Bagel facts for kids
Bagels are a yummy type of bread that looks a bit like a doughnut but tastes very different! They are round with a hole in the middle. Bagels are special because they are boiled in water before they are baked. This gives them a shiny, slightly crispy outside and a chewy, dense inside. They are often eaten for breakfast or as a quick snack.
Bagels are made from simple ingredients like flour, yeast (which makes bread rise), and salt. Sometimes, sweet spices are added too. The flour helps make them chewy. Unlike most breads, bagels get their unique texture from being boiled first, then baked until golden.
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Enjoying Your Bagel
Bagels are super versatile! People often slice them in half and toast them. Then, they spread them with tasty toppings like cream cheese (a soft, slightly sweet cheese) or jam. You can also add butter.
Bagel Sandwiches
Bagels make great sandwiches too! You can fill them with meat, like smoked salmon, or add egg and cheese. Bagel sandwiches are a popular choice for breakfast or lunch.
The History of Bagels
Bagels have a long and interesting history. For a long time, they were mostly known in Jewish neighborhoods in big cities.
Bagels Come to America
When Jewish people from Poland moved to America, they brought their special bread, called a "beugel," with them. The first bakeries making these beugels opened in New York City in the 1920s. Over time, the name changed to "bagel."
Bagels Go Mainstream
In the 1950s, bagels started to be sold in regular grocery stores. Then, in 1960, frozen bagels were introduced, making them even easier for everyone to enjoy!
Bagels in London
In the East End of London, bagels are still often called "beigels." They are very popular in areas like Whitechapel and Brick Lane. These were the places where many Jewish immigrants first settled in London in the 1800s. One famous spot is the Beigel Bake on Brick Lane.
A Symbol of Life
Some people see bagels as a symbol of life's continuous cycle. Because they are round with no beginning or end, they can represent how life keeps going on and on.
Images for kids
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Bagels with cream cheese and lox (cured salmon) are considered a traditional part of American Jewish cuisine (colloquially known as "lox and a schmear").
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Saturday morning bagel queue at St-Viateur Bagel, Montreal, Quebec
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Three Montreal-style bagels: one poppy and two sesame bagels
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Mass-produced steamed bagel purchased from a grocery store.
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Ukrainian bublik
See also
In Spanish: Bagel para niños
