Can one “scoop out” a bagel on Shabbos?
Answer:
Yes, there doesn’t appear to be any problem involved in “scooping out” (meaning, using an instrument to take out the dough-ey part of the bagel).
The only concern is borer, in that there is a separation of one element from another. However, the idea of scooping is like taking the bread out of a slice of bread (and leaving the crust), and a single slice of bread (or a bagel) is not a taaroves (a mixture) but rather a single item, so that borer will not apply.
In addition, the scooped part is food, and it is definitely possible that it will be eaten, so that this is a case of taking food from food. Furthermore, dough remains in the bagel after scooping, and only part of it is removed.
For all these reasons, there appears to be no prohibition involved.
