The Ultimate Guide to Bagel Slicing: 8 Methods Ranked
Part of the bagel’s allure lies in its incredible versatility – the plethora of flavors, toppings, and endless combinations. But that's not all! Even the way you slice your bagel can dramatically alter your experience.
This week, I interviewed Alek Krautmann, the man who introduced the world to ‘St. Louis-Style’ sliced bagels in 2019, setting the internet ablaze and shaking the bagel world to its core.
Our conversation got me thinking - how many other ways can you prepare a bagel? Which method is the best? And which are affronts to bagel-kind?
From traditional techniques to downright outrageous methods, I present to you the ultimate guide to bagel slicing: 8 methods to slice a bagel, ranked from best to "the internet was a mistake."
1. Closed Sandwich
The tried and true method. This classic cut allows you to fill your bagel with delicious ingredients, making for a hearty, satisfying meal. It's practical, convenient, and easily tops my list.
2. Open Faced
A close second, the open-faced style turns your bagel into a canvas, ready for a creative spread of your favorite toppings. This method underscores the need for double-sided toppings - if you're going to eat it open faced, you want the flavor on both halves of your bagel!
For some bagel shops (mostly ones outside of New York), this is the default. According to Eater LA, “Sourdough influences, farmers market toppings, and open-faced presentations are the core traits of an LA-style bagel.”
3. Rip and Dip
Perfect for those creamy spreads or dips, this method is sometimes an absolute must when you've grabbed a bag of fresh, hot bagels and simply can't wait to get home and cut them up right.
This technique is a hallmark of enjoying Montreal bagels. 2x BagelFest “Best Bagel” champion PopUp Bagels is rapidly gaining popularity in NYC for championing this distinct bagel-eating style.
4. Multi-Sliced Horizontal
We’re now entering controversial territory. This method offers multiple thin slices of bagel - which works if you’re trying to reduce your carb intake or create a multi-deck sandwich. For whatever reason, I don’t find this as offensive as the vertically-sliced St. Louis Style.
5. Mobius Strip
A bagel with only one side
Bagel meets geometry in this unusual slicing technique. According to some mathematicians, this is the “The Mathematically Correct Way” to slice a bagel. But what is it, exactly?
A Mobius strip, in case you're not familiar, is a surface with only one side. You can make one by taking a strip of paper, twisting one end halfway around, and taping it to the other end. Like this:
If you were to start drawing a line down the middle of the strip and just keep going, you'd cover all the paper and end up right back where you started, without ever flipping it over.
Is it overly complicated? Yes. Completely impractical? Absolutely. But does it make it taste better? "Well, it's basically completely ridiculous," mathematician Eugenia Cheng told The Sporkful podcast. "And isn't that delicious?"
6. St. Louis Style
Using a bread slicer to cut bagels is apparently a common technique in St. Louis. Alek Krautmann’s tweet about it set the internet ablaze, and created one of the biggest bagel controversies of the 21st century.
There were plenty of detractors (New Yorkers horrified by ‘crime’ of bagels sliced like bread; The ‘St. Louis-Style’ Bagel Slice Is Now Our National Shame), and a few brave defenders (All Praise the St. Louis Bagel and Its Infinite Potential; Yes, Sliced-Bagels Are A Real Thing, And No, They’re Not The WORST).
Why did it elicit such a visceral reaction? Food & Wine’s We Tried the ‘St. Louis Style’ Sliced Bagels, and Our Office Is Divided summed it up best:
“The joy of a bagel, to me, is the whole bagel—that crust on the outside and the doughy interior. Slicing it like bread breaches the integrity of the perfect continuous torus of carbs in a way that slicing it once horizontally doesn’t. A beautiful crust is a terrible thing to waste.”
7. Inside Out
She was doomed the second she called the bagel seasoning “sprinkles.” Not to mention spreading the cream cheese with a spoon.
Although this method is clearly sacrilege and not how bagels were ever intended to be consumed, I have to admit that she’s addressing the intractable problem of bagel seasoning getting everywhere (aka “Everything Everywhere All at Once”?) As @ashley_h commented, “I’m confused how this feels both so genius and illegal at the time time 😂”
8. Peeled
This one is by far the most offensive. This was clearly done for clicks. There’s no way any sane person flays their bagel. Even having the thought of doing so, let alone recording it and uploading it online, is a red flag.
After watching this, I think we can all agree: the internet was a mistake.
Explore the world of Bagels with NYC Bagel Tours and BagelFest
Bagels, in their myriad forms and styles, encapsulate a culinary world of endless possibilities. Whether you're a purist who prefers the traditional sandwich style or an adventurous eater willing to try the outlandish St. Louis Style, there's no denying the appeal of this humble bread. It's a testament to the bagel's versatility that it can withstand so many variations and still remain a beloved staple of our diets.
At NYC Bagel Tours, we love nothing more than sharing the magic of bagels with our guests, exploring the nooks and crannies of New York City's bagel scene, and serving up a slice of history with each tour.
And for those who really want to dive deep into the world of bagels, be sure to check out the upcoming 4th Annual New York BagelFest. There, you can experience first-hand the variety, creativity, and (yes!) controversy of the bagel world. Who knows, you might even find a new favorite way to slice your bagel!
Until then, keep exploring and keep enjoying those bagels - no matter how you slice them!