# English Muffins **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867 "2004-05-24T20:20:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoldOnThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@HoldOnThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldOnThere)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/1 "2004-05-24T20:20:40Z")
Does anyone know what those tiny white beads on the outside of an English Muffin are? ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/2 "2004-05-24T20:42:25Z")
Cornmeal ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/3 "2004-05-24T21:07:24Z")
What’s an English Muffin? ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/4 "2004-05-24T21:29:39Z")
[English Muffins](http://www.foodreference.com/html/artenglishmuffins.html) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/5 "2004-05-24T21:41:50Z")
Hmmm…they claim they’re to be found in supermarkets here…must look for them ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/6 "2004-05-24T21:53:32Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Hmmm…they claim they’re to be found in supermarkets here…must look for them I’m pretty sure what we call an “English Muffin” here in the US is basically the same thing as what actual English people call a “Crumpet” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jeffro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeffro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffro)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/7 "2004-05-24T21:59:19Z")
White dirt! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/8 "2004-05-24T22:02:36Z")
> [@tamaraqueenofgoths](#): > > I’m pretty sure what we call an “English Muffin” here in the US is basically the same thing as what actual English people call a “Crumpet” 🙂 The link from **Tamex** suggests otherwise ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/9 "2004-05-24T22:04:42Z")
Ewwwwwwwww…I just searched for some images…they look like the worst of McDonalds’ “breakfast” ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/10 "2004-05-24T22:19:39Z")
Right. English Muffins (AKA just ‘Muffin’ in England) are a flattish, fairly dense bread roll, usually forked through so that it can be torn in half for toasting - the texture inside is like a moderately dense, doughy white bread. The ‘muffin’ in a McD’s ‘Egg McMuffin’ (do you have these in the USA?) is like an English muffin, but is usually softer and lighter in texture. Crumpets are very thick, springy pancakes with an open, sponge-like texture caused by rising bubbles in the batter as they are cooked. Pikelets are similar to crumpets, but thinner. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/11 "2004-05-24T22:30:35Z")
[(English) Muffin](http://www.imaginatorium.org/pics/b02406muff.jpg) [Crumpets](http://www.bebado.co.uk/uploads/AZ3_crumpet.jpg) [Pikelets](http://www.lorry.org/Misc/20021223-stuff/pikelets2.jpg) [Scones](http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~y_sirius/images/scone/scone.jpg) [Scotch Pancakes](http://macidiot.dyndns.org/~iken/oolong.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Aestivalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Aestivalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aestivalis)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/12 "2004-05-24T23:00:01Z")
The white “beads” could be cornmeal, but when I make English Muffins from scratch, I usually use semolina. Mmmm, yummy. Like the link says, it’s a yeast risen bread, cooked on a griddle (or cast-iron pan), sliced around the edge, and pulled apart to reveal lovely nooks and crannies. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/13 "2004-05-24T23:04:38Z")
They’re muffin seeds. They intentionally fall from the muffins and become attached to your clothing. When you go outside and brush them off, you’re helping to start the muffin regenerative process with a new crop. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/14 "2004-05-24T23:16:45Z")
Those of you who can’t find our english muffins in your supermarkets should come on over here and sample some. They must be toasted. Try it in Eggs Benedict, made by someone who can cook. Better than sex, I swear. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![OneYogini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@OneYogini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneYogini)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/15 "2004-05-24T23:21:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Better than sex, I swear. :dubious: Medium toasted English Muffin halved, with sliced-to-fit fresh provolone, thin-sliced roasted red pepper and…I swear…Molly McButter!!..placed under the broiler until the provolone softens and gently drapes over the edges of the muffin…yummmmmmmmy!! (But not better than sex. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/16 "2004-05-24T23:32:36Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Better than sex, I swear. Ahhh, but is that better than _English_ sex? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OneYogini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@OneYogini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneYogini)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/17 "2004-05-24T23:36:15Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Ahhh, but is that better than _English_ sex? 😃 _ **fans herself madly** _then passes out… ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/18 "2004-05-24T23:40:01Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Ahhh, but is that better than _English_ sex? > > 😃 Well, you do eat it with your clothes on. I’ve seen it (English sex) the movies. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/19 "2004-05-24T23:44:13Z")
That reminds me of something I’ve always wanted to ask, but keep forgetting. All you Englanders look for an IMHO titled “English sex”. Gimme a minute. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867/20 "2004-05-24T23:44:58Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Well, you do eat it with your clothes on. I’ve done that once. But we weren’t in England. Maybe the sun got to us, or something… > [@](#): > > I’ve seen it (English sex) the movies. [Really?](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3732341.stm) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-muffins/246867.md?page=2)