Blueberry muffin
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Blueberry Muffin is also the name of a breakfast cereal made by General Mills.
Blueberry muffins are a pastry common in many parts of the world. Blueberry muffins come in many sizes, and from many different recipes.
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[edit] Usual ingredients
While the ingredients often vary most recipes include:
Some recipes will vary the type and quantity of blueberry. The muffins may also include nuts.
[edit] Structure
The typical blueberry muffin is about 2 to 3 inches in diameter and 2.5 inches in height, the top 3/4 of an inch being the "crown". The scalloped ventral side is slightly tapered, approximately 10 to 30° inwards from vertical. Ideally, a muffin will be circular (viewed from the dorsal side), with a shallow dorsal dome. Depending on the muffin-preparer's preference the dome may be larger than the top of the tapered ventral side, leaving an overhang. This overhang is usually not larger than .75 inches from the top of the taper to the outer edge of the dome, horizontally.
[edit] Making blueberry muffins
In most cases, for mass production or ease of cooking, a paper cup, the size of the muffin pan (to be discussed later), is used as a non-stick surface and shaping tool in the pan. This paper can be any multitude of colors and patterns (even foil covered), and is a fine matte paper, fairly thin. Paper muffin cups can be found in the baking aisle of most supermarkets, sold preformed and stacked.
The muffin is made in a special pan. They are usually stainless steel, iron, or aluminum (silicone pans are now also available). The pan has a rectangular array of cups stamped into the pan, which determine the size of the muffin. A consumer pan can consist of 2 to 36 cups. Also, individual cups are manufactured, if single servings are to be made.
[edit] Quality determination
The traits to look for in a blueberry muffin are density of blueberries, type of blueberry, additional spices/flavorings, fluffiness(how much the dough has risen, the measurement of the small gas bubbles in the dough), texture, temperature, appearance, and of course, flavor.
After cooking, the blueberry will have lost volume. A typical fresh blueberry may be .5 inches in diameter. After cooking and/or processing the muffin, the blueberry will have shrunken to half that size.
