Consumer Reports Magazine took on the task of finding the best bagels in their latest issue (May 2012).  They had their tasters try national brand bagels with and without toppings, fresh, frozen and refrigerated, and, with and without toasting.

What constitutes a "good bagel' is a very subjective thing.  I say this because I know my idea of a good bagel is different from what others seem... to think is good.  There's a very popular bagel shop down the street from me that has a line of sleepy-looking people snaking out the door and on to the sidewalk every weekend morning. I've heard others singing the priases of this particular bagel shop.  They've gotten so popular, now some of the local grocery stores even sell this store's bagels.  Well, I hate their bagels.  They're doughy and chewy and no amount of toasting make much of a difference to me.

So when I read that the folks from Consumer Reports found that the best plain bagels come from Costco, along with Dunkin' Donuts (fresh) and Lender's (frozen), I wondered if I could believe it.

I don't shop at Costco. There's not one near enough to be convenient to me, and I never caught on to the idea of grocery shopping in a warehouse store.  Costco might just really good bagels, I don't know, it just doesn't sound like the kind of store that should.  It seems improbable to me that that best bagels would come from a store where I can also buy my patio furniture or a new vacuum cleaner.   I do agree with Consumer Reports that Dunkin'Donuts has good bagels, but,  I disagree with them on Lenders,  which are not my favorites.  I told you I was a tough bagel judge!

What do you think?  What's the secret to a good bagel? Can you really get a good bagel at Costco?  Who makes your favorite bagels? What kind of bagel is your favorite?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. Who knows, if you have a good suggestion for a store that makes tasty bagels in South Jersey, you may see me standing in their line one of these Sunday mornings.

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