Oyster cracker facts for kids
A bowl of oyster crackers
|
|
| Alternative names | water cracker |
|---|---|
| Type | Cracker |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Northeast |
| Created by | Adam Exton |
| Main ingredients | Enriched flour, shortening, leavening (baking powder), yeast, sugar, salt |
Oyster crackers are small, salty crackers. They are usually round, about the size of a small button. Sometimes, you might find them in a hexagonal (six-sided) shape too. People often eat these crackers with oyster stew or clam chowder. They are made with ingredients similar to saltine crackers.
Contents
How People Enjoy Oyster Crackers
Oyster crackers are very popular in the northeastern United States. There, people often serve them with soup. In the Cincinnati area, they are a common side for the city's special chili. In New England, these crackers are a must-have with oyster stew and chowders.
Sometimes, plain oyster crackers get a flavor boost! People might season them with different spices. They can also add pepper sauce to make them a tasty appetizer or snack. Oyster crackers taste a lot like saltine crackers. However, they are usually not as salty. In other parts of the United States, they are a popular choice to go with soup. You can often find them in restaurants in small, single-serving bags.
Many different companies make oyster crackers. They use various fats and other ingredients. But they all keep the same general shape and size.
What's in a Name?
The name "oyster cracker" has a bit of a mystery around it. No one is completely sure how they got their name. One idea is that they were first served with oyster stew or clam chowder. Another thought is that they simply look like a small oyster inside its shell.
These crackers have a few other names too. Some people call them "water crackers." Others know them as "Philadelphia crackers" or "Trenton crackers."
The Story Behind Oyster Crackers
The Westminster Cracker Company has been making oyster crackers for a very long time. They started in 1828! Today, this company is located in Rutland, Vermont.
However, another person is often given credit for inventing the oyster cracker. His name was Adam Exton.
Adam Exton was a baker from Lancashire, England. He moved to America in 1842. In Trenton, New Jersey, Exton opened a bakery in 1846. He worked with his brother-in-law, Richard Aspden. Sadly, Aspden passed away the next year. But Exton kept the bakery going. It was called the "Exton Cracker Bakery."
Adam Exton was very clever. He invented a special machine. This machine could roll and shape pastry dough. It also helped solve problems with making crackers by hand. This made the process much cleaner and easier.
Adam Exton's nephew, who was also named Adam Exton, shared the history of the oyster cracker. He told the story in a newspaper called the Trenton Evening Times on May 31, 1917. He explained that making Exton oyster crackers began in Trenton in 1847. This was in the same place where the company's factory is now. Adam Exton, the uncle, was the original inventor of the oyster cracker. When they first started, the factory made about 100 pounds of crackers each day. That was about 3,600 crackers daily!
See also
In Spanish: Cracker de ostra para niños
