Why do crackers have holes

Moonshot is continuing that rich history of cracker innovation by working towards a zero-waste future with plant-based, carbon neutral crackers. Cracker production is a socially and financially influential industry.

These docking holes are a key element in creating the crackers you love. This causes the cracker to stretch and can change its texture. When air bubbles go unchecked, they can even cause explosions! You may also notice that some crackers are puffy.

There are a few common cracker shapes including circles, triangles, squares, and even kid-friendly specialty designs. Producing uniform crackers ensures all of the cracker dough is used and nothing goes to waste during production. Uniform shapes also allow docking holes to be positioned evenly, so each cracker achieves the same texture.

When a thind cracker comes out of the oven, it will feel crumbly, doughy, or chewy instead of the crispy, crunchy texture we all know and love. Docking is an essential step in baking and producing crackers, but how is it done? These holes release the right amount of steam to give you a crunchy, delicious cracker every time. Docking is the final step before a cracker goes into the oven.

Doing so also helps the crackers become crisp, which adds more distinct flavor. When making crackers, the dough is made into flat sheets. The sheets are then transferred to a section called a docker. A docker is like a huge cylinder of docker pins or spikes. As it rolls over the surface, the pins leave behind holes in the dough. Although a docker is commonly used in huge bakeries or food factories, there are also versions of dockers for the casual baking at home, like the photo below.

Cool, right? Even if the holes aren't immediately obvious like on a Ritz, your favorite cracker was probably still rolled over with a docker. For example, some cracker doughs have baking soda which causes the dough to expand as it backs, partially covering up the holes. However, if you look closely, you'll still see tiny holes or indentations on crackers that aren't immediately obvious, like Triscuits and Wheat Thins.

So those tiny holes in the center of a Ritz cracker aren't just for decoration — they're actually an important step in the baking process that helps keep your crackers thin and crisp. In order to stop these bubbles from expanding and bursting, a machine called a docker pricks holes in the dough to allow the air to escape so that the cracker can bake properly.

This method reduces the air bubbles and ensures that the crackers are flat and crispy. These holes in the crackers should be positioned properly at equal distance otherwise the crackers made would be very hard or too soft. Close positioning of holes makes the crackers dry and hard to chew. If the holes end up being too far, then it will disintegrate the cracker. There should be right number of holes, that result in a flat, crunchy and crispy treat that's ready for snacking.

Homemade Wheat Crackers Recipe : Made with whole wheat, this is a healthier than store bought ones. Ragi and Oat Crackers Recipe : With just seven ingredients and half an hour of waiting time, you can get a nutritious snack that is totally worth the efforts. Homemade Graham Crackers Recipe : Crisp, subtly soft, lightly sweetened with honey, and it is so much fun to make for the kids!

A weekly guide to the biggest developments in health, medicine and wellbeing delivered to your inbox. Thank you for subscribing! Your subscription is confirmed for news related to biggest developments in health, medicine and wellbeing. Back to Top. Select a City Close. Your current city: Mumbai Mumbai search close. All Bombay Times print stories are available on. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city OK.

Go to TOI.