English muffin

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Split English muffin

An English muffin is a round, yeast-leavened bread enriched with butter and milk, often served at breakfast in the United States and Canada. Despite the name, English muffins are not as popular in England as they are in North America, and the word "muffin" in England most commonly refers to the same thing as in the U.S, a baking powder raised item often containing chocolate or blueberries (see muffin). A similar item much more popular in England is the crumpet.

1 Cooking
2 Name
3 Production
4 External links
- 4.1 Brands
- 4.2 General information

[edit] Cooking

An English muffin is cooked on a griddle, so that the first side cooked tends to be flatter and firmer. Cooking on the griddle causes a spongy interior with many air bubbles. English muffins usually have a white floury band around the circumference and have a bit of grain meal loose on the outside. They may differ from the crumpet slightly, in that the dough is usually drier to start with, so that a muffin ring is not required to hold the batter's shape, although one is often used, particularly in home cooking.

Muffins can be split with a fork, which preserves the uneven texture better than does cutting with a knife. The two halves are usually reheated and browned in a toaster or toaster oven and are often served with butter or jam. Many people feel that a more satisfactorily cooked muffin is obtained by grilling the split side under a hot gas or electric grill. It is also common to toast the muffin with cheese and other items between the two halves.

English muffins are a primary ingredient in Eggs Benedict.

[edit] Name

The word "muffin" appeared as a word in Britain around the 11th century A.D., derived from the Old French Moufflet, which meant "soft" in reference to bread.

The origin as an English muffin is somewhat unclear. Instructions for cooking a similar flat bread have existed since at least 1747, although credit for the phrase "English muffin" is often given to Samuel Bath Thomas, an English baker who emigrated to New York City and began producing his "muffins" around 1880. The Merriam-Webster dictionary, however, gives the phrase's origin as 1902.

Before the popularity of baking powder raised muffins, English Muffins were referred to in England simply as "muffins", however the word "muffin" now refers to both muffins and English muffins in the UK, but usually context makes it clear which type is being talked about.

[edit] Production

Most English muffins are mass-produced. The most popular brand of English muffins in the U.S. is Thomas' English Muffins, who have trademarked the phrase "Nooks and Crannies of Thomas' English Muffins."

English muffins are usually available in regular flavor (usually unsweetened white flour), sourdough, whole wheat, and raisin, and occasionally in gourmet flavors such as blueberry, orange spice, and so on. Most English muffins are 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) across and less than an inch (2.5 cm) high, although gourmet varieties are somewhat larger.

English muffins are commonly used at fast food restaurants in Canada and the U.S. on breakfast menus. McDonalds uses English muffins in all of their Egg McMuffin sandwiches which combine a English muffin with various meats, eggs and cheese.