Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Seasoning Blend is one of the most popular seasoning blends available at Trader Joe’s. It’s been called “exemplary” and “divine” by fans across the internet, so I had to find out how it holds up to its reputation.
Price and Ingredients
Like most seasoning blends at Trader Joe’s, their Everything But The Bagel Seasoning is available for $1.99 for a 2.3-oz container. You can find it in the dry goods and spices aisle near the honey and salad dressings.
Trader Joe’s also sells Everything But The Bagel Seasoned Smoked Salmon, Everything But The Bagel Potato Chips, Everything But The Bagel Nut Mix, and Everything But The Bagel Crackers.
As you can see, this seasoning blend contains a straightforward mix of sesame seeds, sea salt flakes, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, black sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. It truly is “everything but the bagel.”
Considering how simple the recipe is, it would be pretty easy to make at home if you have access to all of the ingredients. If you’re ever in the mood to make it yourself, try this recipe from The Edgy Veg.
The only known allergen in this seasoning blend is sesame. The product is gluten free and vegan.
The Taste Test
Unfortunately, I come bearing an unpopular opinion… I think this stuff is overrated.
So far, I just haven’t been able to figure out the perfect use for this seasoning blend. I’ve tried it on smoked salmon, rice bowls, eggs, and cream cheese, but the flavor just doesn’t come through the way I want or expect it to. If I want to really taste this stuff, I end up having to use way more of it than I typically would with any other seasoning.
The blend itself is so chunky that the individual pieces of seasoning don’t stick to food easily, so most of it ends up on the plate when you’re done eating. And because none of the ingredients are ground, the flavor potential doesn’t really come through. For a blend that contains so many flavorful ingredients, I struggled to taste much of anything when I tried it.
If you have a food processor, try blending this stuff up for a few seconds before using it to see if this can increase the discernible flavor.
Considering the fact that this seasoning is inspired by a bakery item (bagels), I honestly think it would make the most sense as a topping for actual bagels or even a loaf of bread. If you’re a DIY bread baker, try baking a loaf of sourdough and topping it with a generous layer of this stuff. From what I’ve tasted so far, I think that would be the best use for this blend.
Some other ways this seasoning blend could be good would be mixing a generous amount in with some homemade salad dressing or sprinkling a thick layer on top of a tub of hummus. It could also be a great way to finish off deviled eggs, or it could be used as a generous addition to a creamy dip. Just make sure you use enough of it that you’ll actually be able to taste it.
