The Best (and Safest) Way to Slice a Bagel
There are a couple of cryptic, unquoted claims on the Internet that between 2,000 and 40,000 people were hospitalized in the US for bagel-related injuries over the course of a year. Whatever the real number, I have no doubt that some people have cut themselves pretty badly while slicing bagels, and that’s because they’re not like other pieces of bread. They can be quite hard on the outside, with rounded edges, and we will only be happy if they are cut into two rings. Here’s what I know: I used to cut myself trying to split a bagel while holding it in my palm, and it sucked. I didn’t go to the hospital, but I didn’t like the bagel that day either.
Take the right knife
If you’ve ever seen the employees of a busy bagel shop cutting bagels, they’re probably using a long, serrated knife. A serrated knife is best for slicing most types of bread, especially bagels. Bread often has a hard crust and a softer inner crumb. The teeth of a serrated knife bite into the crust, allowing the bread to be cut. A chef’s knife or other knife with a smooth blade will slide off the crust easily. If your bagel is frozen or stale, the crust will become even more slippery. This is risk reduction number one, and we haven’t even started yet.
Here are some knives for this task:
How to properly hold a bagel while slicing it
Cutting risk number two is directly related to how you hold the donut—and let me tell you now, it’s not in the palm of your hand. Unlike other buns and breads, the bagel does not have a spongy surface and does not have a convenient flat side to cut into. So you will have to work to his strengths.
The best and safest way to cut a bagel is to place it bottom down on a cutting board, as if it were baking in the oven. Don’t try to balance it on one end and cut it off. There’s no way to really keep your fingers safe, and the damn thing is bound to roll or slide to the side. Consistency is always best when cutting.
Hold a long serrated knife in your dominant hand, parallel to the cutting board and halfway down the bagel.
This is the important part. Use your non-dominant palm to apply pressure, but keep your fingers up and away. Keep your elbow raised—you don’t want to get into trouble and accidentally cut your forearm.
Now, with the knife in your hand, you can file down the donut a little, maybe half an inch. Use pressure to turn the bagel a quarter turn. The knife never changes position, only the donut does. Repeat the sawing motion and turn it again. Do this until you get back.
Then do it all again, but this time you’re halfway to the middle of the donut. By the time you return, or even before, you should already have reached the center. Remove the lid and start eating breakfast.
You can use a bagel guillotine. Its name doesn’t inspire confidence, and if you read my post about useless devices, you know how I really feel. However, I understand: you really don’t know how to handle knives, or your mother-in-law bought you. one. Everything is fine. But you don’t have to buy one if you have a serrated knife and want to learn how to handle it differently. With a little practice, you’ll be cutting bagels easily and safely in no time.