Bagel vs. Bread — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 7, 2024
Bagel is a round bread product with a dense, chewy texture, typically boiled before baking. Bread, in contrast, refers to a broad category of baked goods made from dough, varying widely in texture, shape, and flavor.
Difference Between Bagel and Bread
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Bagel is a specific type of bread that is dense and chewy, shaped like a ring, and boiled before baking to achieve its characteristic crust. Bread, on the other hand, encompasses a wide range of baked products made from flour, yeast, and water.
Bagels are unique because of the boiling step, which creates a firm outer crust and dense interior, whereas most bread varieties are baked directly, resulting in a softer texture.
Bagels typically come in a uniform circular shape with a hole in the middle, while bread varies greatly in shape and size, ranging from baguettes to loaves to flatbreads.
Bagels often feature specific toppings like sesame seeds or poppy seeds, while bread can have various flavorings or additions like nuts, dried fruit, or herbs.
Bagels originated in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and are commonly enjoyed as breakfast items, while bread has a more diverse historical background and is consumed in various forms across meals.
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Comparison Chart
Shape
Circular with a hole
Varies: loaves, rolls, flatbreads, etc.
Texture
Dense and chewy, firm crust
Varies: soft, crusty, fluffy, dense
Preparation
Boiled, then baked
Usually only baked
Toppings
Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, everything seasoning
Herbs, seeds, nuts, grains, and more
Origins
Jewish communities of Eastern Europe
Diverse global origins
Compare with Definitions
Bagel
Parboiled before baking to achieve a firm crust.
Bagels are boiled briefly before baking to give them their unique texture.
Bread
Raised with yeast or other leavening agents.
The bread dough was left to rise before baking.
Bagel
Often coated with seeds or flavored with seasonings.
The everything bagel was topped with a mix of poppy seeds and garlic.
Bread
Commonly baked as a rectangular or round shape.
She bought a loaf of sourdough bread for dinner.
Bagel
A dense, circular bread with a chewy texture.
She toasted a sesame bagel for breakfast.
Bread
Consumed across meals in various forms.
Bread is a staple food in many cultures worldwide.
Bagel
Popular as a morning meal with spreads or fillings.
He enjoyed a bagel with cream cheese and lox for brunch.
Bread
Made primarily from flour, water, and yeast.
The baker mixed the flour with water to start the bread dough.
Bagel
A thick, chewy consistency.
The bagel had a dense and satisfying texture after baking.
Bread
A staple food made from flour and yeast.
They sliced the freshly baked bread for sandwiches.
Bagel
A bagel (Yiddish: בײגל beygl; Polish: bajgiel), also historically spelled beigel, is a bread product originating in the Jewish communities of Poland. It is traditionally shaped by hand into the form of a ring from yeasted wheat dough, roughly hand-sized, that is first boiled for a short time in water and then baked.
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared from a dough of flour and water, usually by baking. Throughout recorded history, it has been a prominent food in large parts of the world.
Bagel
A glazed, ring-shaped roll with a tough, chewy texture, made from plain yeast dough that is dropped briefly into nearly boiling water and then baked.
Bread
A staple food made from flour or meal mixed with other dry and liquid ingredients, usually combined with a leavening agent, and kneaded, shaped into loaves, and baked.
Bagel
A toroidal bread roll that is boiled before it is baked.
Bread
Food in general, regarded as necessary for sustaining life
"If bread is the first necessity of life, recreation is a close second" (Edward Bellamy).
Bagel
A score of 6-0 in a set (after the shape of a bagel, which looks like a zero).
Bread
Something that nourishes; sustenance
"My bread shall be the anguish of my mind" (Edmund Spenser).
Bagel
An overly materialistic and selfish young Jewish man.
Bread
Means of support; livelihood
Earn one's bread.
Bagel
(tennis) To achieve a score of 6–0 in a tennis set.
Bread
(Slang) Money.
Bagel
(sports) To hold an opponent to a score of zero.
Bread
To coat with bread crumbs, as before cooking
Breaded the fish fillets.
Bagel
A glazed leavened doughnut-shaped roll with a hard crust.
Bread
(uncountable)
Bagel
(Yiddish) glazed yeast-raised doughnut-shaped roll with hard crust
Bread
A foodstuff made by baking dough made from cereals.
We made sandwiches with the bread we bought from the bakery.
Any leftover bread can be put into the pudding.
Bread
Food; sustenance; support of life, in general.
Bread
(countable) Any variety of bread.
Bread
Money.
Bread
Breadth.
Bread
A piece of embroidery; a braid.
Bread
(transitive) To coat with breadcrumbs.
Breaded fish
Bread
To make broad; spread.
Bread
(transitive) To form in meshes; net.
Bread
To spread.
Bread
To cover with bread crumbs, preparatory to cooking; as, breaded cutlets.
Bread
An article of food made from flour or meal by moistening, kneading, and baking.
Bread
Food; sustenance; support of life, in general.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Bread
Food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
Bread
Informal terms for money
Bread
Cover with bread crumbs;
Bread the pork chops before frying them
Common Curiosities
What makes bagels different from other types of bread?
Bagels are boiled before baking, giving them a dense, chewy texture.
Are bagels considered bread?
Yes, bagels are a specific type of bread.
Is the boiling step unique to bagels?
Yes, bagels are typically boiled before baking, unlike most other breads.
Do bagels have specific toppings?
Yes, bagels often feature sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or other toppings.
Can bread be made without yeast?
Yes, unleavened bread like flatbreads can be made without yeast.
Is there a historical difference between bagels and other breads?
Bagels originated in Eastern European Jewish communities, while other breads have diverse origins.
Do bagels have different flavors or varieties?
Yes, bagels come in various flavors like plain, onion, and cinnamon raisin.
Are bagels always round with a hole?
Yes, traditional bagels are always circular with a central hole.
Does bread include flatbreads?
Yes, flatbreads like pita or naan are also types of bread.
Are bagels usually made with wheat flour?
Yes, bagels are typically made with wheat flour, though alternatives exist.
Are bagels always served plain or can they be filled?
They can be plain or filled with spreads, meats, or cheeses.
Can gluten-free bread be made similarly to traditional bread?
Yes, gluten-free bread uses alternative flours but often requires different techniques.
Are bagels best eaten fresh?
Yes, freshly baked bagels are best enjoyed for their texture and flavor.
Does bread always require kneading?
No, some bread recipes do not require kneading.
Can bread be baked with toppings or fillings?
Yes, bread can be topped with seeds or filled with ingredients like herbs or cheese.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
