The 23 bagel flavors that matter, rated from worst to best (2021 update)

For us in New Jersey, National Bagel Day is the NBD.

We didn’t just choose a day to celebrate the bagel. It is a way of life. A daily fact. A constant. One of the many reasons why living in New Jersey is incredible.

But for everyone else, it’s Friday, January 15th. Okay, I think we can participate.

But instead of saying why New Jersey bagels are better than everyone else’s (including New York’s), let’s go into a broader debate: which bagel flavor is the best?

I rated bagel flavors in 2018. Almost three years later, I ate even more bagels (many, probably) and have more perspective and appreciation for our baked beauty. So I have some adjustments. Here is the updated list.

23. Salt

Last dead before, last killed again. I was shocked by the amount of people who love these things, I received real hate letters for that in 2018. Salt is great in a hot pretzel and an essential component of a bagel of everything. But on your own? Nah. Pass the salt.

22. Oat bran

Stop trying to make healthy bagels. They are not healthy! Go all in. With all due respect to the Quaker Oats man, oats do not belong to a bagel. Unless the bagel is for a horse. In that case, I fully support it.

21. Spinach

Popeye, the bagel man? He probably loves that bagel. I do not. Vegetables are great in a cream cheese, but not in the bagel itself. It doesn’t actually taste like spinach, it just tastes unpleasant and the texture is undesirable.

20. Marble rye

Great for an episode of “Seinfeld”, anything if you’re having breakfast. If I wanted pastrami on a bagel, I would put it here. I don’t put pastrami in a bagel very often. Cumin seeds are potent, to say the least, and the texture is very crunchy. Points for being creative, but it doesn’t really work like a daily bagel.

19. Blueberry

Blueberry muffins are wonderful. Blueberry bagels are not. No matter where you get one, it will taste like a bagel from Thomas’s from the bread section of a supermarket. They look like bagels made by Smurfs.

18. Rainbow

If unicorns could make bagels, they would be like that. Unicorns must not make bagels. Very fashionable in recent years, although they are just simple bagels with food coloring. Too much exaggeration, insufficient flavor.

17. Pieces of chocolate

Chocolate chips are amazing in almost everything. Unfortunately, not so much in bagels. The novelty works for a while, but in the end it is too sweet for a bagel. Keep the muffins, chip!

16. Whole wheat

You will start to see a trend here. Bagel time is not the time to start counting calories. If you want to relieve the guilt of carbohydrate overload by choosing whole wheat, of course. It couldn’t be me.

15. Pumpernickel

Perfect for smoked salmon and cream cheese. A little tasty for certain tastes, but certainly a classic and visually appealing.

14. Cheddar cheese

Call it a bagel, but it tastes more like a roll with melted cheese in it. So, it tasted very good. I love the texture, although bagel purists can scoff. Still, you can do better.

13. Jalapeño

If you want a bagel that brings jalapeno to your spice business, you’ve come to the right place. If not, go ahead. Super tasty and unique, an southwestern omelet is the perfect match with this spicy boy.

12. Simple

I ranked it all in second place when I did it years ago, and my friends have been making fun of me ever since. Look, call me old-fashioned, but I still love them. If it is not broke, do not fix it. Flavored bagels are great and all, but sometimes you just need the original. The simple perfection of the bagel’s crunchy exterior and rubber middle is in the center of the stage, or you have a blank canvas for toppings like cream cheese and butter. Yes, there are covers I want, if I have a choice. But if your bagel is not good, it will not look good, no matter what you put or put in it.

11. Poppy seed

The seeds go everywhere (and get stuck in the teeth), but the subtle flavor is definitely pleasant. Choose solidly, but not before a job interview or first date.

10. French toast

It is sweet. It’s soft. It is probably more expensive than a classic bagel, but it is worth it. Try it and you will understand. If you are going to choose a sweet bagel over a salty one, it is best to lean towards it. Have you ever had a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich? You’re welcome.

9. Egg

The added egg not only gives the bagel a richer flavor and a yellow hue, but adds protein and vitamins! After all, maybe I’m an advocate for healthy bagels. At least when they taste good! They are also slightly softer than standard bagels and make a great base for bacon, egg and cheese.

8. Cinnamon raisins

These bagels never taste like cinnamon to me, but I love them anyway. They are not sickeningly sweet, the raisins add a beautiful rubber texture and, in general, are a good change from the classic savory flavors. I have a friend who swears on peanut butter with cinnamon raisins, which is crazy enough to work.

7. Bialy

Technically, isn’t it a bagel? Technically, I don’t care. Shaped unlike any other bagel, with a dent in the middle instead of a hole, full of onions, garlic and poppy seeds. It is not conducive to actually cutting, or placing any kind of spread. But you don’t need one. The onion and garlic goodness in the middle is all you need.

6. Onion

The roasted onion is delicious, goes well with the bagel and especially with cream cheese if you go that way. You won’t be doing your breath any favors, but your taste buds will thank you.

5. Everything from whole wheat

All the bagels are incredible! Whole wheat bagels are everything. In short, the bagel of everything has the dominant genes in the equation and takes that bagel to respectability.

4. Garlic

Perfect for everyone except vampires. There isn’t much garlic, especially in Jersey, and there is something very satisfying about that tasty crunch on your bagel. Delicious.

3. Sesame

If you are going to just want a topping on a bagel, go with sesame seeds. Nice crispy and a nice warm flavor that complements almost everything you put in it.

2. Egg everything

Egg bagels are fantastic. Everything’s bagels are fantastic. So it’s no surprise that these are excellent. Take all the goodness of an all and add the richness of the egg to the base. Bright.

1. everything

The king remains the king. When reviewing the rankings, this was never questioned. Whoever invented this beautiful mixture deserves a Nobel Prize for peace at breakfast time. Sesame, garlic, onion and salt in a bagel may not be logical, but it is the best bagel there is, with each flavor complementing the next. And if you can’t choose between all the bagel flavors, why not buy a little bit of everything?

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Jeremy Schneider can be reached at [email protected]. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip on here.