The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Feedback on my bagels

Oku's picture
Oku

Feedback on my bagels

Hey everyone,

First time poster here. Im a self taught bread maker of a few years and recently started trying to perfect some more traditional recipies of breads like croissants and bagels. I am pretty happy with the results of my bagels so far but would love to get some feedback on the skin/colour/shape of my bagels and any advice on how you would improve it.

Ive been asked through word of mouth to make some bagels to be sold at a cafe and if I do it then I would really like them to be top notch.

Thanks in advance,

bikeprof's picture
bikeprof

I'd need to taste them to provide proper feedback...but I'm willing to do that

JeremyCherfas's picture
JeremyCherfas

They look absolutely tip-top, to me, but as others have noted, looks aren't everything. :)

Are they good and chewy? If so, I would say you are onto a winner.

Oku's picture
Oku

Thank you :)

And yes they are nice and chewy. When they come out hot they are chewy and lovely and soft in the middle and with a 24 hour minimum retardation in the fridge they are full of flavour BUT my only concern is after a couple of hours when they are cooled down the chewiness is much more significant and it can give the jaw a work out. Is this normal for Bagels? (We don't have bagels where I am from and I wing it a lot) How would they normally be sold? hot? fresh within a few hours or toasted after a while? Can they be rewarmed on order maybe?

I wish I lived somewhere that had real bagels so I could try this out for myself!

Weizenbrot's picture
Weizenbrot

I live in the NYC area where we have lots of great bagel shops. It's normal for cooled-down bagels to become extremely chewy and "give the jaw a work-out", as you said.

They are best consumed within a few hours of being baked. Once a bagel has cooled, you can revive it by putting it in the oven for a few minutes until the crust becomes crisp again and the crumb softens.

Filomatic's picture
Filomatic

The only way I can give you feedback is to try some.  Message me and I'll give you my address.

Oku's picture
Oku

thanks so much for the comments! Ive managed to feel a bit less nervous about serving people my bread. (wish I could send you all some :) )