Have you ever wondered what's in a bagel?? If you have keep reading, if not...you may as well just stop reading at this point, because it won't be interesting to you.



Now, where was I...oh yes, the contents of a Bagel...

A Bagel is a bread product traditionally made of yeasted wheat dough in the form of a roughly hand-sized ring which is boiled in water and then baked. The result is a dense, chewy, doughy interior with a browned and sometimes crisp exterior.The dough may also be flavored to produce many varieties such as sourdough, whole wheat, multigrain, cinnamon-raisin,blueberry etc.

The bagel originated in Central Europe, probably in Poland. A 1610 document from Krakow mentions "beygls" given as a gift to women in childbirth. Although there are many suggestions as to when the bagel came to be, its official origin is unknown. Immigrants in the 1880s brought the bagel to New York City, where it continues to flourish. Until the 1920s, bagels were rare in other parts of the United States other than a few cities with large Eastern European Jewish populations. The bagel came into more general use throughout North America in the last quarter of the 20th century.

In order to preserve the freshness and taste of the bagel for consumption within the next five to seven days, allow them to cool in a paper bag and then store them in a refrigerator in a closed paper bag which is wrapped tightly inside a larger, plastic bag.

To revive a refrigerated bagel to near fresh-baked status, slice the bagel in half and lightly moisten, or 'banetz' (Yiddish term for 'moisten') the surfaces with a small amount of cold water. Toast or bake the bagel until it is hot throughout and slightly crispy on the surfaces. Reheating in a microwave oven will not produce the same result as a regular oven or toaster.

Alternately, bagels can be frozen whole or in halves and reheated in a toaster or oven. Place the room-temperature bagel in an airtight freezer bag and freeze. To thaw, moisten lightly (see above) with cool water and toast or bake. Bagels freeze well for up to six months.


There you have it people...some info on "the bagel". You may be thinking, Krista...why did you even want to know what a bagel was made of??? Well, tonight Nicole and I went to Panera(our usual spot) and talked and because Panera has GREAT bagels, we wondered...what is in a bagel?? And now...my question has been answered!!