Patrick Oconnell
Cheese puffs were invented in the 1930s by two companies in the United States. The first was the Flakall Corporation of Beloit, Wisconsin, which created the snack by accident while making animal feed. The second was the Elmer brothers, who invented cheese-flavoured corn curls, which later became Chee Wees. Cheese puffs have since spread across the world, with different names and brands in different countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1935 |
| Place | Beloit, Wisconsin |
| Manufacturer | Flakall Corporation |
| Other names | Cheese curls, cheese balls, cheese ball puffs, cheesy puffs, corn curls, puffcorn |
| Other manufacturers | Elmer Candy Corporation, Chee Wees, Cheetos, Wotsits, Pofak, Twisties |
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What You'll Learn
- Cheese puffs were invented in the 1930s by two companies in the United States
- Edward Wilson noticed strings of puffed corn oozing from flaking machines at the Flakall Corporation
- Clarence J. Schwebke applied for an improved extruder patent in 1939
- The product, named Korn Kurls, was commercialised in 1946 by the Adams Corporation
- Cheetos were produced in 1948 and are now the most popular brand of cheese curl in the US
Cheese puffs were invented in the 1930s by two companies in the United States
The second company was the producer of Chee Wees, who developed a similar snack in the early 20th century. However, it is unclear whether Chee Wees were invented in the 1930s or 1940s. According to one source, the Elmer brothers invented cheese-flavoured corn curls in the 1930s using an animal feed machine they refashioned to make corn curls. Another source states that the game-changer came in 1948 when Cheetos were produced, and they have since become the most popular brand of cheese curl in the US.
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Edward Wilson noticed strings of puffed corn oozing from flaking machines at the Flakall Corporation
Cheese puffs were invented independently by two companies in the United States during the 1930s. One account claims that Edward Wilson noticed strings of puffed corn oozing from flaking machines at the Flakall Corporation of Beloit, Wisconsin, in the mid-1930s. The Flakall Corporation was a producer of flaked, partially cooked animal feed. To make the feed, a grinder was used to flake corn. In order to clean the machinery, staff fed moist corn into the grinder. This process, to the surprise of workers at the plant, produced airy blobs of corn.
Edward Wilson, an employee at the Flakall Corporation, was the first to notice these unusual strings of puffed corn. He was working on the flaking machines, which were used to produce animal feed, when he saw the corn oozing out in a strange, puffed form. At first, he was unsure what to make of it. But then, he realised that this could be a new and interesting product. Wilson began to experiment with the puffed corn, trying different flavours and coatings. He soon discovered that a coating of cheese or cheese-flavoured powder was particularly tasty.
The Flakall Corporation had inadvertently created a new snack food, and Edward Wilson was at the heart of this discovery. Wilson's observations and experiments led to the development of cheese puffs as we know them today. While the exact date of this invention is unclear, it likely occurred in the mid-1930s, as this was when Wilson first noticed the puffed corn oozing from the flaking machines. This accidental creation story adds to the intrigue of cheese puffs, which have since become a popular snack worldwide.
Other companies also claim to have invented cheese puffs, including the producers of Chee Wees, who developed a similar snack in the early twentieth century. However, the game-changer came in 1948 with the launch of Cheetos, which quickly became the most popular brand of cheese curls in the US. Since then, cheese puffs have spread across the globe, with variations such as Wotsits in the UK, Pofak in Iran, and Twisties in Australia.
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Clarence J. Schwebke applied for an improved extruder patent in 1939
Cheese puffs were invented independently by two companies in the United States during the 1930s. In 1935, Edward Wilson noticed strings of puffed corn oozing from flaking machines at the Flakall Corporation of Beloit, Wisconsin, a producer of flaked, partially cooked animal feed. He experimented and developed it into a snack. Clarence J. Schwebke applied for an improved extruder patent in 1939 and the product, named Korn Kurls, was commercialised in 1946 by the Adams Corporation, formed by one of the founders of Flakall and his sons.
Extruders are machines that push a material through a shaped die to create a specific form. In the case of cheese puffs, heated corn dough is pushed through a die that forms the particular shape of the snack, such as balls, curls or sticks. The dough is then coated with a mixture of cheese or cheese-flavoured powders.
Clarence J. Schwebke's improved extruder patent likely contributed to the commercialisation of Korn Kurls in 1946. By applying for a patent, Schwebke sought to protect his invention and establish exclusive rights to its use and production. This would have given him a competitive advantage in the market and potentially increased the profitability of Korn Kurls.
The commercialisation of Korn Kurls in 1946 was a significant milestone in the history of cheese puffs. It marked the transition from invention to mass production and distribution. The Adams Corporation, with its resources and business expertise, was able to bring the product to market and make it widely available to consumers. This likely contributed to the popularity and spread of cheese puffs, which have since become a beloved snack around the world.
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The product, named Korn Kurls, was commercialised in 1946 by the Adams Corporation
Cheese puffs were invented independently by two companies in the United States during the 1930s. The first was the Flakall Corporation of Beloit, Wisconsin, a producer of flaked, partially cooked animal feed. In 1935, a worker at the Flakall Corporation, Edward Wilson, noticed strings of puffed corn oozing from flaking machines. This was the result of a grinder being used to flake corn, and the staff feeding moist corn into the grinder to clean the machinery. The second company was the Elmer Candy Corporation of New Orleans, Louisiana, which created its version in 1936.
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Cheetos were produced in 1948 and are now the most popular brand of cheese curl in the US
Cheese puffs were invented independently by two companies in the United States during the 1930s. According to one account, Edward Wilson noticed strings of puffed corn oozing from flaking machines in the mid-1930s at the Flakall Corporation of Beloit, Wisconsin, a producer of flaked, partially cooked animal feed. He experimented and developed it into a snack. Clarence J. Schwebke applied for an improved extruder patent in 1939 and the product, named Korn Kurls, was commercialised in 1946 by the Adams Corporation, formed by one of the founders of Flakall and his sons.
However, it wasn't until 1948 when Cheetos were produced that cheese puffs really took off. Cheetos are now the most popular brand of cheese curl in the US. The company first launched Crunchy Cheetos in 1948 and later introduced Cheetos Puffs in 1971. Cheese puffs have since spread across the world, from Wotsits in the UK to Pofak in Iran and Twisties in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese puffs were invented in 1935 by the Flakall Corporation of Beloit, Wisconsin.
Cheese puffs were invented by accident when staff at the Flakall Corporation fed moist corn into a grinder used to make animal feed. This process produced airy blobs of corn, which became the first corn puffs.
Cheese puffs became popular in 1948 when Cheetos were produced, and they have since spread across the world.
