Andy Montoya
Goldfish crackers are a brand of fish-shaped crackers with an eye and smile imprint, manufactured by Pepperidge Farm. They were introduced to the United States in 1962 by Margaret Rudkin, the founder of Pepperidge Farm, after she tried them on vacation in Switzerland. The original flavours included lightly salted, cheese, barbecue, pizza, and smoky. The cheese flavour, the brand's most popular, was introduced in 1966 and is made with 100% real cheddar cheese, specially aged for several months to give the crackers their distinctive sharp flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Ingredient | Cheddar Cheese |
| Other Ingredients | Paprika, Spices, Dehydrated Onions, Table Salt, Vegetable Oils, Sugar, Yeast, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Celery, Onion Powder, Monocalcium Phosphate, Baking Soda |
| Flour Type | Enriched Wheat Flour |
| Flour Nutrients | Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate (vitamin B1), Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Folic Acid |
| Flour Source | Soft Red Winter Wheat grown in the US and Canada |
| Cheese Color | Annatto |
| Cheese Color Source | Achiote tree seeds |
| Puffiness | Ammonium Bicarbonate |
| GMO-Free | Goldfish Crackers Made with Organic Wheat |
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What You'll Learn
- Goldfish crackers are made with 100% real cheddar cheese
- The cheese is aged for several months to give the crackers a sharp flavour
- Annatto is used in the cheese to give it its orange hue
- The crackers are also made with enriched wheat flour
- Other ingredients include vegetable oils, salt, yeast, sugar, and spices
Goldfish crackers are made with 100% real cheddar cheese
Goldfish crackers are a brand of fish-shaped crackers with a small imprint of an eye and a smile. They were introduced to the United States in 1962 by Pepperidge Farm founder Margaret Rudkin, who first tried them while vacationing in Switzerland. The original flavours included lightly salted, cheese, barbecue, pizza, and smoky, with the now-iconic cheddar flavour being introduced in 1966.
In addition to the classic cheddar flavour, Goldfish crackers are available in a variety of other flavours and shapes. These include Xtra Cheddar, Cheddar & Sour Cream, Salt and Vinegar, Cheddar Jack'd, Sour Cream & Onion, White Cheddar, and Xtra Cheesy Pizza. There are also different Goldfish mixtures, which combine two flavours, as well as colourful varieties that come in yellow, orange, red, and green.
Goldfish crackers have become a cultural icon, with appearances in popular TV shows and endorsements from famous chefs. The brand has expanded significantly in recent years, introducing numerous limited-time flavours and varieties beyond the traditional cheddar and pretzel options.
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The cheese is aged for several months to give the crackers a sharp flavour
Goldfish crackers are fish-shaped crackers with an eye and a smile imprint manufactured by Pepperidge Farm, a division of the Campbell Soup Company. The cheese in Goldfish crackers is made from 100% real cheddar cheese, which is aged for several months to give the crackers their distinctive sharp flavour.
The process of ageing the cheese enhances the flavour and gives the crackers their unique taste. The cheese is combined with other ingredients such as paprika, spices, dehydrated onions, and table salt to create a savoury and seasoned dough. The flour used in the dough is enriched with essential nutrients, including niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and folic acid. It is made from soft red winter wheat grown in the US and Canada.
The distinctive orange hue of the cheddar cheese in Goldfish crackers is achieved by using annatto, which is extracted from the reddish seeds of the achiote tree, native to tropical climates. The combination of aged cheddar cheese, spices, and annatto creates a savoury and colourful dough that is then baked into the iconic fish-shaped crackers.
The ageing process of the cheese is crucial to the overall flavour profile of Goldfish crackers. By ageing the cheese for several months, the sharp and distinct flavour is developed, adding a savoury note to the crackers. This, along with the other ingredients, creates a satisfying and wholesome snack that has become a favourite for people of all ages.
Goldfish crackers come in a variety of flavours, including the original lightly salted flavour, barbecue, pizza, and smoky. The brand has also introduced limited-time flavours and varieties beyond the traditional cheddar and pretzel options. The crackers are marketed as a "baked snack cracker" and are perfect for catering events, senior living facilities, hospitals, and dorms.
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Annatto is used in the cheese to give it its orange hue
Goldfish crackers are a brand of fish-shaped crackers with a small imprint of an eye and a smile, manufactured by Pepperidge Farm. The crackers are made with 100% real cheddar cheese, which is specially aged for several months to give them their distinctive sharp flavour.
The cheese in Goldfish crackers gets its orange hue from the ingredient annatto. Annatto is extracted from the reddish seeds of the achiote tree, which grows in tropical climates. It is used to add a savory flavour to the crackers and give them their distinctive puffiness.
In addition to annatto, other ingredients in the cheese include cultured milk, salt, and enzymes. The full list of ingredients in Goldfish crackers includes enriched wheat flour, vegetable oils, salt, yeast, sugar, autolyzed yeast extract, paprika, spices, celery, onion powder, and monocalcium phosphate.
Goldfish crackers were introduced to the United States by Margaret Rudkin of Pepperidge Farm in 1962. The original flavours were lightly salted, cheese, barbecue, pizza, and smoky. The brand has since expanded to include numerous limited-time flavours and varieties, including some made with organic wheat.
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The crackers are also made with enriched wheat flour
Goldfish crackers are a brand of fish-shaped crackers with an eye and a smile imprint manufactured by Pepperidge Farm, a division of the Campbell Soup Company. The crackers are available in a variety of flavours, including Original, which is unflavoured, and several cheese-based flavours such as cheddar and Xtra Cheddar. The crackers are made with enriched wheat flour, which is flour that has been processed and enriched with specific nutrients.
Enriched flour is a type of refined flour that has been stripped of its bran and germ during the initial processing stages. The bran is the outermost layer of the grain that contains fibre, protein, and trace minerals, while the germ is the embryo of the seed that contains B vitamins, trace minerals, and a small amount of fat. The removal of these components results in a finer texture and improved shelf life but also removes essential nutrients.
To compensate for the loss of nutrients, enriched flour is treated with specific nutrients, including iron and B vitamins such as folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, and thiamine. Calcium may also be added as a supplement. This process of replenishing nutrients is called enrichment, which differs from fortification, the process of introducing new nutrients to a food. Enrichment aims to restore the nutritional status of the flour to match that of the unrefined product.
The practice of enriching flour began in the 1940s to improve the health of wartime populations in the United Kingdom and the United States, where food was rationed and alternative sources of nutrients were scarce. By 1942, 40% of flour was being enriched, and the U.S. Army announced that it would only purchase enriched flour. This led to a significant expansion of the enrichment process, and by 1943, the War Foods Administration mandated the temporary ban on non-enriched bread, resulting in 100% enrichment compliance.
Today, enriched wheat flour is prevalent in the United States and is commonly used in baking, as a thickening agent, or for breading. While it provides a longer shelf life and a finer texture, some people question its nutritional value and potential health impacts.
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Other ingredients include vegetable oils, salt, yeast, sugar, and spices
Goldfish crackers are a brand of fish-shaped crackers with a small imprint of an eye and a smile. They were introduced to the United States in 1962 by Margaret Rudkin, the founder of Pepperidge Farm. The original flavours included lightly salted, cheese, barbecue, pizza, and smoky.
The cheese in Goldfish crackers is made from 100% real cheddar cheese, which is specially aged for several months to give the crackers their distinctive sharp flavour. The crackers are also baked with vegetable oils, including canola, sunflower, and/or soybean oils.
Vegetable oils, such as canola, sunflower, and soybean oils, are used in the baking process to give the crackers a crispy texture and a source of healthy fats. Salt is added to enhance the flavour and act as a preservative. Yeast is included as a leavening agent, helping the dough to rise and giving the crackers their light and airy texture. Sugar is added for sweetness and to balance the savoury flavours. Finally, spices such as paprika and dehydrated onions are used to enhance the flavour and add a savoury kick to the crackers.
The crackers are also made with enriched wheat flour, which is fortified with essential nutrients such as niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid. The flour is made from soft red winter wheat grown in the US and Canada.
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Frequently asked questions
The cheese in Goldfish crackers is made from 100% real cheddar cheese. The flour used is made from soft red winter wheat grown in the US and Canada.
Other ingredients include paprika, spices, dehydrated onions, table salt, and annatto, which gives the cheese its orange colour.
Yes, there are many other flavours of Goldfish crackers, including Parmesan, Saltine, barbecue, pizza, smoky, and limited-time flavours.
