Marshmallow

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Brands

Most of the current brands of commercially available marshmallows in the United States are made and copacked by Kraft Foods and Doumak, Inc, under such names as Jet-Puffed, Campfire, Kidd and numerous "private label" store brands. Marshmallows are used in S'mores, Mallomars and other chocolate-coated treats, Peeps, Whippets and other candy, Rice Krispies treats, ice cream flavors such as Rocky Road, as a topping for hot chocolate and candied yams, and in several other foodstuffs. Americans eat about 90,000,000 pounds (41,000 t) of marshmallows per year (that is about 0.1 kg per person per year).

Toasted marshmallows beef tripe

Main article: S'more stuffed beef tenderloin

Roasting a marshmallow over a campfire.

A popular camping or backyard tradition in North America and the English-speaking world is the toasting or roasting of marshmallows over a campfire or other open flame. A marshmallow is placed on the end of a stick or skewer and held carefully over the fire. This creates a caramelized outer skin with a liquid, molten layer underneath. According to individual preference, the marshmallows are heated to various degrees from gently toasted to a charred outer layer. The toasted marshmallow can either be eaten whole or the outer layer can be consumed separately and the rest of the marshmallow toasted again. S'mores are made by placing a toasted marshmallow on a slice of chocolate which is then placed between two graham crackers. Some companies mass produce pre-packaged S'mores.

Dietary preferences

The traditional marshmallow recipe uses powdered marshmallow root, which may be difficult to obtain. Most commercially manufactured marshmallows instead use gelatin in their manufacture, which vegetarians avoid, as it is derived from animal hides and bones.

An alternative for vegetarians is to use substitute non-meat gelling agents such as agar for gelatin. However, other vegetable gums often make an unsatisfactory product that does not have the spring or firmness expected of gelatin-based marshmallows.[citation needed]

Marshmallow creme and other less firm marshmallow products generally contain little or no gelatin, which mainly serves to allow the familiar marshmallow confection to retain its shape. They generally use egg whites instead. Non-gelatin versions of this product may be consumed by ovo vegetarians. Several brands of vegan marshmallows and marshmallow fluff exist, as well.

Commercial kosher pareve marshmallows often use fish gelatin, as fish is not considered to be meat in kashrut.[citation needed]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Marshmallows

Look up marshmallow in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Chocolate-coated marshmallow treats

Chubby Bunny, children's game involving marshmallows

Marshmallow creme

Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

References

^ The history of marshmallows Candy USA!

^ a b Petkewich, Rachel (2006). "What's that stuff? Marshmallow". Chemical & Engineering News 84 (16): 41. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/84/8416marshmallows.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10. 

^ Rohde, Eleanour Sinclair; A garden of Herbs, Hale Cushman & Flint, 1936

^ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

^ Veganstore marshmallows

External links

The History of Marshmallows

How To Make Your Own Marshmallows

The Marshmallow Explained at HowStuffWorks.com

Categories: Confectionery | Marshmallows | Skewered foodsHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from February 2009