What is the purpose of the paperboard sleeve in English muffin bags?
September 29, 2023 1:42 PM Subscribe
Whenever I buy English muffins, regardless of the brand, they come in a package with a paperboard sleeve that stacks them in three rows of two. It takes up a lot of space, and I've also been told the sleeve retains moisture and encourages mold. So why waste money on it?
I often wind up taking out the sleeve and leaving them in my fridge stacked vertically in the same bag. I've seen other bread products, like scones, sold this way. Is the sleeve intended to prevent damage? Or is it because most people store English muffins on top of the fridge, horizontally? I'd love to know.
I often wind up taking out the sleeve and leaving them in my fridge stacked vertically in the same bag. I've seen other bread products, like scones, sold this way. Is the sleeve intended to prevent damage? Or is it because most people store English muffins on top of the fridge, horizontally? I'd love to know.
Easier to stack. Take the paperboard out and see how the bag sits on a shelf. Now drive it around in a truck all day and put it back on the shelf.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:25 PM on September 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:25 PM on September 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
Sorry if this is not directly relevant but Oroweat English muffins do not come with the paper sleeve
posted by supermedusa at 2:56 PM on September 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 2:56 PM on September 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
I’m so curious how OP determined that “most people” do this. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it being done.
I think it was a question of whether people do that, which might then explain why the sleeve is there.
posted by polecat at 3:41 PM on September 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think it was a question of whether people do that, which might then explain why the sleeve is there.
posted by polecat at 3:41 PM on September 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
I've only ever seen Thomas' brand sold that way. Every other brand I buy has them all stacked together, like these. But yes, I'd guess this has to do with shipping.
posted by hydra77 at 4:38 PM on September 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by hydra77 at 4:38 PM on September 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Anecdata: Storing English muffins on top of the fridge is actually a pretty Australian thing to do. A lot of family homes have a free-standing fridge just a little taller than head height, and the top becomes a sort of misc-items storage area (empty food containers, mail, change, and for some reason breakfast stuff like cereal boxes and bread).
I feel like it's more common here than in the US, because fridges tend to either be much bigger over there, or built-in because the fridge comes with the house when you rent, unlike here.
Also, things Australians tend to do are often things Brits tend to do, so wouldn't suprise me if storing English muffins on top of the fridge is not the traditional way.
(except they actually don't sell them with the cardboard sleeve here, just stacked on top of each other in a bag, so that part of the logic isn't relevant)
posted by Adifferentbear at 5:10 PM on September 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
I feel like it's more common here than in the US, because fridges tend to either be much bigger over there, or built-in because the fridge comes with the house when you rent, unlike here.
Also, things Australians tend to do are often things Brits tend to do, so wouldn't suprise me if storing English muffins on top of the fridge is not the traditional way.
(except they actually don't sell them with the cardboard sleeve here, just stacked on top of each other in a bag, so that part of the logic isn't relevant)
posted by Adifferentbear at 5:10 PM on September 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Looks like someone else had the same idea.
But they put them all in upside down! Can't be trusted.
posted by aubilenon at 5:16 PM on September 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
But they put them all in upside down! Can't be trusted.
posted by aubilenon at 5:16 PM on September 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
English muffins are distinctly American, so all traditions should be referred there.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 11:46 PM on September 29, 2023
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 11:46 PM on September 29, 2023
English muffins are distinctly American, so all traditions should be referred there.
That's not true.
posted by Carillon at 12:42 AM on September 30, 2023
That's not true.
posted by Carillon at 12:42 AM on September 30, 2023
Four possibilities I can think of (though only the manufacturers can really say): it's the most cost-effective way to make them stack efficiently or to minimise damage in transit, it extends shelf life somehow (maybe they don't go stale as quickly?), or it sells more muffins than other pack designs.
Aside:
As best I can tell, the traditional flat yeasted muffin, which originated in the UK and can still be bought here (usually just called a "muffin"), is fundamentally the same as the "English muffin" you can buy in the US.
However, in the UK I've only ever seen neutral / savoury ones (plain, wholemeal, ancient grains or cheese), whereas I see there's a much more extensive range to be found in the US. Sweet muffins found here (UK) are invariably American-style ones, which are usually also just called "muffins".
If you wanted to disambiguate other than by referring to the flavour, you might describe the flat ones as traditional, English or breakfast muffins, but most of them don't use those terms on the packaging.
I think of crumpets as being entirely different: made from a batter not a dough, cooked on the stovetop not in the oven, eaten topped not filled, and, most importantly, covered in tiny holes for the butter to melt into. To me, the only thing muffins and crumpets really have in common, other than the size and shape, is that they're good toasted.
It would not occur to me to store either muffins or crumpets anywhere near the fridge; they live on the counter. I use the space on top of my fridge to store inedible kitchen-related things, like spare kitchen rolls and dishwasher tablets.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 4:44 AM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
Aside:
As best I can tell, the traditional flat yeasted muffin, which originated in the UK and can still be bought here (usually just called a "muffin"), is fundamentally the same as the "English muffin" you can buy in the US.
However, in the UK I've only ever seen neutral / savoury ones (plain, wholemeal, ancient grains or cheese), whereas I see there's a much more extensive range to be found in the US. Sweet muffins found here (UK) are invariably American-style ones, which are usually also just called "muffins".
If you wanted to disambiguate other than by referring to the flavour, you might describe the flat ones as traditional, English or breakfast muffins, but most of them don't use those terms on the packaging.
I think of crumpets as being entirely different: made from a batter not a dough, cooked on the stovetop not in the oven, eaten topped not filled, and, most importantly, covered in tiny holes for the butter to melt into. To me, the only thing muffins and crumpets really have in common, other than the size and shape, is that they're good toasted.
It would not occur to me to store either muffins or crumpets anywhere near the fridge; they live on the counter. I use the space on top of my fridge to store inedible kitchen-related things, like spare kitchen rolls and dishwasher tablets.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 4:44 AM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
There is a lot of research into the psychology of food packaging, items packaged in cardboard will be perceived as a higher value item.
Plastic is stronger, lighter and thus cheaper to ship, so it should be the logical choice, but people will pay more for items packaged with cardboard.
You will see this in items like biscuits where the value brands are all packaged in plastic, but the upmarket biscuits are all in cardboard boxes.
posted by Lanark at 6:24 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Plastic is stronger, lighter and thus cheaper to ship, so it should be the logical choice, but people will pay more for items packaged with cardboard.
You will see this in items like biscuits where the value brands are all packaged in plastic, but the upmarket biscuits are all in cardboard boxes.
posted by Lanark at 6:24 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Well, if we're just speculating here, I agree w/ Lanark about the perceived higher value. Also, Bays English Muffins (the only brand worth buying, imo) are sold in the refrigerated dairy/breakfast foods case, in a cellophane sleeve of 6 (3 stacks of 2), so the cardboard is needed for stacking & display in that environment. They're also a fairly delicate bread, and with the dusting of cornmeal, I can see the need for more structure for protection.
posted by Bron at 9:35 AM on September 30, 2023
posted by Bron at 9:35 AM on September 30, 2023
Here in the UK they are packaged horizontally in stacks of two. Most packs have the cardboard base but some brands don't, I really don't know why and the concept of stacking them vertically in the bag is frankly a revelation.
Also, things Australians tend to do are often things Brits tend to do, so wouldn't suprise me if storing English muffins on top of the fridge is not the traditional way.
It really isn't, sorry - they are in a breadbin or on the counter. Many fridges in the UK are in a cupboard so the top is quite high and/ or hard to access.
posted by goo at 2:10 PM on October 3, 2023
Also, things Australians tend to do are often things Brits tend to do, so wouldn't suprise me if storing English muffins on top of the fridge is not the traditional way.
It really isn't, sorry - they are in a breadbin or on the counter. Many fridges in the UK are in a cupboard so the top is quite high and/ or hard to access.
posted by goo at 2:10 PM on October 3, 2023
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posted by rhymedirective at 1:45 PM on September 29, 2023 [4 favorites]