English Muffins Near You

What is an English muffin?

A perfect fit for breakfast, the English muffin is a leavened bread that is small in size as well as round and flat.

It is cooked on a griddle and usually gets sliced horizontally. This reveals the muffin's spongy texture on the inside. People often put it on toast and pair it with different ingredients. These include sweet toppings like jam or honey, but also eggs, bacon, and more.

The English muffin is an integral part of Eggs Benedict and other sandwiches.

Who originated the English muffin?

The English muffin must come from England, right? Well, the answer to that question is actually - no.

Even though it would seem obvious that the English muffin was invented in Britain, that is not the case. In fact, its place of origin is right here, in the United States. And this version of the muffin didn't even become known in the UK until the 1990s.

The person who created the English muffin was Samuel Bath Thomas. He was from England, Plymouth to be exact, and he moved to the US in 1875. So, while the muffin isn't from England, its inventor is.

It took no longer than 5 years for Thomas to open a bakery of his own in New York. And that's when he started to bake and sell these unique muffins based on his Mom's recipe. At the time, he used the term "toaster crumpet."

This invention of his became quite popular and sort of a substitute for toast. He even opened a second shop, also in NYC, that became known as "The Muffin House."

Later on, in 1926, the Thomas company decided to trademark his English muffin. And they noted the term had been first used in 1984.

Any more English muffin fun facts?

Sure thing, there's a bit more to the connection between Thomas and the English muffin:

• When Thomas was starting out, it was actually hard to meet the demand for his muffins. He got to a point where horse wagons were needed to do the delivery. Plus, he was selling his muffins in grocery stores, too.
• After his death in 1919, Thomas' daughters became the new owners of the business.
• Since then, the Thomas brand has been resold on multiple occasions. At first, the family incorporated S.B. Thomas, Inc. This was in 1922.
• Many decades later, in 1970, CPC acquired it. But then it was owned by George Weston Bakeries. They subsequently sold it to Bimbo Bakeries USA, in 2009.
• Thomas had a marketing campaign for their muffins in the 1980s. This popularized the term - "Nooks and crannies."
• The company is very secretive about its English muffins recipe. In fact, only seven people know all the details about the making process of their product.
• Apparently, a certain consultant within the industry tried to learn Thomas' secret for several years. But he didn't have much success. This was around the turn of the 1980s. And his goal was to obtain the recipe for some competitor companies.

Isn't an English muffin the same as a crumpet?

English muffins and crumpets look similar, but they're not the same thing.

One difference is that a crumpet doesn't get griddled on both sides like an English muffin. As a result, the crumpet has small holes on the top. This is in contrast to the English muffin, which has holes on the inside that are visible once you cut it in half.

There's also a difference in the texture. Crumpets are spongy, while English muffins are bready.

This also affects the way they're served. Crumpets are served whole and toppings are added on top. And as you already know, English muffins are split in two, and you add toppings afterward.

What's more, crumpets are prepared with a loose batter while English muffins with a solid dough.

Nutritional value of English muffins

It is estimated that a single English muffin (57 g) contains about 134 calories. This includes 1 g of fat, 264 mg of sodium, and 75 mg of potassium. In addition, there are 26 g of carbohydrates, out of which 1.5 g is dietary fiber.

There are also 4.4 g of protein or 8% of the daily value for a 2000-calorie diet. As for vitamins, we got 2% of iron, 3% of magnesium, and 3% of calcium.

Fantastic places to get English muffins

Part of our job at Slice is to inform you about the makings and history of delicious food. But more importantly, we're here to help you find it. Sure, reading about a dish is really interesting, but the real joy is when you try it for yourself.

That being said, let's see where you can grab some tasty English muffins near you. If you're in Boston, we strongly recommend Cappy's Pizza & Subs. They have a delicious English muffin breakfast and you can find them on Westland Avenue. What's more, their menu features deals and coupons which is a great bonus.

Known for its superb breakfast options, Brunic's is the right place to get some English muffins in Philly. They freshly prepare all of their food items so you're in for a real quality meal. And their friendly staff will ensure you have a wonderful dining experience.

One more place we'd like to mention is Silvermoon II in Baltimore. This is a renowned restaurant with a location on E Baltimore Street. Their menu is full of delish food and English muffins are part of their varied selection.

What's awesome is they have an "all day" policy when it comes to their breakfast items. So, you can get some at any time. And let's face it, there isn't really a wrong time for treating yourself to an English muffin.

All these aforementioned restaurants are open 7 days a week. And they also have pickup and delivery available. But if you're in some other city, then simply check the listings on this page. It's the easiest way to locate a place offering fresh English muffins near you.