Science explains the best way to eat Oreos

What is the secret to the perfect cake? This question has already been answered by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Nabisco. It was at the American company’s factory in Chelsea, New York, located on Ninth Avenue, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Streets, that the first Oreo. The year was 1912, and the story would never be the same: Oreo became a global icon enjoyed in more than 100 countries and the best-selling cookie in the world!¹

It wasn’t easy to find the perfect formula. How do you make sure the cookie is crispy and the filling stays delicious and creamy? It’s been over 100 years, and the truth is that only Oreos are Oreos. The cookie is so important that it has created a diverse industry, with more diverse flavors around the world that do not lose the essence of the brand. It even inspires creative recipes for pies, cheesecakes, cupcakes, cakes, brigaderos, and spreads, among many other possibilities. In Brazil, the brand has been around since 2013, but has already conquered its space in Brazilian homes.

Oreo is just Oreo

The options are endless, as a psychologist from Paraná discovered Marcela Vacheski de Araujo, 25 years old, is a chef in training dedicated to discovering the best that international cuisine has to offer at all times of the day. On one of her gastronomic research trips, she spent some time in the United States. That was when he expanded his horizons even further.

“When Oreo arrived in Brazil, I was completely in love. “I go to the end of the package, and I don’t share it at all,” she recalls. During her trip to the cookie’s country of origin, she discovered a richer and more diverse range of products. “I found flavors that had never been I never imagine it. And all of them, without exception, have the same qualities as every Oreo.

There are variations in shape and flavor, some in limited editions, others available in supermarkets and convenience stores across the country. “I picked my top 5: Oreo Covered, Oreo S’mores, Oreo Red Velvet, Oreo Kicksters (a type of cake) And Oreo Handy Snacks (Biscuit sticks to dip in the filling)“, as you say.

What is the best way to eat Oreos?

Marcella has an answer in mind. “I usually pop the whole cookie in my mouth, because the unique Oreo flavor comes from the combination of crust and filling.”

There are many other possibilities. In order to see if any of them were perfect, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) decided to test whether it was possible to separate two cookies and have the same amount of filling on each side. To do this, they developed a special device produced using a 3D printer: an urometer – which is also available Available onlineFree for anyone who wants to repeat the experience at home.

They submitted more than 1,000 Oreo cookies to the device, which uses a combination of rubber bands and coins to represent the twisting force a person might exert with their hands. The result: in 80% of cases, the filler stuck to one side, and in the other 20%, the division was not equal either. A team of three researchers published their findings Conclusions. They point out that it is almost impossible to distribute the filling evenly.

A sign that the traditional way to eat Oreos has scientific backing: “spin, scrape and taste.” As Felipe Pedroli, Cookie Marketing Director at Mondelez Brasil, says: “We believe that the best way to eat Oreo is the way every family is accustomed to it. But, in particular, we encourage the nostalgia of ‘flip, scrape – fill – enjoy,’” “It is a traditional way of childhood eating, which brings out the fun side that we always highlight.”

Want to remember how the “spin, scrape and taste” technique works? Click here And watch the educational video.

Four questions

The mystery has now been solved with the help of MIT. But there are still other secrets. Check out the answers to the three questions you’ve definitely asked yourself at some point.

1. What is the origin of the name Oreo?

There’s no answer, just some theories and stories as old as the cookie itself. Legend has it that the name came about because it sounded like a pleasant, melodic combination of sounds and was easy to pronounce.

Other popular – and quite creative – theories point to different answers. According to one of them, the word Oreo comes from the Greek word for “mountain” or “hill,” because the first experimental cookies were dome-shaped. Or it may be derived from the phrase “orexigenic” or from the combination of the two words “os” in the word “chocolate.” Or it may be inspired by the word “Oreodaphne,” a genus of flowering plants, or even derived from the word “or,” which means gold in French.

2. What do the graphics on a cookie mean?

Oreos have always been a patterned cookie, but the design in its infancy and the design today are very different. In 1912, the cookie was stamped with a thin wreath on the outer edge only, with the name Oreo written on the smooth surface. The current design appeared around 1916 or 1917, and was only modified in 1952 to include the National Biscuit Company symbol.

Today, biscuits have elements arranged harmoniously on their surface, without a specific meaning. There are 12 dashes and 12 dots on the perimeter that surrounds it, and 12 four-petaled flowers and 12 dots in the middle layer, followed by six triangles and a flower in the inner layer, which precedes the name Oreo – and is located in its center. Cookie – Accompanied by two triangles in the shape of the classic Nabisco brand.

3. Why has Oreo been such a hit for over 100 years?

“In addition to its unique flavour, we believe Oreo has the ability to activate people’s fun mode, and that’s one of the secrets. “It’s part of the brand’s essence to transform even the simplest moments into something special and fun,” explains the director.

Despite having been in existence for 112 years, Oreo – which has managed to become famous as the world’s #1 cookie1 For its internationally recognized iconic status – it masterfully crosses several generations, filling the planet with lighter moments that bring people together. “Oreo brings its own DNA Playful situation To show everyone that Adult life, even with all the responsibilities, can be lighter, funnier and more fun!“, concludes the director.

4. What is the secret of Oreo’s success?

Everyone already knows that biscuits have a unique and unmistakable flavour, but in addition, the brand has in its DNA the ability to revitalize Playful situation in the People. Oreo holds that feeling up In adulthood, moments can be lighter and more fun.

With its 112 years of existence, Oreo – which has managed to become famous as the world’s No. 1 cookie – maintains its globally recognized iconic position and penetrates several generations with perfection, filling the world with fun moments that bring people together. Moments that encourage us to save the joyful spirit hidden in the heart of every person, and invite us to look at life in a less serious way. In short, what is the secret? Keep playing!

source

1. Euromonitor International Limited; ed snacks. 2024: Percentage of brand in consumer retail revenue, data suggests 2023.