limited to poppy, sesame, salt, onion, and everything. Modernists toppings can include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, other "seasonings." Water — Many believe New York City water is the secret to the city's bagels.

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(Great Big Story)
Which state has the best bagels?

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.

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(Business Insider)
What is the bagel capital of the world?

New York, the bagel capital of the world.

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(First We Feast)
Why are Long Island bagels better?

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.

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(CBS New York)
Why are bagels so filling?

Since bagels contain a mix of protein, fiber and carbs, they are more filling and have more staying power — especially when opting for whole wheat over refined carbs.

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(America's Test Kitchen)
Are New York bagels actually better?

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.

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Are bagels a New Jersey thing?

It's no secret that a bagel is a Jersey food. Sure, maybe they started in New York, but we here in Jersey improved the bagel.

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Why do bagels need to be boiled?

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. This boiling causes the starch on the exterior of the bread to gel and create a barrier from the interior dough.

Why are New York bagels better? (2023)
Does California have good bagels?

According to the Times, the Golden State is the winner. Writer Tejal Rao, who used to live in Brooklyn, says the bagels in Southern California and the Bay Area are better than their counterparts made in New York.

What is a California bagel?

Open-faced toasted combo bagel with cream cheese, tomatoes, onion, avocado, lemon pepper. Served with fresh fruit.

Are Einstein bagels New York style?

The bagels served at Einstein Bros. are decidedly not New York style. Over the years they've taken all sorts of liberties and expanded their offerings to include everything from classics like everything and sesame to bagels studded with chocolate chips and others topped with jalapeño and cheddar.

Do you toast NY bagels?

A bagel that is not fresh out of the oven, that is at least six hours old, does need to be toasted, whether it is going to be buttered or topped with cream cheese, nova or both. Otherwise it will be too hard. A bagel that has been sliced and frozen obviously needs to be toasted when brought back to life.

How do New Yorkers say bagel?

Bay-gull” is the Goldi-locks of the word's pronunciation. It references bagels' Eastern European roots while also maintaining the adaptations both the baked good, and the word itself, have made over time. One thing's for certain: It's definitely not “bag-el.”

What is America's favorite bagel?

According to Grubhub's findings, the top flavors in the U.S. are: Blueberry. Cinnamon raisin. Everything.

What bagels are the healthiest?

Here are some tips for choosing the healthiest bagel: Ask for whole-wheat or whole-grain. Compared to 1.5 grams of fiber in a plain bagel, a whole-wheat bagel has 4.5 grams of fiber.

What cities are famous for bagels?

What U.S. Cities Have the Best Bagels
  • Nashville, Tennessee. Home of country music, Nashville is also known for its culinary delights, including bagels. ...
  • Austin, Texas. ...
  • Portland, Maine. ...
  • Chicago, Illinois. ...
  • Los Angeles, California. ...
  • Columbus, Ohio. ...
  • Cleveland, Ohio. ...
  • Seattle, Washington.

Who made the first bagel?

Still one other version dates the first bagels to the late 17th century in Austria, saying that bagels were invented in 1683 by a Viennese baker trying to pay tribute to the King of Poland, Jan Sobieski.

Why was the bagel invented?

The story goes, a baker in Vienna, Austria, accidentally invented the bagel in the late 17th century. He made it as a tribute to the King of Poland, Jan Sobieski III, who led forces to save Austria from Turkish invaders.

When did bagels became popular in the US?

Bagels became mainstream in the United States in the '70s, though they had been sold in niche Jewish markets for several decades prior.

Why is NY water different?

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. According to the American Chemical Society the only American city with "softer" water is Boston.

What happens if you don't boil bagels?

Skipping the boiling step makes a 'regular' bread, that just happens to be shaped like a bagel. Boiling gives it the chew.

What was the bagel in everything everywhere?

In Everything Everywhere All at Once, the Everything Bagel is the ultimate expression of Jobu Tupaki's nihilism. Much like universe-hopping characters like Rick Sanchez in Rick and Morty, the existence of an unending and infinite reality persuades her that ultimately, nothing matters.

Is it okay to eat a bagel every day?

Overconsumption of calories from any food, including bagels, may lead to unhealthy weight gain and make it more difficult to lose weight ( 4 ). It may be best to enjoy bagels in moderation and be aware of how many calories they contribute to your diet.

Is bagel healthier than bread?

Unfortunately there's no simple answer to this question. In terms of calories, on average one bagel has more calories than one slice of bread. However, if you choose to have a bagel with more fibre, this may help you feel fuller for longer and potentially reduce your snacking throughout the day.

How often should you eat bagels?

It's much smarter to stick to half a bagel and just enjoy the other half for another breakfast. Bottom Line: Save the bagels for one day a week. When you do enjoy it, have a half along with some protein to help keep you satisfied.

What is a traditional New York bagel?

A bagel is an iconic New York food. It's a round bread, with a hole in the middle, savory, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. It's topped with seasonings and traditionally filled with cream cheese and smoked fish.

What gives NY style bagels their color?

The Boiling Process

The process of boiling the dough is what gives the exterior of the bagel that great chewy texture, as well as what gives it that darker brown color. Some NYC bakers even add sweeteners such as lye or barley malt into the water before boiling the dough to give it a little extra something.

Why are Long Island bagels better?

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.

Are New York bagels boiled?

Murray's still uses the traditional boiling method to make its bagels. One of the first life lessons I picked up in college was this: The secret to the shiny crust and chewy bite prized in New York bagels is boiling.

How do New Yorkers say bagel?

Bay-gull” is the Goldi-locks of the word's pronunciation. It references bagels' Eastern European roots while also maintaining the adaptations both the baked good, and the word itself, have made over time. One thing's for certain: It's definitely not “bag-el.”

Do you have to toast New York bagels?

A bagel that is not fresh out of the oven, that is at least six hours old, does need to be toasted, whether it is going to be buttered or topped with cream cheese, nova or both. Otherwise it will be too hard. A bagel that has been sliced and frozen obviously needs to be toasted when brought back to life.

Why are bagels boiled first?

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. This boiling causes the starch on the exterior of the bread to gel and create a barrier from the interior dough.

What liquid are bagels boiled in?

The boiling liquid for bagels often contains honey, malt syrup or (brown) sugar. They can make the bagel a little sweeter, or add a little flavor. However, we found that both brown sugar and honey didn't add much to our bagel in terms of flavor.

What does baking soda do to bagels?

Baking soda makes the water more alkaline, giving the bagels a pretzel-like quality that contributes to their chewiness. Adding just one teaspoon helps the bagels develop a shiny, dark-brown exterior while they bake.

Why is NY water different?

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. According to the American Chemical Society the only American city with "softer" water is Boston.

Why do bagels have holes?

The hole in the middle of the bagel allows it to have a larger surface area, making it easier to consistently cook the bagel all the way through. This is important because bagel dough can be incredibly thick, which would make it difficult to know if the center was cooked completely if the hole was not there.

What was the bagel in everything everywhere?

In Everything Everywhere All at Once, the Everything Bagel is the ultimate expression of Jobu Tupaki's nihilism. Much like universe-hopping characters like Rick Sanchez in Rick and Morty, the existence of an unending and infinite reality persuades her that ultimately, nothing matters.

Are bagels supposed to be chewy?

A proper bagel should be chewy enough that it takes a bit of jaw muscle to bite into it. Good bagels are denser than most bread, but not hard. Bagels are fully proofed before being boiled, then baked.

What is an authentic bagel?

“A true bagel (called in the trade a water bagel) is made only of white wheat gluten flour, and is perfectly plain.”

Are Einstein bagels New York style?

The bagels served at Einstein Bros. are decidedly not New York style. Over the years they've taken all sorts of liberties and expanded their offerings to include everything from classics like everything and sesame to bagels studded with chocolate chips and others topped with jalapeño and cheddar.

Are bagels hard to digest?

If you're looking for easy-to-digest grains, you'll need to stick to: white or refined breads or rolls. plain bagels. white toast.

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