Getting poppy seeds to stick to bagel
I've been trying to top my homemade bagels with poppy seeds but haven't had much luck getting them to stick.
The instructions I've found says to boil the bagels first, then sprinkle seeds on top after boiling (before baking). The problem is that almost all of the seeds just fall right off, and the ones that do manage to stay on in the oven are not well attached and come off later (e.g. while cutting the bagel).
I've tried putting some poppy seeds on a plate and rolling the boiled bagel around, but it doesn't really seem to be much better. Plus, handling the bagel too much before baking causes it to deflate.
I've used a few recipes to make the bagels, some call for adding baking soda to the water and some call for malt extract powder.
Anyone have any advice? Some bagel shops manage to get poppy seeds absolutely covering the bagel, so there must be some trick...
Best Answer
After boiling, drain the bagels and then press the top of the bagel firmly into a dish containing the seed of your choice. Too much water still on the surface of the bagel and they won't adhere properly. This is how they did it at a bagel shop I worked at, and here's a corroborating video:
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Quick Answer about "Getting poppy seeds to stick to bagel"
It is a very simple concept. The minute you are done boiling your bagel and remove it on a tray, all you need to make sure is that you sprinkle your seeds onto the bagel within a minute it comes out of the water. Basically before the bagel dries out. The seeds will stick to the bagel even post baking.How do you get seasoning to stick to bagels?
When using it on store-bought bagels, first brush the top of the bagel with a very thin layer of water, then sprinkle with everything bagel spice. The water is essential for the spice mix to stick to the bagels.How do you keep bagel toppings from falling off?
By making a 4% solution of water and Ultra-tex 3 you are able to coat the exterior of cooked (and cooled) bagels with a thin film that holds onto the toppings. Then the bagels will need to be baked once more for 5 minutes to dry the solution and keep the toppings stuck to the exterior.How do you make sesame seeds stick to homemade bagels?
I've never made bagels, but the secret to getting seeds to stay on the surface of bread: spritz it with water and sprinkle the seeds on. I don't remember the process exactly, do you boil the bagels and then immediately bake? If so, then just sprinkle the seeds on after removing from the water bath.How do you add seeds to a bagel?
To paint and put the seeds on top123: FIVE Ways to Stick SEEDS to you Bread Dough so they Don't Fall Off - Bake with Jack
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Answer 2
You might try 2 things:
- add sugar to the water (as per @jolenealaska's suggestion)
- after boiling, brush the bagels with a little beaten egg white before sprinkling on the toppings. Not traditional, but it works.
Answer 3
In response to your query. It is a very simple concept. The minute you are done boiling your bagel and remove it on a tray, all you need to make sure is that you sprinkle your seeds onto the bagel within a minute it comes out of the water. Basically before the bagel dries out. The seeds will stick to the bagel even post baking. Hope this helps :)
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