Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish has just revolutionized the bagel game with their first retail product – Par Baked Frozen Bagels – launching March 19, 2025. The iconic New York bagel shop is bringing their famous flavors (Plain, Sesame, and Everything) directly to homes across the nation through online retailers Fresh Direct and Goldbelly, as well as select tri-state area stores. Founder Matt Pomerantz proudly declares that authentic New York bagels are no longer confined to city limits, making this launch a game-changer for bagel enthusiasts everywhere. With this innovative approach, Zucker’s is maintaining their commitment to quality while expanding their reach beyond their Manhattan storefronts.
A Taste of New York, No Matter Where You Live
For bagel lovers outside the five boroughs, finding an authentic New York bagel has been nearly impossible – until now. Zucker’s new Par Baked Frozen Bagels deliver that quintessential NYC bagel experience directly to your kitchen. The frozen bagels are available in three classic flavors: Plain, Sesame, and Everything – each capturing the distinctive chew, texture, and flavor that have made Zucker’s a Manhattan staple.
Distribution has been carefully planned to reach bagel enthusiasts across the country. You can order online through Fresh Direct and Goldbelly for nationwide delivery. Tri-state residents can find these frozen delights at local retailers including Butterfield Market, Westside Market, and select ShopRite stores in New Jersey. Foodie culture enthusiasts will appreciate how Zucker’s has maintained their artisanal quality while making their product more accessible.
“You no longer need to be in New York City to have the best bagel experience,” says Matt Pomerantz, founder of Zucker’s. This statement captures the revolutionary aspect of what they’ve accomplished – democratizing access to truly authentic bagels without sacrificing quality. For anyone who’s ever visited New York and lamented that they couldn’t find comparable bagels back home, this launch represents a culinary breakthrough.
Craftsmanship Behind Every Bagel
What makes a Zucker’s bagel special isn’t just the taste – it’s the meticulous traditional process behind each one. These aren’t ordinary grocery store bagels. They’re crafted using unbromated, unbleached flours mixed with authentic New York City water, which many bagel aficionados consider essential to the perfect bagel.
The bagels are sweetened with pure malt syrup rather than refined sugar, creating that subtle yet distinctive flavor profile. Each bagel is kettle boiled in the traditional method before being generously seeded. This boiling process creates the signature chewy interior and glossy exterior that defines a proper New York bagel.
After boiling, the bagels undergo a unique baking process. They’re partially baked in rotating ovens on burlap-covered boards, then flipped onto stone slabs to develop their distinctive bottom crust. This traditional technique, rarely found outside specialty bagel shops, creates the perfect balance of textures that makes a Zucker’s bagel stand out. Specialty bread production at this level requires both skill and dedication to tradition.
The bagels are then flash-frozen at their peak freshness, locking in all the qualities that make them special. This immediate freezing is crucial, as it preserves both the texture and flavor, allowing you to experience them almost exactly as you would in their Manhattan shops.
Perfect Your At-Home Bagel Experience
Bringing Zucker’s bagels to life in your kitchen is remarkably simple. The par-baked frozen bagels just need a final touch of heat to transform them into fresh-tasting delights. I’ve found the process straightforward yet rewarding, resulting in bagels that taste remarkably fresh.
To prepare them, you’ll first refresh the frozen bagel with a light sprinkle of water. This helps create that crisp, shiny exterior in the final baking stage. Then simply finish baking them in your oven or air fryer for 9-14 minutes, depending on your appliance and desired doneness.
The result is truly impressive: a golden brown exterior that yields to a dense, chewy interior – exactly what you’d expect from a fresh New York bagel. This final baking at home means you can enjoy them one at a time, always hot and fresh from your oven. For those who appreciate proper food storage techniques, these frozen bagels can stay in your freezer until you’re ready to enjoy them, eliminating waste.
These bagels provide the perfect canvas for creating your own bagel sandwiches at home. Whether you prefer a classic cream cheese schmear, lox and capers, or something more inventive, the quality of the bagel itself elevates the entire experience. The density and chew make them substantial enough to hold up to generous toppings without getting soggy.
Celebrity Chef Endorsement Adds Culinary Credibility
The partnership with respected Chef Marc Forgione brings additional culinary legitimacy to Zucker’s frozen bagel line. As founder of Respect Hospitality and owner of acclaimed restaurants Forgione and Peasant, Chef Forgione doesn’t lend his name to products without careful consideration. His collaboration speaks volumes about the quality Zucker’s has maintained in their frozen offering.
Chef Forgione will introduce a collaboration sandwich on Zucker’s menu in spring 2025, creating excitement for bagel enthusiasts. “Nothing beats a fresh New York City bagel, and a warm and delicious Zucker’s bagel right out of the oven is a must-have experience,” says Forgione. This endorsement from a chef known for his exacting standards reassures consumers that these frozen bagels truly deliver on their promise.
The partnership also highlights the versatility of bagels in creative culinary applications. While traditionalists might stick to classic toppings, Chef Forgione’s involvement suggests more innovative uses might be on the horizon. For those looking to expand their breakfast repertoire, these bagels provide an excellent foundation for bread-based recipes both savory and sweet.
This collaboration represents an interesting intersection of traditional bagel-making with contemporary culinary innovation. It bridges the gap between classic New York deli culture and modern chef-driven cuisine, potentially introducing bagels to a new audience of food enthusiasts who follow celebrity chefs but might not have previously sought out authentic bagels.
More Than Just Bagels: Zucker’s Community Impact
Since founding their first location in Tribeca in 2007, Zucker’s has grown to seven locations across Manhattan. Their reputation for excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed, with prestigious recognitions from USA Today and Fox5NY, which named them Manhattan’s best bagel. This expansion and recognition reflect both their popularity and their commitment to maintaining quality despite growth.
The company has shown its dedication to bread’s cultural importance while recognizing their responsibility to the community that supported them. A portion of all Zucker’s sales benefits The Bowery Mission, supporting their goal to end hunger in NYC. Beyond financial contributions, they provide daily breakfasts to The Bowery Mission, demonstrating a hands-on approach to community support.
This commitment to giving back adds another dimension to their business model. For consumers increasingly concerned about corporate social responsibility, Zucker’s provides an opportunity to enjoy premium bagels while supporting meaningful community initiatives. Their integration of business success with community support offers a model for how food businesses can operate with purpose.
If you’re interested in trying these authentic New York bagels for yourself, you can order directly from their online store at https://zuckersbagels.com or through their Goldbelly page at https://zuckersbagels.goldbelly.com/. Whether you’re a former New Yorker missing your weekend bagel ritual or someone who’s curious about what makes New York bagels special, Zucker’s frozen bagels offer an authentic taste experience previously unavailable to most of the country.
For those interested in sharing their own culinary creations, you can submit a dessert recipe to be featured alongside content like this. And if you have a favorite local dessert shop that deserves recognition, consider adding it to our business directory to help others discover hidden gems in their communities.