I tested supermarket bagels, the winner was great value and I went back for more
STEP the sourdough aside and say ciao to ciabatta.
The biggest bread product at the moment is the bagel, which even outsells the beloved regular sandwich.
Whether you like it toasted with butter or stuffed like a sandwich, here Laura Stott tries out a selection of five-pack store deals, with a score of five.
NEW YORK BAKERY CO WHOLEMEAL, £1.90, Asda
★★★★☆
BIG, fluffy and tempting, these super-sized bagels may be a little more expensive, but they're so big you won't feel deprived.
This whole-grain treat is much thicker than many other offerings, making it more filling and easier to slice and toast.
9
With a perfect 'O' in the center and a tasty golden crust, the soft dough was delicious.
Delicious roasted and then topped with hummus.
WARBURTON'S SESAME £1.50, Sainsbury's/Tesco
★★☆☆☆
THESE handy sesame-sprinkled bagels are pre-cut, so just twist and pull them apart for two perfectly formed halves without tearing.
Great when you're in a hurry, want to remove crumbs or just want to make frozen toast.
9
Top marks for making life easier and having a good, compact, chewy dough.
But the taste was disappointing – more of a simple burger bun than a bagel. Pricey too.
TESCO ORIGINAL 80p, Tesco
★★★★★
I didn't have high expectations for these “authentic” boiled and stone baked bagels after seeing them in the package.
But once I tried one, I quickly changed my mind.
9
Good enough to eat alone or roasted, with perfect, tight, chewy dough.
Delicious with popular fillings such as salted beef or cream cheese and salmon, I even went back for a while.
A real triumph – and also of great value.
MULTIGRAIN £2.50, M&S
★★★☆☆
A VERY tasty snack from M&S, made with fancy sourdough for a slightly sharper, yeasty taste.
Topped with multigrains, including flaxseed and rye, for added texture and chewiness, plus improved nutrition and gut health.
9
However, they are not cut into equal parts, making it difficult to roast them evenly.
Still delicious and would be great with a fried egg. Too bad they cost so much.
ROWAN HILL BAKERY PLAIN 79p, Lidl
★★★★☆
THESE bargain bagels certainly looked the part, with a lovely golden exterior, firm, chewy dough on the inside and a perfect shape.
Easy to cut evenly, making them ideal for roasting.
9
And while the taste was more like a standard sandwich, the texture was good enough to make it a believable bagel.
Great for the price and ideal for family snacks or freezer use.
VILLAGE BAKERY ORIGINAL 79p, Aldi
★★★☆☆
DESPITE the claim of being a New York-style bagel on the label, I thought these wheat circles tasted more like sweet brioche rolls than a traditional savory cooked roll.
The dough inside was a bit dense and the sweet taste was pleasant enough.
9
Roasted and braised with a tasty topping, it is certainly a hearty snack. Good value.
SAINSBURY'S PLAIN 79p, Sainsbury's
★★★★☆
EXCELLENT value from Sainsbury's, these plain rings match the price of Aldi and Lidl – and you get a decent bagel for not a lot of money.
In appearance they were somewhat mismatched, as they varied noticeably in size, and a strange jagged texture on the base made them look a little alarming.
9
But deliciously squid-like with a chewy center and not too dry. Very neat and a great price.
★★★☆☆
THESE simple offerings had a good, authentic hoop shape and I liked that the individual bagels weren't uniform in size, which made them look more artisanal.
Some of the dough was cracked, but when cut there was a nice brown exterior with a traditional tight, chewy texture.
9
Very tasty, although rather sweet.
Best roasted and braised with a savory filling for balance.