When you’re looking for your new favorite bagel cafe, you need to know what kind of bagels they make. Generally speaking, there are two types of bagels, and bakers usually make one style or the other. The two most common types are New York-style bagels and Canadian-style bagels. Everyone has their preference, but we make New York bagels here at Bagel Mill.
But what’s the difference? Join the team at your favorite bagel cafe as we compare these bagel styles.
Dough Preparation
New York bagel dough is simple, containing only high-gluten flour, water, yeast, salt, and malt. These ingredients result in a denser dough that becomes airier when baked. Canadian bagel dough has more ingredients, most notably sugar or honey. These additions make Canadian bagels sweeter than New York-style bagels. To add to the sweetness of Canadian bagels, they are also boiled in a mixture of water and honey or malt.
Size and Shape
You can pretty easily tell New York and Canadian bagels apart by looking at them. New York bagels are known for being large and thick, while Canadian bagels are smaller and thinner. There is some debate over whether New York-style bagels should have a larger hole in the center than Canadian bagels do. Often, baking causes the hole to shrink, sometimes almost closing entirely. The hole in Canadian bagels tends to stay open as the sweetening ingredients make for a denser bagel.
Boiling Times
The chewy crust that is a hallmark of bagels is the result of boiling the shaped dough before baking. The longer you boil the dough, the thicker the crust will be because the boiling water effectively cooks the outside of the bagel. New York-style bagels have a thinner crust because they have a shorter boiling time, usually between 30 seconds and two minutes. The boiling time for Canadian bagels is longer, sometimes up to five minutes. The longer boiling time creates a thicker and chewier crust.
Toppings and Flavors
While there is some overlap, New York bagels tend to use more savory toppings and flavors, while Canadian bagels err on the sweeter side. Common toppings for New York-style bagels include poppy seeds, sesame seeds, salt, and the classic everything bagel seasoning. Canadian bagels also often feature sesame or poppy seeds, but sweeter toppings like cinnamon sugar are popular as well. The toppings adhere to the honey or malt-infused surface, which is another distinctive feature that sets Canadian bagels apart from New York bagels.