The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Bagels are quick to make and delicious, especially with the right cream cheese. But what are the best bagels available at your local grocery store?
I went to Loblaws and Costco and grabbed all the sesame-seed bagels I could find for a taste test, and I learned that bagels can be just as different as various white bread options at the store.
Initially, the plan was to compare everything bagels because they are my favourite, but they were sold out of some brands at the grocery stores. However, sesame-seed bagels are also a good option so that's what I'll be using here.
In my opinion, a great bagel has to check a few different boxes, such as how much sesame is on the bagel, the dough's moisture, the soft-to-crunch ratio when toasted and the overall taste. My favourite bagels taste just like the fresh ones at Kettleman's without the hefty price tag, so that's going to be my bar.
I grabbed four different sesame-seed bagels and toasted them in the same toaster on the same setting. I then spread one tablespoon of Philadelphia cream cheese on each and tried them.
I tried Costco's bakery bagels, Loblaws' bakery bagels, Country Harvest and no name. Here's how the taste test went.
no name sesame bagel
no name sesame bagel
No name's sesame-seed bagel was not something I would buy again, to be honest. Even though no name is known for being a cheaper alternative, it wasn't more affordable or better in this case.
The dough itself, before it was toasted, was similar to the brand's white bread. It felt a little artificial and fake because the colour was bright white on the inside and light brown on the outside, which made it seem unnatural. Additionally, there were hardly any sesame seeds on top, which defeats the point of a sesame bagel.
However, it was the only brand to have the bagel somewhat fully sliced, which is convenient for anyone who doesn't have a bread knife.
After I toasted the bagel, the few sesame seeds burned, and the inside was still primarily white. It didn't harden much and was still soft, but when I bit into it, the bagel was super chewy and tasted artificial.
I know that this is kind of harsh, but these are my honest observations, and I wish it were not the case.
Price: $4.49
Score: 2/10
Country Harvest Sesame Bagels
Country Harvest Sesame Bagels
I've tried Country Harvest bread in the past as a healthier alternative, so I was optimistic about their bagels.
I didn't realize until after my taste test that Country Harvest bagels are baked with whole grains, but I still found them to be delicious. In fact, even though they weren't baked in-house, they were still fresh. The bagel was also partially sliced to assist in halving the dough perfectly.
After toasting the bagel, it came out perfectly crisp and brown on the inside while also retaining its moisture, making every bite a delight. It was doughy, which I didn't mind so much, and there were enough sesame seeds on it to call it what it is. Still, I would've preferred more.
Also, it's 210 calories per bagel, which is less than the average of around 250 calories or more, and you can thank their wheat flour for that.
Overall, this bagel is definitely a bag I would buy again if some of the other ones are sold out, because it wasn't as mouth-watering as I want a bagel to be.
Price: $4.49
Score: 7/10
Loblaws Sesame Bagels
Loblaws Sesame Bagels
Comparing the freshly baked Loblaws Sesame Bagels to Costco's Kirkland ones is not easy because they are both so darn good.
These bagels from Loblaws are baked in-store and precisely what you'd expect from store-bought bread. They reminded me of a Turkish bread called simit, which is similar to a sesame-seed bagel only thinner thinner.
The dough itself was flavourful, but there was also a hint of nutty and sweet thanks to the sesame seeds.
The one thing that held this bagel back was its lack of squishiness before it was toasted. I found it to be a bit on the harder side.
However, after the bagel was toasted it had a good moisture level with the perfect soft-to-crunchy ratio and a lovely light brown shade.
But the best part about the bagel is how many sesame seeds you can taste with every bite. It was delicious and complements the cream cheese nicely.
Price: $4.79
Score: 9/10
Kirkland Sesame Bagels
Kirkland Sesame Bagels
I don't think any bagel can beat those from Costco's bakery section. Not only are they made in-house, but they are also so fresh and affordable that you simply cannot leave Costco without grabbing two bags.
Costco has a 2-for-1 offer on their bagels all day and every day, and the best part is that you can mix and match. However, you can't pick up a sleeve and expect to pay for one — you will always have to grab two to get your money's worth.
With that in mind, I am aware that at Loblaws, you might sometimes find offers similar to this one, but the Costco one is guaranteed.
I've had Kirkland's everything bagels before and I've always eaten the whole bag within a week. Now I can say the sesame seed option is just as good and possibly better.
The Kirkland sesame-seed bagels I tried for this test had the perfect balance amount of sesame seeds. They also had the ideal moisture level, softness and thickness.
Once toasted, they browned evenly and were kind of spongy. The toasted bread didn't crumble when I spread cream cheese over it and the flavours complimented each other very well.
Overall, there's literally nothing bad to say about the bagel. I'd planned to freeze my second bag of bagels but I simply couldn't resist and ate more of them shortly after doing this taste test.
Kirkland also has a whole bunch of different bagel flavours to choose from like cinnamon raisin, parmesan and imitation blueberry bagels.
Why not mix and match?
Price: $7.99 for two
Score: 10/10
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.