15 Tasty Facts About Bagels That Help You Honor National Bagel Day

The hole in the middle of your bagel is no mistake. In fact, this bread was baked with a hole so vendors could slide them on to dowel rods, making it easy to transport them to wherever they would be selling their bagel that day.

It's no surprise this breakfast staple is loved by many. In 2015, Thomas' Bagels alone sold 162 million bagels to U.S. consumers.

Because one trip through the cooking process just wouldn't do — bagels are boiled before being baked, making them the only bread to go through a double cooking.

When it comes to the origin of the bagel, the jury is out. But one of the most accepted stories is that of a Polish general named Jan Sobieski. When the good general saved Vienna from a Turkish invasion in 1683, the townspeople clung to his stirrups and he road through town. As a tribute to his heroism, the king commissioned a baker to make a bread in the shape of his stirrup, called a breugel.

Large commercial producers of bagels have the operation down to a science. Once the dough is made, a forming machine shapes one bagel every second.

Well, at least it used to. Before machinery and technology gave bakers the power to produce more bagels, it used to take a team of four. Two people would make the dough and shape the bagels, one boiled the bagels, and the fourth baked them.

Due to their round shape, in German, the word "bagel" shares some variation with some other round items such as ring (beigel) and bracelet (bugel).

When it comes to how you like to top your bagel, the sky's the limit. But according to Thomas' research, the most popular bagel toppings are cream cheese, butter, fruit spreads, eggs, deli meat, peanut butter, and bacon.

Proving their popularity spans the country, the top five cities for pre-packaged bagel eating are New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, and Detroit.

Carbs can get a bad rep, but the average bagel boasts no cholesterol and no fat (when plain), making it a smarter choice than a muffin or pastry for people who like something with a bready texture in the morning.

I'm not just talking about a single bagel on a night you don't feel like cooking (although that has hit the spot for me, many times). Get creative with dinner ideas like Chicken Lasagna Bagel Bake and find new way to use your favorite flavors.

With the addition eggs and honey, Montreal style bagels are more tender and sweet than the traditional style bagel.

No one knows exactly what new toppings people will love on their bagels, but Thomas' is making some predictions. According to their projections, bagel lovers will be loading their bagels with fruit and honey, spinach and artichoke dip, and avocado.

Adding to the mystery of the bagel's history, is a printed mention that dates back to 1610, when the Community Regulations of Kracow, Poland declared bagels to be given as a gift to women who had just delivered a child.

Forget diamonds, bagels make great gifts. Due to it's round shape, bagels were considered a thoughtful gift to symbolize a full year and a long life. Looks like your next gift-giving occasion just got a lot easier.