Remember when bagels were tough and chewy??

[barnabas63]

Now they're soft and not like I remember from the 1970s. Aren't bagels supposed to be kind of tough instead of what you buy in the store today?? ANyone have insight into this? Am I right? Thanks.

[Graybeard]

1. If they are made right they still are.

Bagels in the supermarket or places like Dunkin' Donuts are fakes.

Find a bakery that makes their own bagels the old-fashioned way ...boiled! I think the crucial step, boiling the bagel before baking, is not done to these soft wimpy fakes.

Boiling and then baking creates a crust (same with pretzels) and a nice chewy bagel.

[barnabas63]

2. thanks..

I guess there are some recipes online too. I'm sick of wimpy bagels!!!! Might as well eat white bread...yuck.

[hobbit709]

3. And real day old bagels get hard as a rock.

[trof]

16. Yep, boiled, then baked. I made 'em once.

Interesting, but time consuming.

[HopeHoops]

4. Oh bullshit. You can still get good bagels. Find a local shop. We've got "Bob's"

They're killer bagels and come in every possible type you could want. I'm pretty much a "light spread of butter" sort, but damn are they good.

[barnabas63]

6. I'll try....

...I don't live near a big city.

[HopeHoops]

7. Well, I live very close to Harrisburg, PA, but I wouldn't call it a big city.

Besides, the bagel shop in question is three miles away and there's another a half a mile down the block in the farmers' market. Our local (family-owned) grocery store ALSO has good bagels. Actually, there's another local grocery store that has them too. Good shit, Maynard. We're in pretty good shape in the bagel department.

[OriginalGeek]

8. It's a veritable Otopia!

I think my little brother lived near Harrisburg PA for a year or so. Somewhere up there anyway...


We have some pretty good bagels here in Orlando. I credit transplanted New Yorkers for that. They brought some kick-ass pizza too.

Edit to add bagel question: Toasted or not? I will eat them any way I can get them but I'll toast them if I have the chance. Toasted is best. Crunchy outside, still chewy inside and it melts the butter or cream cheese....I never was a big fan of lox but since I've started eating sushi I think I may revisit the lox section.

So I think toasted is best but which is most authentic?

[HopeHoops]

9. "O-topia"? Anyway, our toaster has the wide slots. I like them lightly toasted.

Butter's good, cream cheese is good. peanut butter is non-traditional but also good. They make great egg and cheese sandwiches. I just like them. I don't get many because the kids each nom down four or so. It won't hurt them.

(That's why I sneak in a jalapeno bagel - just so I get one)

[OriginalGeek]

11. O for a Utopia of big ol' O shaped bagels

jalapeno sounds great too.

[HopeHoops]

13. Ah. Got it. And yes, jalapeno makes for a great bagel experience.

These are HUGE fucking bagels too!!! Without a wide slot toaster, I'd have to use the toaster oven. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the toaster is easier. BTW - Chopsticks are the BEST way to remove a fat-ass bagel from a toaster.

[OriginalGeek]

17. I need to get me a big-ass toaster

I like my toaster oven for some things - except not toast lol. Wide and long is how my toaster slots should be!

(I mean, because in addition to bagels I also like the big round loaves of bread my grocery store bakes. They'd be too long for a regular toaster I think)

A real toaster just does a better job of toasting slices of bread and bagels. I think because it can get closer so it gets the slice the right brown-ness more quickly so it doesn't dry it out like the oven does.

[HopeHoops]

19. Yep, that's why - up close and personal. Almost all toasters are wide slot now.

We've got a four-slot toaster (three kids with friends still takes a while). I get two boxes of cream cheese and estimate three bagels per kid. Damn can they eat!!! My wife and I are STILL lucky to get one bagel between us. Fortunately we like the same kinds.

[Mosby]

10. try a little butter and smoked whitefish.

A little butter and a slice of provalone or swiss is also good.

I prefer toasted also but the most authentic way is to leave them whole in a paper bag and warm them in an oven, the outside gets toasty.

[OriginalGeek]

14. Hmmm, whitefish definitely sounds doable

It was the salmon that was troubling me - I don't even eat it as sushi - but I like whitefish sushi...smoked whitefish sounds excellent...

[Mosby]

18. it's great, just check carefully for bones.

There will be small bones in a piece that have to be removed but it's worth it.

[geardaddy]

5. We've got several good bagel shops

that have the chewy, real bagels.

[rusty fender]

12. If you are anywhere near a Sam's

Club you should check out their bagels. You can get 12 for $5 and they are the chewy kind. They are better than the Smith's made bagels.

[barnabas63]

15. nope..

Have Costco tho. Best chance is to check out one of the small local bakeries I suppose. Thanks.