ARTi
High-gluten flour and long fermentation

The story of the bagel

Chapter 1

The European roots of the bagel

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Answer

Chapter 2

The great North American rivalry

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Answer

Chapter 3

The chemistry of the perfect chew

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Chapter 4

Bagels around the globe

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YOUR GOAL

Master of The story of the bagel

Ch 3 · The chemistry of the perfect chew
sonia

sonia The functional hole in the middle

Jul 26

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sonia The magic of barley malt

Jul 26

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High-gluten flour and long fermentation

sonia High-protein flour and cold resting times are essential for a dense bagel texture.

Jul 26

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The magic of barley malt

sonia Barley malt syrup provides the classic, deep flavor and golden color of traditional bagels.

Jul 26

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Bagel Chew Lab
BETA

sonia Time the bagel's boil to discover how boiling creates its signature chewy texture.

Jul 26

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Fun Fact

The science: The hole in the center of a bagel prevents the middle from remaining raw and doughy during baking.

Jul 26

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Glossary
gluten (noun)
A substance present in cereal grains, especially wheat, that is responsible for the elastic texture of dough. New York bakers rely on high-protein flour rather than local water to develop this dense protein network.

Jul 26

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Gossip

To toast or not to toast?

Jul 26

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Quiz

What is the main benefit of 'retarding' (cold fermenting) bagel dough in a refrigerator for 24 hours?

Jul 26

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sonia High-gluten flour and long fermentation

Jul 26

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Quiz

What historical purpose did the bagel hole serve for street vendors and bakers?

Jul 26

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sonia Why we boil before we bake

Jul 26

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Quiz

What chemical reaction is responsible for the deep golden-brown color of a baked bagel crust?

Jul 26

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Quiz

Why does a bagel need a hole in the middle to bake evenly?

Jul 26

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Quiz

What protein content is typically preferred in flour used for traditional chewy bagels?

Jul 26

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Quiz

What ingredient is added to traditional bagel dough to feed the yeast and promote deep browning?

Jul 26

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Quiz

What scientific process happens to starch when bagel dough is boiled before baking?

Jul 26

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Quiz

Why is bagel dough boiled for only 30 to 60 seconds rather than several minutes?

Jul 26