There, you can still find bagels hanging from long wooden sticks in bakeries, just like they used to in the Old Country. Anyone who has ever tried to make their own bagels knows that the dough is very, very thick and very heavy. Become the life of the next party you attend by sharing these with your friends. Or, was it? According to The Bagel Bakery, there's a very practical reason that hole has stayed in bagels for centuries. A touch of Polish and Jewish history is necessary to explain this one A shtetl, they say, is exactly what the Yiddish words translates as: "little town." Most of these communities were filled with religious figures, scholars, and artisans, and their streets were also filled with vendors selling bagels. The origin of the hole in the bagel will most likely remain one of those unknowable food mysteries. The dough was baked in the shape of a circle designed to look like a stirrup and then was named after the German word for stirrup. This time, tradition is both practical and delicious, too. Its International Coffee Day: Celebrate With the Bagel Bakery! There might be a lot of steps, but you only need four ingredients, according to King Arthur Flour: flour, water, salt, and yeast. For a long time, they were pretty exclusive to Jewish communities, but here's a weird footnote to the already strange history of putting holes in bagels: Not all bagel holes are created equal. Brilliant and simple, right? Here are some more bagel photos, just to inspire you to eat one today. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Here is a list of some of our favorite puns: What kind of bagel can fly? And part of their appeal was the fact that . The Atlantic reveals that the bagel likely originated in Poland and was known as aobwarzanek, and was enjoyed by royalty likeQueen Jadwiga prior to sealing a spot among the worlds best street foods. In 2011, Time called the commercialization of the bagel "a symbol of assimilation at any cost.". How do you hold a bagel back? The Real Reason There Are Holes In The Middle Of Bagels. You don't need to, as the crust is much easier to chew than that of a bagel. The crowd will love you! It was a common belief that their circular, never-ending shape symbolized the equally never-ending circle of life and death. Lets Celebrate! Bet you had no idea there was so much to the story of the bagel hole, did you? Instead of the hole in the center, there's an indentation that helps to keep all the toppings in place. She says that well into the 1970s, bakers in New York City would thread their bagels onto ropes in order to deliver them to delis and markets around the city. But is it better? It's believed by some that this tradition is where the name "bagel" came from, citing a likelihood it came from the Yiddish word beigen, or "to bend". The hole in the middle of the bagel allows it to have a larger surface area, making it easier to consistently cook the bagel all the way through. Bagel vendors had to have a license, and even though children would occasionally sell bagels to help support their families, it would earn them a beating if they were caught by law enforcement. Keep in mind that the hole is going to shrink as the dough relaxes, so stretching a 2-inch hole in the center will leave you with a 1-inch hole for your finished product. Montreal bakers tend to make their bagels a little different they add honey to the water before boiling to make a sweeter bread, they shape them to have large holes, and they also bake them in a wood-burning oven. It also makes it easier for bakers to confirm their bagels are cooked all the way through, and that's important. It seems like something of a waste, and that putting more bagel in there would be the way to go. This type of arrangement was actually common in delis until the 70s, even though these days, you probably see them displayed at grocery stores in bins to help keep them fresh. They were called obwarzanek,and they got a huge boost in popularity thanks to Queen Jadwiga, a massively powerful Polish monarch who not only shifted the balance of power in 14th century Europe (via Britannica) but who was also canonized by Pope John Paul II. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the shtetls of Russia and Poland were small towns where Jews lived in the center, and Gentiles lived on the outskirts. We create our signature crust by boiling the bagel for 30-60 seconds before baking it, because if theres no boil, theres no real bagel. I was raised a Unitarian, and at literally every church Ive been to, theyve offered yummy bagels after the service to help fundraise and feed their community. Sure, there's a very practical reason for it, too, but that's just a small part of what makes a bagel a bagel. Lets Celebrate! The bread wasn't baked in any traditional shape, and instead, the baker decided to pay tribute to his savior-king's love of horses. He was the victim of a schmear campaign. They also say that the hole allows the bagel to have more of that distinctive, chewy crust that makes a bagel, well, a bagel. Bagels. Bagels were an important part of my childhood. Its International Coffee Day: Celebrate With the Bagel Bakery. A plain bagel. Maybe, but there's some incredible history behind that hole. At the same time German immigrants were settling in Poland, Jewish immigrants were settling there, too. And part of their appeal was the fact that they were often stringed up on display. Balinska also adds something neat to the question of just what the hole means. Some of them are more viable than others, and a couple theories are downright wild. the most iconic breakfast foods in the United States. Hence, having holes made this kind of transaction easier. Why are bagels the subject of so many jokes? The history of the bagel is fascinating. Ive mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. Its possible that while creating the bagel to be a circle, the hole was inevitable. And, there's one other massive difference between the two: A bialy isn't boiled before it's baked. In the past, vendors threaded the circular breads onto dowels to hawk them on street corners. Try it and find out. You dont see many rolls with holes, and thered be a big problem with condiments if sandwich bread included them. But regardless of their origin, bagels (holes and all) are one of the most iconic breakfast foods in the United States. Ever try cheese and tomato on a bagel before? There are quite a few explanations out there for the hole in the middle of a bagel, one of those foods that you absolutely need to try when in New York City. From creating a career out of making bagels, Ive learned its actually a combination of a few different things. Maria Balinska, historian and author of The Bagel: the Surprising History of a Modest Bread (via The Atlantic), says that was the beugel. Limited-time offer! He repelled the Turks, says Britannica, and as thanks, a Viennese baker created a type of bread in his honor. While this reason may be the most logical, it's still fun to consider the other theories. So if youre itching for either a breakfast or lunch plan, you might as well consider the bagel. Even earlier than that, old records kept in Poland revealed that the bagel itself was prized for its round shape, which reportedly symbolized a long life. Bagels are also boiled for around a minute before baking, and hence, get more cooking time. Rumors started to spread that Jewish bakers were poisoning their bread, and that Christians shouldn't buy bread made by a Jew. Adding the hole in the middle might seem like the most intimidating part, but there's such an easy way to do it, you'll start to wonder why you haven't made your own bagels more often. But, that said, anything you can do with a bagel, you can do with a bialy. Who would have thought something that philosophical would come out of a bagel? It turns out that it's not just one of those things that has hung around forever just because of tradition. What does a bagel do when it is locked out of its house. The history of the bagel and its hole is pretty incredible, but it's not just about history. Once it's risen, poke your thumb through the center, put two fingers inside, and gently stretch it out. Like a lot of things in history, it's not 100 percent clear-cut as to exactly when these holey rolls started popping up in a form we'd recognize as bagels, and there's another story as to exactly when they were first made and how they got their name. You put lox on it. Plus, now that you know the history, the choice may make you feel like royalty. One less-wild theory is that the hole is there in order to make transporting and selling them easier. Why did the bagel lose the election? Depending on where you live, it might be hard to find really good bagels, but there's good news: You can make them at home, and it's not even that difficult. Maybe the hole makes all the difference. That makes it difficult to cook all . Not too many other options are quite as versatile. In fact, according to The New York Times, even up until the '70s, most bagels were still distributed to American delis and supermarkets on rope or string. Hence, the bagel was born. When Jews emigrated from Poland to North America, bagels went with them. But historian and author Maria Balinska spoke with The New York Times and debunked that theory, saying that the holes definitely predate this tradition. If you need further convincing, the words are even similar: bagel and bangle. If they flew over the bay, they would be bagels! Highly impractical? Also, this larger surface area allows the bagel to have even more of the chewy crust that we all love so much. In the past, vendors threaded the circular breads onto dowels to hawk them on street corners. Here is a list of some of our favorite puns: If they flew over the bay, they would be bagels! It was a huge step, but the Church wasn't as keen on the announcement as the more secular world was. They always tasted special, and were a real treat when my parents agreed to let me grab one. Their unique shape was also thought to protect against the evil eye, and to bring good luck; that was especially true when it came to births, and they were commonly given to women in labor. Ive had a lot of guests at the Bagel Bakery ask me, Why does a bagel have a hole in the middle? They wonder if the hole has an actual purpose, or if it is just one of those things thats there for no reason. According to Dianna Daoheung, the executive chef and head baker of New York City's Black Seed Bagels (which has become one of New York City's most famed bagel shops), one theory posits that in the 1600s, a Polish baker invented bagelsfor a queen on the occasion of her son's birth; he modeled them after the many bracelets and bangles she wore. The history of the bagel and its hole is pretty incredible, but it's not just about history. According to The Bagel Bakery, there's a very practical reason that hole has stayed in bagels for centuries. This one comes from central and eastern Europe as well, and the story goes that in 1683, Jan Sobieski led a massive army against Turkish forces advancing on Vienna. I've had a lot of guests at the Bagel Bakery ask me, "Why does a bagel have a hole in the middle?" They wonder if the hole has an actual purpose, or if it is just one of those things that's there for no reason. Holes are one of the things that set bagels aside from other types of bread. One less-wild theory is that the hole is there in order to make transporting and selling them easier. So, is there such a thing as a bagel without a hole? Anyone who has ever tried to make their own bagels knows that the dough is very, very thick and very heavy. Not only did they introduce me to the world of cream cheese, but they were typically a rarity when I was very young. As you eat it and finish your bagel you turn that hole into a part of the infinite, undefined space that surrounds us all. She chose to eat obwarzanekrather than rich pastries during Lent, helping to secure their popularity as a mainstream sort of bread. When you first get your bagel, that hole in the middle represents a finite space in the center of the circle. That makes it difficult to cook all the way through, and that hole actually adds more surface area and helps it cook more evenly. Bagels were more than just bread, too. You know, in the days before strict rules and regulations when it comes to food packaging and handling. According to Aish, those larger-than-normal holes can be seen in one other place: Jerusalem. From creating a career out of making bagels, I've learned This is important because bagel dough can be incredibly thick, which would make it difficult to know if the center was cooked completely if the hole was not there. Once you have real, fresh bagels out of an actual bakery, those bagels in the store just won't cut it. We dont know, but we sure do love it. These days, its a good thing that bagels still have holes, as it makes them even more convenient to grab as a quick and delicious breakfast on the go. There are two types of bagels that have a much, much larger hole than the more traditional bagels, and really only started gaining in widespread popularity in the 1960s. It would make pizza bagels easier, for sure, along with bagel breakfast sandwiches and, well, pretty much all things bagel. No. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Its National Bagel Day! That said, I never actually looked at the history of the bagels, why they have holes, or what they really brought to the bread family. According to Dr. Yvette Alt Miller (via Aish), it was also a time when Jews weren't allowed to make bread, as it was seen as a holy Christian food. Its a gamechanger. The Atlantic called it the "bagel's lesser-known cousin," and that's pretty accurate. They're completely unlike most other types of bread: chewy on the inside, chewier on the outside, boiled and baked to perfection, and, of course, sporting that hole in the middle. And there is a huge difference between these old-school bagels and the new bagels: While those holes used to be formed by hand, that's not usually the case anymore with most mass-produced, machine-rolled bagels. She says that the Germans brought traditional pretzels with them, that then turned into a more rounded roll with a hole in the center. The Daily Meal writes that the key difference with a bagel is that they were often sold as street food. But difficult? No one wants an underdone bagel. Instead of rolling out your dough, form it into balls. Yes. More than that, there's some very cool mythology, too tales told about just why a bagel is shaped like it is. Why do seagulls fly over the sea? Bagels have always been associated with central and eastern Europe, and particularly, with those of the Jewish faith. The goal was to differentiate it from Christian-baked bread, so Jewish bakers developed the distinctive, unmistakable, round bread with a hole in the center. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Its National Bagel Day! You don't see many rolls with holes, and there'd be a big problem with condiments if sandwich bread included them. Holes are one of the things that set bagels aside from other types of bread. Craving even more delicious recipes. It was no joke, either. The Daily Meal writes that the key difference with a bagel is that they were often sold as street food. Bagels were once sold by vendors who would thread them on long poles and carry them through the streets that way, and that's given rise to the belief that the holes were there to make it easier for vendors to carry. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Spread them with butter, with cream cheese, add some lox, or make pizza bialys just remember that if you want to be traditional about it, don't slice it. Because, as we all know, bagels go beyond breakfast. In fact, according to The New York Times, even up until the '70s, most bagels were still distributed to American delis and supermarkets on rope or string. The outside crust is one of the most defining, and amazing attributes of a bagel, so having a bit more of it is sure to make anyones morning better! Time consuming? It wasn't until 1264 that the Polish Prince Boleslaw the Pious rescinded the laws, and declared that Jews would be allowed to "buy and sell and touch bread just like Christians". What's with that hole, anyway? Another reason for bagel shapes to have holes in them is because, in ancient times, vendors used to carry the bagel on dowels for more accessible transportation and selling. As for questioning their holes, it turns out theres a really interesting story behind them. Even though bagels might not be used for deli decor the way they used to, theres no hiding it it just wouldnt be called a bagel without having a hole in the center. They say that the bagel may have had its roots elsewhere, but it really became popular in the Polish shtetl. According to My Jewish Learning, the word "bagel" means "bracelet" in German, and that's a clear reference to the shape of this chewy, delightful delicacy. The crust of a bialy is traditionally a little more crusty than shiny, but it does tend to have the same chewiness that a bagel does. Fast forward a bit, and you'll find a new ruling Polish Jews won the right to make bread as long as it was boiled, not baked. The 101 Most Iconic Restaurant Dishes in America. They only contain a few ingredients, but they're fairly complicated to make. Absolutely, and it's called a bialy. 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