Have you ever been cut while slicing a bagel?
Well I have and it required a untimely visit to the emergency room and a few stitches. Not to mention it hurt. Here's the ironic thing. My mother-in-law had given us one of those "Bagel Biters" as a gift and I refused to use it. I thought it was one of those dumb gadgets that just took up too much space on the counter.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, it looks like one of those French Revolutionary guillotines. It has a cradle to hold the bagel and and a V shaped slicer designed to keep your hand free and clear from the blade. You just stick the bagel in the cradle, line up your blade so it cuts down the middle and voila, you have a perfectly sliced bagel with no blood.
My wife uses it every time she slices a bagel but I was defiant and would not touch the thing. I'd see it on the counter while I prepared my bagel for the toaster with my serrated knife and think I don't need some plastic contraption to cut a bagel. Hey, I'm the Reluctant Gourmet. I slice stuff all the time.
Well, needless to say, once I sliced my finger, I had a change of heart. Now I wouldn't be without a Bagel Biter and thank my mother-in-law gratefully for her brilliant gift giving. Thank you again Barbara.
Now if you don't want to spend the bucks on this gadget or your bagel store makes extra fat bagels, here's the safest way I know how to cut a bagel other than asking my wife to do it for me. Lay the bagel flat on the cutting surface and place your hand on top nice and flat. You want to hold it firmly without smashing it while keeping your fingers away from the sides. Using a serrated knife, carefully line up center and cut halfway through the bagel and stop.
Now pick the bagel up and place it on its edge while holding the upper half and finish slicing the other half. The most important thing I can tell you is to take your time and pay attention to what you are doing. If you are always in a rush or are watching TV while you are preparing breakfast, you may want to try a bagel biter. Just my opinion.
onlinesources: Bagel Slicer
There are lots of sources for purchasing quality Kitchen Gadgets and Housewares including whisks, spoons, measuring devices and all the fun gadgets we home cooks have come to love. I suggest you check out your local department stores and kitchen supply shops but if you're looking for a wide selection of products and prices, you may want to check out Amazon.com where I buy many of my favorite pieces of cookware.
Amazon.com - Kitchen Gadgets
- Started out in the book business but now they sell just about everything. Good prices, great service, these are the folks many of have done business with and feel comfortable with.
tim plog
RG this stuff is brilliant-love your very informative and witty (your sense of humor works!) style makes for enjoyable reading and you should be in print...if you are apologies-I will add yours to my cooking library if you can tell me where to look. Recipes and science and tastiness combined just right-good job!
You can be proud (as I sense innate modesty)....CHEERS!
Thanks Tim, I am not in print but working on something fun and different to be announced soon.