OK.... An English Muffin is 1) Not a muffin and 2) May or may not English. It is a form of bread made from a dough that is allowed to rise twice. It is formed into a ball and fried on a hot griddle. This results in a "muffin" about the size of a hamburger bun. One side is usually flatter than the other, and with a white ring around the hole thing. Imagine a very thick pancake. The interior is usually soft and moist with lots of air pockets. The muffin is designed to be torn or fork split open (cutting is not the best idea) so that the "insides" are jagged. When toasted the inside becomes nice and crispy and the air holes become crispy pockets that are great for holding jam or melted butter. English muffins are usually served for breakfast, but can be used for sandwiches as well.

Credit for the phrase "English muffin" is often given to Samuel Bath Thomas, an English baker who emigrated to New York City and began producing his "muffins" around 1880. Sometimes they are referred to as 'breakfast muffins'.

It's a slightly flattened roll with lots of bubbles in it, when toasted it has a lot of crispy crags because of the bubbles.

It's that sweet little bird you see near the tube every morning! ;)

The closest thing in England would be crumpets, if I remember correctly.

it's like a crumpet with a drier texture... we love them here in the US. McDonald's makes some of their breakfast sandwiches on them.

thomas' english muffins are the best... when i was growing up, my parents friends in texas couldn't get them so we mailed them cases a few times a year.. they are a great vessel for butter...

I personally love English Muffins. I always thought they originated in England, but now I know...

I love English Muffins

we call them 'english' muffins out here in Australia .. but they are over shadowed by our 'crumpets' which are far better in taste and are the best with any topping you can think of:)

Where are they from? A bakery, where else? LOL

I don't care, as long as they have the "Nooks & Crannies" of Thomas's... and lots of butter and jam.

Are we talking the same thing here? Here in California, the English muffin (pic on left) is not the same as a muffin (pic on right). Different flavors, textures and everything.

English muffins are sort of like crumpets only they are more dense and doughy, more like little flat griddle breads. Crumpets are a bit more rubbery and the dough is a dough it's more like a batter that is poured into a ring. The tops on a crumpet get little wholes. The English muffins get cooked on a griddle too but as a little bread and they are flipped to cook both sides. I love them both. I make both at home. They both taste much better freshly made. We eat them at least 3-4 times a week for breakfast, making a 'sandwich' with them with bacon or ham, eggs and maybe some cheese. GOod breakfast! Lasts a good while.

Actually they are English, grew up on them here in Australia - been since before World War 1. Ken - www.kenhoward.com The History of the English Muffin The English muffin has come a long way - culturally and geographically. Originally eaten by the "downstairs" servants in England's Victorian society, the English muffin surfaced and rose to prominence in Great Britain when members of all classes of society became aware of its goodness. The family baker made English muffins from leftover bread and biscuit dough scraps and mashed potatoes. He fried the batter on a hot griddle, creating light, crusty muffins for the servants. Once members of the "upstairs" family tasted these rich muffins, they began to request them for themselves - especially during teatime. As a result of the English muffin becoming the "most fancied" bread on the isle, English muffin factories sprang up all over England. Muffin men could be heard in the streets selling their muffins from wooden trays slung around their necks. For teatime in private homes and clubs, the English muffins would be split and toasted over an open fire and served in a covered sterling dish alongside tea. The prominence of the muffin men in English society was evident when "Oh, do you know the muffin man" became a popular children's nursery rhyme. The popularity of the English muffin reached its zenith in Great Britain during the years preceding World War I.

They are called crumpets over there. If you ask them about English muffins, you'll get a blank stare. So I guess if you are talking about "English muffins" that is an American creation. But if you are talking about "crumpets" they are English.

1) "muffin 1703, moofin, possibly from Low Ger. muffen, pl. of muffe "small cake;" or somehow connected with O.Fr. moufflet "soft" (said of bread)." Source and further information: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=muffin&searchmode=none 2) "An old English nursery rhyme, The Muffin Man, describes a door-to-door purveyor of muffins. The rhyme was known at the time of Jane Austen in the early 19th Century and a muffin man is mentioned at one point in her novel, Persuasion. The muffins sold at this period were made of yeasted dough and baked on a hot griddle. Muffins may well originate as far back as the 10th century, yet the muffin became a fashionable bread during the 18th century. By the beginning of th 19th century there were dozens of muffin factories in existence and the 'muffin man' was a common sight. Muffins are a very quick baking bread and have become a tea table staple. They are usually split, toasted, buttered and then used with a savoury or sweet filling such as honey." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffin_(English%29 3) "The origin of English muffins is not clear, but at least one of the antecedents may have been “Bara Maen,” a yeast leavened cake baked on hot stones in 10th century Wales. A similar cake or muffin baked on griddles was popular in 19th century England. The hot fresh muffins were peddled door to door in the early morning, hence the “muffin man.” Most sources attribute the introduction in America of what is today called the “English muffin” to S.B. Thomas. The young Samuel Bath Thomas was familiar with these muffins and their recipe before he moved to America from Plymouth, England, in 1875. By 1880, he had saved enough money to open a shop of his own in Manhattan and the rest is history." Source and further information: http://www.ndwheat.com/uploadsresources407english-muffins.pdf Further information: - "The History of the English Muffin": http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/EnglishMuffin.htm - "English Muffins": http://www.foodreference.com/html/artenglishmuffins.html - "So, How Well Do You Know the Muffin Man?": http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/18882/ - "The Muffin Man": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muffin_Man

Super Woman! lol Well you asked for it!

they're soooo delicious. just look it up on google duhhhhhh