Steven M

Your bagels are dense because of a handful of common dough, hydration, and shaping mistakes that are all totally fixable.   If you’ve been asking why are my bagels so dense, the answer usually comes down to a few key culprits like overworking the dough, using too little water, or skipping the crucial boiling step. … Read more

Your bagels are sinking because your dough isn’t holding onto the air it needs to float.   If you’ve ever pulled a tray out of the oven and found dense, flat discs instead of tall, pillowy rings, you’re probably wondering why are my bagels sinking and what went wrong.   The good news is that … Read more

Your bagels are not browning because of a mix of steam, sugar content, and oven temperature. If you’ve pulled a tray of bagels out of the oven expecting a glossy, deep amber crust and instead found pale, sad-looking rounds, you’re not alone.   The frustrating truth is that bagels don’t brown like bread or pizza … Read more

Your bagels are not smooth because of a handful of common dough-handling mistakes, but the good news is that each one has a simple fix.   If you’ve been pulling tray after tray of lumpy, wrinkly, or bumpy bagels out of your oven and wondering why they don’t have that glossy, taut, bakery-style surface, you’re … Read more

Your bagels are gummy because of a handful of specific mistakes in your dough, boiling, and baking process. Gummy bagels are one of the most frustrating baking problems, and they happen when the inside of your bagel stays dense, chewy in a bad way, and almost raw or doughy. If you’ve been asking why are … Read more

Your bagels are dense because of a handful of common baking mistakes that are totally fixable.   If you’ve been pulling batch after batch out of the oven and wondering why are my bagels dense, you’re not alone.   The truth is, dense bagels usually come down to dough hydration, kneading time, or the boiling … Read more

Your bagels are doughy because they’re underbaked in the center while the outside looks perfectly golden. It’s the classic bagel letdown, you bite into that beautiful, shiny crust and instead of a satisfying chew, you get a dense, raw, floury middle that sticks to your teeth. If you’ve been asking yourself “why are my bagels … Read more

Your bagels are cracking because of a few key culprits in your dough, shaping, and baking process.   But the good news is that once you understand why your bagels are cracking, you can fix it easily and get that smooth, shiny, glossy exterior you’re after.   Most home bakers see those ugly cracks and … Read more

Why are bagels so unhealthy?   It’s a question many of us have asked while staring at a perfectly toasted, cream-cheese-slathered breakfast favorite.   The truth is, bagels can be unhealthy because they pack a massive amount of refined carbohydrates, sodium, and calories into a single, dense serving.   But not all bagels are created … Read more

Bagels are so popular in New York because of a perfect storm of history, culture, and that unmistakable water, creating a food that’s as much a part of the city’s identity as the skyline.   But stepping into any deli or corner shop, you might wonder what makes the New York bagel so legendary, and … Read more