We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Plain Bagel?

By Angie Bates
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 4,713
Share

Similar in shape and size to a doughnut, a plain bagel is a circular yeast bread often served at breakfast or for snacks. A bagel may be made with fruits, vegetables, seeds, or sweets as toppings or part of the bread, but a plain bagel consists of only the basic bread ingredients. Plain bagels are often toasted and usually sliced in half and served with cream cheese or another spread. They also may be used as fancy or unusual substitutes for sandwich buns. Served commercially, they can be found in grocery stores and at restaurants specializing in breads or breakfast foods.

Traditionally made by hand, a plain bagel is often chosen as a breakfast food but can also be eaten as a snack. The chewy bread is healthier than doughnuts and is boiled and baked rather than deep fried. These circular breads are made with flour, sugar, yeast, and salt, as well as water. Honey or a malt syrup made be substituted for the sugar.

Making plain bagel dough is similar to making any yeast bread dough. Warm water, yeast, and sugar are combined and allowed to sit until the mixture becomes foamy. Then, the other ingredients are added and kneaded into a smooth dough. If instant yeast is used, all the ingredients can be added and kneaded at once. Once kneaded, the dough is allowed to rise.

After rising, the dough can then be cut and shaped into individual bagels. The dough may be rolled into ropes and then wrapped around a cook's fingers to create the ring or shaped into a thick circle before the cook pokes a hole through the center. A special bagel cutter may also be used. When all the bagels are shaped, they are allowed to rise again.

To cook, the dough is placed in boiling water for a few minutes. Malt syrup and salt may be added to the water, but often it is just left plain. Each bagel is turned once during boiling. After they are removed from the water, they can be placed on a cookie sheet and baked to finish cooking.

A plain bagel can be eaten fresh or frozen for later use. Most often, this food is purchased commercially. Commercially made bagels are often presliced. Bagels may or may not be toasted prior to eating and are frequently topped with a spread, like cream cheese, but can be eaten plain as well.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-plain-bagel.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.