How to Make Bagels

Last Updated: November 17, 2022 Approved

Bagels are among some of the most versatile foods, beaten only by bread. There are so many things you can do with a bagel, from making a pizza to a nice breakfast. Making bagels, though, is more than easy, it's fun!

Ingredients

2 teaspoons, instant yeast
1 tablespoon, dark brown sugar
1 ½ cups water, at room temperature
1 tablespoon, salt
4 cups, bread flour
2 teaspoons, baking soda
About ½ cup cornmeal & flour for dusting

Steps

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Make-Bagels-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Bagels-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Make-Bagels-Step-1.jpg\/aid108340-v4-728px-Make-Bagels-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Stir in the salt and flour, ensuring all the flour is well hydrated. Knead the dough 5-7 minutes, until it is smooth. Cover the bowl and set aside for 2 hours.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Make-Bagels-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Bagels-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Make-Bagels-Step-2.jpg\/aid108340-v4-728px-Make-Bagels-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Turn out the dough onto a floured board. With a dough knife, cut a 4oz portion and mold into a ball. Allow the dough balls to rest 5 minutes. Pierce the ball with your finger and rotate the dough around until the hole is of desired size. Set the bagel on a cornmeal-flour dusted sheet tray and repeat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Make-Bagels-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Bagels-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Make-Bagels-Step-3.jpg\/aid108340-v4-728px-Make-Bagels-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Dust another baking sheet with a mixture of cornmeal and flour.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Make-Bagels-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Bagels-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Make-Bagels-Step-4.jpg\/aid108340-v4-728px-Make-Bagels-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Drop the bagels in batches into the water; they must not touch. Boil on one side for 2 minutes. Turn the bagels and boil on the second side for 1½ minutes. They should firm and puff up. Carefully remove from the water and drain for 1 minute on a rack.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Make-Bagels-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Bagels-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Make-Bagels-Step-5.jpg\/aid108340-v4-728px-Make-Bagels-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Immediately place the sheet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Rotate the sheet tray 90 and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the bagels are tan to medium brown. The finished bagel should reach 185 on an instant read thermometer. Remove from the baking sheets and cool for 30 minutes before attempting to cut.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Make-Bagels-Intro.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Bagels-Intro.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Make-Bagels-Intro.jpg\/aid108340-v4-728px-Make-Bagels-Intro.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

My family exercises in the morning. What would be the right breakfast?

Community Answer

Something with carbs and protein. That way, your body has something to metabolize during and after exercise.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 9
Question

Is it okay to replace brown sugar with regular sugar? And can I just use flour for dusting? I don't have cornmeal.

Community Answer

The bagels will taste a little different if you use white sugar instead of brown, but if you have molasses, you can mix a little of that into the white sugar to make brown sugar. Dusting with flour would be fine, it just might make the finished bagels a little less soft.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 14
Question

Are bagels less digestible than ordinary bread?

Community Answer

Bagels and ordinary bread are made of the same ingredients, so they're equally digestible.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 6

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Add a whisked egg and some warm honey to the mixture for a sweet, crispy bagel. Note that this will make the bagel a bit hotter than normal, so once removed from the oven, refrigerate in a paper bag immediately.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
For a more savory bagel, add pumpernickel and a dash of pepper

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
The quick dip in the water ensures the authentic taste of a true bagel; the interior is tender and flavorful.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Cooling is a necessary part of making bagels. Cool for, at very least, 30 minutes. If possible, refrigerate in a tightly closed and sealed paper bag.

Thanks
Helpful 13 Not Helpful 1

Log in

How to Make Bagels

Ingredients

Steps

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

About This Article

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories