5 Fun Facts About Bagels

We love to spread cream cheese all over them, we love to share them and we love to enjoy them with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, but there is a lot we don’t know about them. Here are five facts about our beloved bagels that you probably didn’t know.

1. It has to be round to be considered a bagel

The word Bagel comes from the German word “bougel,” meaning “bracelet,” and by way of the Yiddish “beygl” which means “ring.” So, if it is not in the shape of a ring or bracelet, it is NOT a bagel.

2. There IS a such thing as a Buzzed Bagel

Have you ever found yourself in a rush and wishing that you can have an all-in-one breakfast that provides nutrition AND a morning boost? Well, thanks to molecular biologist Robert Bohannon, who invented the Buzzed Bagel, you can have your Bagel and your Coffee too!! The Buzzed Bagel is a bagel that actually contains the equivalent of two cups of coffee!

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

Unlike any other type of bread known to man, bagels are dipped in boiling water for approximately 3-5 minutes before going in the oven to get their golden exterior.

4. Bagels went to space!

Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff brought 18 sesame bagels from a bakery in Montreal, Canada with him on his journey to space in 2008! The chewy and delicious breads made it along the entire journey in the Space Shuttle and inspired great ideas for American astronauts to follow suit!

5. The hole in the middle is NOT just decoration

Although bagels are shaped to match their name, the hole in the middle serves a very important purpose. The hole increases the bagel’s surface area and allows for more crust formation and helps it cook faster. Additionally, bagel sellers used to place them on a wooden rod and sell them in city streets, so the hole was very helpful for that as well.

Now that your knowledge and appreciation of bagels was enhanced, stop by the Bagel Bakery and enjoy one of our homemade bagels!