You don’t have to boil bagels in baking soda, but it’s one of the best ways to get that classic, glossy, chewy texture.   Boiling bagels in baking soda is a traditional step that many home bakers swear by, but it’s not the only option available.   If you’ve been asking, do you have to … Read more

You have to boil bagels before baking because that’s the essential step that gives them their signature chewy texture and shiny, blistered crust.   Without that quick bath in boiling water, you’d end up with something closer to a dense bread roll, not a true bagel.   If you’ve ever wondered whether you have to … Read more

Yes, you absolutely do boil bagels in baking soda water, and it’s one of the most important steps for getting that signature chewy crust and glossy finish.   Boiling bagels in baking soda water is a classic technique that home bakers and pros alike swear by, because it gives the dough a quick bath that … Read more

Do plain bagels have sugar?   Yes, plain bagels have sugar, but usually only a small amount.   Most traditional plain bagel recipes include a touch of sugar or malt syrup to feed the yeast and help the crust brown beautifully.   So if you’ve ever wondered if plain bagels have sugar hiding in that … Read more

Yes, you can add baking soda to bagel water, and many professional bagel makers swear by it. When you add baking soda to bagel water, it creates that signature shiny, deeply browned crust that makes bagels so irresistible. If you’ve been wondering whether you should add baking soda to bagel water, the answer is a … Read more

Do plain bagels have fiber, and is that fiber enough to make a real difference in your daily intake? Plain bagels do have fiber, but the amount is often lower than you might expect for something so substantial and doughy. A standard medium-sized plain bagel typically contains between 2 and 3 grams of fiber, which … Read more

Plain bagels do not have eggs, and they never have.   If you’ve been scratching your head wondering if plain bagels have eggs hiding in the dough, you can breathe easy because they don’t.   Do plain bagels have eggs? The short answer is no, plain bagels are made without eggs, and that’s precisely what … Read more

Yes, you can vacuum seal bagels, and it’s one of the best ways to keep them fresh for weeks.   If you’ve ever wondered, “Can you vacuum seal bagels without ruining their chewy texture?” the answer is a confident yes, as long as you do it right.   Vacuum sealing bagels removes all the air … Read more

You can use vanilla Greek yogurt to make bagels, and it actually works surprisingly well in most bagel recipes. The key is understanding that vanilla Greek yogurt brings extra sugar, moisture, and flavor to your dough, so you’ll need to tweak a few things to get that classic chewy bagel texture. Many home bakers have … Read more

Yes, you can use self rising flour for bagels, but you’ll need to tweak your recipe for the best results.   Self rising flour can be a convenient shortcut if you’re in a pinch and don’t have bread flour or all-purpose flour on hand.   However, because self rising flour already contains baking powder and … Read more