Why Are There Holes in Doughnuts?
There are a couple of common theories about the origin of the doughnut’s hole. One of the most popular credits American seafarer Hanson Gregory with inventing the donut’s hole in 1847 while aboard a lime-trading ship. He was just 16 years old at the time.
As the story goes, Gregory wasn’t happy with the doughy consistency of the fried cakes served on the ship. Although the outsides and the edges were crisp, the centres of the donuts were always greasy and doughy.
Gregory suggested punching a hole in the middle of the fried cakes, so that the insides of the cakes would cook as evenly as the outsides. Experts believe that this reason makes sense, because of the way that doughnuts are cooked.
When dough is placed in a fryer, the outsides and edges will cook quickly, because they’re exposed to the hot oil. To fully cook the insides of the dough, the dough would have to stay in the oil for a longer time, which would lead to the outsides becoming burnt.
Punching a hole in the middle of the dough, however, allows the insides and the outsides to cook evenly, creating a perfect doughnut. There may be another reason for the holes in doughnuts though.
Doughnuts became popular in America around the same time bagels were becoming popular. Bakers and street vendors would often sell bagels stacked on long sticks or strung on a long rope. Some people believe that the holes in doughnuts allowed them to be sold in a similar way.
So what happens to all those doughnut holes that are cut out of the dough? Many people believe that those pieces of cut-out dough are what are used to make doughnut holes, which are those little round doughnut pieces that so many kids love to eat with milk.
In truth, though, many doughnuts with holes don’t actually have any dough cut out of them to make their shape. Instead, special machines spray dough into a fryer in a circular pattern. The donut holes you buy at the bakery or grocery store are usually made out of dough simply cut into small squares.
Author –Chef Jock Stewart
Comments
comments
As a culinary expert with a passion for the history and science of food, particularly in the realm of baked goods, I find the topic of doughnuts and their intriguing evolution truly captivating. My extensive knowledge in the culinary arts stems from years of hands-on experience in professional kitchens, coupled with an insatiable curiosity that drives me to explore the origins and innovations within the world of gastronomy. Now, let's delve into the fascinating concepts presented in the article about the holes in doughnuts.
The popular narrative attributing the invention of the doughnut hole to American seafarer Hanson Gregory in 1847 is indeed a compelling piece of culinary history. Gregory's insight into the uneven cooking of doughnuts, with their crispy exteriors and greasy, doughy centers, led to the ingenious idea of punching a hole in the middle. This adjustment addressed the fundamental challenge of achieving even cooking throughout the doughnut.
The article rightly highlights the cooking process of doughnuts, shedding light on why the traditional solid ring of dough might pose challenges in achieving uniform doneness. When submerged in hot oil, the outer edges cook rapidly due to direct exposure, while the inner part requires more time. Without the central hole, this would result in overcooking the outer layer while the inside remains undercooked. The punched hole allows for a more balanced and consistent cooking process, yielding the perfect doughnut.
Furthermore, the piece touches upon the historical context of doughnuts becoming popular in America around the same time as bagels. The notion that the holes in doughnuts facilitated a similar display method to bagels—stacked on long sticks or strung on a rope—is a fascinating connection between culinary trends. This insight adds a cultural dimension to the evolution of doughnuts and their presentation in the marketplace.
The article also addresses a common misconception about the origin of doughnut holes. While many assume that the removed dough creates the beloved doughnut holes, it clarifies that modern production often involves machines that spray dough in a circular pattern. This method produces the characteristic shape of doughnuts with holes, challenging the conventional belief about their formation.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive exploration of the history and practical considerations behind the iconic hole in doughnuts. From Hanson Gregory's innovative solution to the science of doughnut cooking, the piece weaves together culinary history, cultural influences, and production methods, offering readers a rich understanding of this beloved pastry's evolution.
FAQs
Since they are so dense and full inside, the heat used during cooking wouldn't be able to reach all the way into the middle to cook the center if these yummy baked goods were simply disc-shaped with no hole.
Why do they put holes in donuts? ›
To fully cook the insides of the dough, the dough would have to stay in the oil for a longer time, which would lead to the outsides becoming burnt. Punching a hole in the middle of the dough, however, allows the insides and the outsides to cook evenly, creating a perfect donut.
Why did bakers decide to add holes to donuts? ›
Although the outsides and the edges were crisp, the centres of the donuts were always greasy and doughy. Gregory suggested punching a hole in the middle of the fried cakes, so that the insides of the cakes would cook as evenly as the outsides.
What is the hole in the donut problem a description of? ›
I'll look like the hole in the doughnut.” Hence, the fear of being the hole in the doughnut is the fear of giving over control to our higher power — and the underlying fear that we will disappear, losing our identity and our sense of self.
Who invented the hole in doughnuts? ›
Statue of Captain Hanson Gregory, inventor of the donut hole : black-and-white photoprint. Smithsonian Institution.
What is a donut without a hole called? ›
LaMiaItalia. These classic doughnuts are typically round without a hole in the middle, and generally leavened with yeast.
What is the hole in a donut called? ›
donut hole (plural donut holes) The empty space in the center of a donut. (US, Canada) A small ball-shaped pastry, made in the same manner as a donut, roughly the size of the hole in a donut.
Did Dunkin invent Munchkins? ›
In 1973, Dunkin' Donuts added "Munchkins" to their menu, selling them in the various flavors of their donuts as a way to use up the dough cuttings taken from the center of their ring donut. The name reportedly stems from the miniature "Munchkin" characters from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
When did donut holes became popular? ›
It was the 1940s, however, that saw a real doughnut hole frenzy, says Ellen Dyer, archivist at Camden's public library. "The whole doughnut thing went crazy," she says.
Who invented the timbit? ›
A ship captain invented the holes in donuts
Donuts were then known as fried dough pastries and didn't have any holes. One day, while Gregory was handling the ship, he put a few fried dough pastries through the spokes of the steering wheel. And thus, donut holes came into existence.
What is the history of the donut hole? ›
Gregory, who went to sea eating “whole doughnuts”, and returned with “holed donuts.” One legend says that he simply didn't have a place to put his doughnut while steering the ship in the middle of a storm, so he stuck it on the spoke of the ship's helm. When he pulled it off – a hole!
Are timbits actually donut holes? ›
Donut holes or timbits are balls of dough sold in major North American restaurant chains such as Tim Hortons. Contrary to popular belief, timbits are not the product of a donut with a hole in the center. They are made from molded balls. These will be fried in hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Does Krispy Kreme make donut holes? ›
Original Glazed® Doughnut Holes
"The coffee is great, but the doughnuts keep me coming back."
Which country invented donuts? ›
The history of the doughnut itself is generally traced to Dutch immigrants in 17th- and 18th-century New York, then New Netherland, who prepared fried dough balls called olie koeken or olykoeks, which means “oil cakes.” They were similar to modern doughnuts, although they did not yet have the iconic ring shape.
What does the 🍩 mean? ›
It is commonly used to represent real and metaphorical doughnuts, breakfast, bakeries and baked foods, snacks, coffee breaks, The Simpsons, and negative stereotypes of police officers.
Do all donuts have to have a hole in it? ›
Today donuts can be baked without holes. But in the past it wasn't practical. That's because when bakers added egg yokes to the recipe the dough became unusually rich and it was not easy to cook the donut evenly. That meant the center was gooey and sometimes raw while the edges were crisp.
When did donut holes become popular? ›
It was the 1940s, however, that saw a real doughnut hole frenzy, says Ellen Dyer, archivist at Camden's public library. "The whole doughnut thing went crazy," she says. The 1940 World's Fair had a doughnut exhibit with a portrait of Gregory and in 1941 the American Donut Corp.
Why do donuts have a circle in the middle? ›
Captain Hanson Gregory claimed to have invented the ring-shaped doughnut in 1847 while serving aboard a cargo ship. Dissatisfied with the raw centers frequently found inside fried twisted doughnuts, he claimed to have punched a hole in the center of each with the ship's tin pepper box.
Does the hole in the doughnut exist? ›
Ring doughnuts are formed by one of two methods: by joining the ends of a long, skinny piece of dough into a ring, or by using a doughnut cutter, which simultaneously cuts the outside and inside shape, leaving a doughnut-shaped piece of dough and a doughnut hole (the dough removed from the center).
