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National Bagel Day

Food · January 15

A day for the bagel, the dense, chewy ring of bread that is boiled before it is baked, and for all the spreads and fillings that go with it.

National Bagel Day falls on Friday, January 15, 2027. That is 80 days away.

A bagel is a ring of yeasted wheat dough that gets boiled briefly in water before it goes into the oven. That quick boil sets the outside, which is why a good bagel has a shiny, slightly crackly crust and a dense, chewy middle that pushes back when you bite it.

The hole has its uses. It helps the bagel cook evenly, and it once made bagels easy to stack on a dowel or string them together for carrying. Plain, sesame, poppy seed, onion and everything are the familiar toppings, pressed onto the dough before baking. Some shops also sell sweeter versions with cinnamon and raisins.

Most people eat bagels split in half. Cream cheese is the classic spread, sometimes with smoked salmon, capers and thin slices of red onion. Others go with butter, an egg sandwich, or nothing at all. Toasting is common, though people who buy them still warm from the oven often skip it.

Marking the day usually means a trip to a local bakery or deli early in the morning, when the trays are fullest. A dozen shared around an office or a kitchen table goes quickly. Slicing a bagel is easier if you lay it flat and cut horizontally with a serrated knife, keeping your hand on top rather than holding it upright.

Day-old bagels are not a loss. Sliced thin and baked until crisp, they become bagel chips, good with whatever spread is left in the fridge.

Ways to celebrate

• Try a bagel flavor you have never ordered before.
• Visit a neighborhood bakery early, while the bagels are still warm.
• Share a mixed dozen with coworkers or neighbors.
• Turn leftover bagels into crisp baked chips.
• Build a breakfast sandwich on a toasted bagel at home.

Dates

All national days on January 15

Also on January 15

• National Strawberry Ice Cream Day
• National Hat Day

Categories: Food days