Home > Science Fact Finder > Food and Nutrition - Where Did Bagels Originate, And Why Are Genuine Bagels Boiled Before Baking?

Food and Nutrition - Where Did Bagels Originate, And Why Are Genuine Bagels Boiled Before Baking?

Where did bagels originate, and why are genuine bagels boiled before baking?

There are as many theories about the origin of the bagel as there are ethnic and immigrant groups in America. Most ethnic groups claim to have invented a roll, or roll-like bread, with a hole as its distinguishing feature. It is generally accepted, however, that the bagel has Jewish roots.

The bagel's origin has been traced back to Austria in 1683. As a token of thanks to the Austrian king for defeating the Turks, a Jewish baker made him a hard roll in the shape of a stirrup. The stirrup shape was selected to pay tribute to the king's love of horseback riding.

The word "stirrup" in Austrian-German is beugel. Eventually this word evolved from German, to Yiddish, to English as bagel.

It is traditional to boil the bagel before baking (this tradition is called "kettling" in Yiddish). Boiling the...

[The entire page is 200 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass