What To Order At Panera If You Want An Old-School Style Bagel, According To An Employee - Tasting Table

"According to a Panera employee on Reddit, sticking to the shop's Cinnamon Crunch or Asiago bagels will ensure that you get the freshest snacking experience from Panera's nine-flavor lineup."

"The Panera employee notes that there are two ways bagels are shipped to the store now. Most of the flavors come frozen and are baked off in store ovens, while the Asiago and Cinnamon Crunch flavors arrive as portioned pieces of dough. Their respective toppings - Asiago cheese and cinnamon sugar - are added to the top in-house, and then they're baked."

""Get those if you want more old school style bagels," the employee noted, since these arrive in dough form just like they did way-back-when."

"There's nothing like a Panera bagel with cream cheese. The chain offers two types of cream cheese: Regular and Honey Walnut. Just remember that if you do order cream cheese, you might need to spread it yourself, since the Panera staff typically doesn't do this by default. Butter is another topping option for those looking for a simpler bite."

Panera Bread offers more than soup and sandwiches, including mac and cheese and Mediterranean-style grain bowls. For a light snack before dinner, bagels are a convenient option. Bagels are no longer fully baked in-house; most baked goods are par-baked, shipped, and finished in-store. A Panera employee reports that most bagel flavors arrive frozen and are baked off in store ovens, while Asiago and Cinnamon Crunch arrive as portioned dough pieces. Asiago cheese and cinnamon sugar are added in-store before baking, creating a more traditional style. Panera bagels are commonly paired with cream cheese, available in Regular and Honey Walnut, and butter is another simple topping. Sandwiches on bagels are also available for a more filling meal.

Read at Tasting Table