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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsRemember when bagels were tough and chewy??
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
(6,996 posts)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
(1,214 posts)I guess there are some recipes online too. I'm sick of wimpy bagels!!!! Might as well eat white bread...yuck.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)trof
(54,256 posts)Interesting, but time consuming.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)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
(1,214 posts)...I don't live near a big city.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)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
(12,132 posts)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
(47,675 posts)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
(12,132 posts)jalapeno sounds great too.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)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
(12,132 posts)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
(47,675 posts)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
(16,319 posts)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
(12,132 posts)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
(16,319 posts)There will be small bones in a piece that have to be removed but it's worth it.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)that have the chewy, real bagels.
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)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
(1,214 posts)Have Costco tho. Best chance is to check out one of the small local bakeries I suppose. Thanks.