Marshmallow
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225742540
2008-07-15T04:55:38Z
Icarus3
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225741872 by [[Special:Contributions/98.210.212.82|98.210.212.82]] ([[User talk:98.210.212.82|talk]])
{{for|the plant|Althaea officinalis}}
The '''Marshmallow''' is a [[confection]] that, in its modern form, typically consists of [[sugar]] or [[corn syrup]], water, [[gelatin]] that has been pre-softened in hot water, [[dextrose]], and flavorings, whipped to a spongy consistency. The traditional recipe used an [[herbal extract|extract]] from the [[mucilage|mucilaginous]] root of the [[Althaea officinalis|marshmallow plant]], a [[shrub]]by [[herb]] (''Althaea officinalis''), instead of [[gelatin]]; the mucilage was used to soothe [[sore throat]]s.<ref>[http://www.candyusa.org/Candy/marshmallows.asp The history of marshmallows] Candy USA!</ref><ref name="C&EN">{{cite journal |url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/84/8416marshmallows.html |journal=Chemical & Engineering News | title=What's that stuff? Marshmallow |last=Petkewich |first=Rachel |volume=84 |issue=16 |year=2006 |accessdate=2008-02-10 |pages=41}}</ref>
Commercial marshmallows are a late-nineteenth-century innovation. Since Doumak's patented extrusion process of [[1948]], marshmallows are extruded as soft cylinders, cut in sections and rolled in a mix of finely powdered cornstarch and confectioner's sugar (icing sugar). Not all brands coat their marshmallows in confectioner's sugar. Most of the current brands of commercially available marshmallows, in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], are made and copacked by [[Kraft Foods]] and [[Doumak|Doumak, Inc]], under such names as Jet-Puffed, Campfire, Kidd and numerous "private label" store brands.
Marshmallows are used in [[S'mores]], [[Mallomars]], [[Peeps]] and other candy, [[Rice Krispie treats]], [[ice cream]] flavors such as [[Rocky road ice cream|Rocky Road]], on top of [[hot chocolate]] and candied [[yam (vegetable)|yams]], and in several other foodstuffs. Americans eat about 90 million pounds of marshmallows a year.<ref name="C&EN"/>
==Roasted or toasted marshmallows==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=June 2008}}
[[Image:RoastingMarshmallow.jpg|right|thumb|Roasting a marshmallow over a campfire.]]
A popular [[camping]] or backyard tradition in the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and the [[UK]] is the toasting or roasting of marshmallows over a [[campfire]] or other source of an open flame. A marshmallow is placed on the end of a [[stick]] or [[skewer]] and held over the fire, with care toward safety, until it turns golden brown. This creates a [[Caramelization|caramelized]] outer skin with a liquid, [[melting|melted]] layer underneath. According to individual preference, the marshmallows are heated to various degrees—from a gentle toasting to [[combustion|burning]] the outer layer. Either the toasted marshmallow can be eaten whole or the outside layer can be [[eating|consumed]] separately and the marshmallow toasted again. [[S'more]]s are made by placing the toasted marshmallow atop a slice of [[chocolate]] which is placed between two [[graham cracker]]s. Some companies such as [[The Hershey Company]] mass produce prepackaged [[S'more]]s.
==Marshmallows and vegetarians==
Marshmallows were originally made with the extract of the homonymous plant ([[Althaea officinalis|marsh mallow]]) acting as a gelling [[agent]]. Most commercially manufactured marshmallows use [[gelatin]] instead of real marshmallow extract because of the expense. Many [[vegetarian]]s avoid gelatin, as it is usually derived from animal [[Rawhide|hides]] or [[bone]]s. Commercial [[kosher]] ''pareve'' marshmallows may also be considered unsuitable for vegetarians; they usually use [[fish]] gelatin. However, fish is deemed not to be meat in [[kashrut]], so they are an option for some.
It is possible to make marshmallows without [[gelatin]] by making them the traditional way, by using powdered marshmallow root (or by boiling chopped marshmallow roots in water), [[egg white]]s, [[cane sugar]], and [[vanilla]] extract, although marshmallow root may be difficult to obtain. They also can be made using commercially-available [[gelatin]] alternatives. Other [[vegetable gum]]s often make an unsatisfactory product that does not have the spring or firmness expected of gelatin-based marshmallows. Some marshmallows marketed as appropriate for [[Veganism|vegans]] are made using [[carrageenan]] and [[agar]] as gelling [[agents]].<ref>[http://www.veganstore.co.uk/marshmallows.html Veganstore]</ref>
[[Marshmallow fluff]] 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 white]]s instead. Non-gelatin versions of this product may be consumed by [[ovo vegetarianism|ovo vegetarians]].
==See also==
{{commonscat|Marshmallows}}
{{Wiktionary}}
* [[Marshmallow creme]]
* [[Stay Puft Marshmallow Man]]
* [[Chubby Bunny]], children's game involving marshmallows
==References==
{{reflist|1}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2007}}
==External links==
* [http://foods.aixx.com/misc/sweets/Marshmallows.html How To Make Your Own Marshmallows]
* [http://home.howstuffworks.com/question128.htm The Marshmallow Explained] at [[HowStuffWorks.com]]
* [http://www.candyusa.org/Candy/marshmallows.asp National Confectioners Association: The Marshmallow.]
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