English muffins vs. Bagel — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Introduction

In this article, we will try to find out the differences between two popular breakfast snacks - English muffins and bagels. To learn more about all the actual and nutritional differences between these foods, go through the sections of this article. 

English muffins are typically made of water, flour, yeast, salt, sugar, egg, and milk. They are very popular in Wales and North America. English muffins are usually topped with eggs, fruits, lean meats, cheese, or peanut butter. 

Bagel is a Polish food brought to North America by Jewish people. It simply consists of the usual bread ingredients: water, flour, sugar, and salt. Common toppings used with bagels are sliced or cream cheese, dried tomatoes, smoked salmon, cucumber and hummus, and peanut butter. 

Actual differences

While both have a lot of similarities, English muffins and bagels are not the same. Let us find out some differences between these two. 

One of the main differences between English muffins and bagels is the shape: bagels are donut-shaped food products with a hole inside a circle, bread-like food, while English muffins are flat and round in shape. 

Bagels are larger in size than English muffins. 

The next difference is flavor. Bagels have a bread-like, slightly salty, and sweet taste, while English muffins have a buttery and cake-like flavor. They are less sweet than bagels.

What is more, these foods differ in the ingredients they are made of. Bagels are made of water, flour, yeast, salt, and sugar, but English muffins contain milk and eggs additionally.

Nutrition

Let's now examine how these foods differ from one another nutritionally. Both snacks contain nearly 40-45% of water but differ in the distribution of other nutrients. 

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison

English muffins

2

:

3

Bagel

Contains more Fats +10.5%

Contains more Water +16%

Contains more Protein +15%

Contains more Carbs +10.7%

Equal in Fats - 1.53

Equal in Other - 1.83

English muffins

Protein: 8.87 g

Fats: 1.69 g

Carbs: 44.17 g

Water: 43.56 g

Other: 1.71 g

Bagel

Protein: 10.2 g

Fats: 1.53 g

Carbs: 48.89 g

Water: 37.55 g

Other: 1.83 g

Contains more Fats +10.5%

Contains more Water +16%

Contains more Protein +15%

Contains more Carbs +10.7%

Equal in Fats - 1.53

Equal in Other - 1.83

Fats

There is no significant difference between the fat content of these two foods: English muffin has 0.16g more fat. It is higher in saturated fats. 

Both of these foods do not provide any amounts of cholesterol. 

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison

English muffins

1

:

2

Bagel

Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +32.1%

Contains less Saturated Fat -100%

Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +88%

English muffins

Saturated Fat: 0.733 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.383 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.498 g

Bagel

Saturated Fat: 0 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.29 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.936 g

Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +32.1%

Contains less Saturated Fat -100%

Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +88%

 

Minerals

Bagel is higher in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. In contrast, calcium and iron levels are higher in English muffins. Check the mineral composition of these foods in the chart below. 

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

English muffins

3

:

7

Bagel

Contains more Calcium +715%

Contains more Iron +44.9%

Contains more Magnesium +112.5%

Contains more Phosphorus +54.3%

Contains more Potassium +51.4%

Contains more Copper +29.6%

Contains more Manganese +183.2%

Contains more Selenium +28.1%

Equal in Sodium - 439

Equal in Zinc - 1.1

English muffins

Bagel

Contains more Calcium +715%

Contains more Iron +44.9%

Contains more Magnesium +112.5%

Contains more Phosphorus +54.3%

Contains more Potassium +51.4%

Contains more Copper +29.6%

Contains more Manganese +183.2%

Contains more Selenium +28.1%

Equal in Sodium - 439

Equal in Zinc - 1.1

 

Vitamins

English muffins have higher vitamin content than bagels. Muffins are richer in B-complex and C vitamins. Bagel is richer in vitamin K and B6.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

English muffins

6

:

4

Bagel

Contains more Vitamin C +∞%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +18.4%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +19.6%

Contains more Vitamin B3 +20.8%

Contains more Folate +23.7%

Contains more Vitamin B12 +∞%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +172.2%

Contains more Vitamin K +25%

Equal in Vitamin E - 0.32

Equal in Vitamin B5 - 0.375

English muffins

Bagel

Contains more Vitamin C +∞%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +18.4%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +19.6%

Contains more Vitamin B3 +20.8%

Contains more Folate +23.7%

Contains more Vitamin B12 +∞%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +172.2%

Contains more Vitamin K +25%

Equal in Vitamin E - 0.32

Equal in Vitamin B5 - 0.375

 

Author name: Ani Harutyunyan

Education: General Medicine at YSMU

Last updated: April 11, 2023

Medically reviewed by Elen Khachatrian