How Triscuits Work

In 1893, Henry D. Perky was eating breakfast in a small Nebraska town. He noticed another diner eating a bowl of boiled whole wheat that was broken up with a spoon.

When Perky asked the other diner why he was eating it, the diner responded by saying that it was a very digestible food and gave him strength.

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The Triscuit is a popular snack
cracker that started as
a breakfast cereal.
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Perky tried it and agreed, but felt that the average person would not find it tasty nor go to the trouble of breaking it up with a spoon. That breakfast sparked the idea of shredded wheat cereal, the first prepared cereal in the world, and the mother of the Triscuit.

In this article, we’ll show you how Triscuits work, including the history, the production process, and the nutritional values of the popular snack cracker.

Triscuits History

Perky started experimenting with wheat and found that by shredding the cooked wheat and toasting the biscuits, the flavors and texture were much more appetizing. After consulting a machinist, he developed a process for drawing the cooked wheat into shreds, forming the shreds into loaves, and baking the loaves in coal ovens.

Perky received a patent, five years later in 1898, for a “new and original design for wafers.” This cracker-like biscuit replaced the need to manually cut the shredded wheat biscuit lengthwise with a knife and toast both halves separately.

In 1901, he received two more patents for a “cracker of filamentous or shredded wheat” featuring a waffle-like texture. He named the wafer Triscuit.

Triscuits Production

Varieties of Triscuits

Deli-Style Rye
Garden Herb
Thin Crisps
Rosemary & Olive Oil
Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil
Reduced Fat
Roasted Garlic
Fire Roasted Tomato
Cheddar
Original
Low Sodium

Production of the Triscuit wafer began in 1903 at the Niagara Falls, New York plant with the Triscuit packaging proclaiming “Baked by Electricity.” The wafer measured 21/4 inches by 4 inches and remained that size for twenty-one years. At that point, the ovens were altered and improved and the cracker size changed to 2 inches square.

To make Triscuits today, the wheat is first cooked in water until its moisture content reaches about 50%. It is then tempered, allowing moisture to diffuse evenly into the grain. The grain then passes through a set of rollers with grooves in one side, yielding a web of shredded wheat strands.

Many webs are stacked together, and this moist stack of strands is crimped at regular intervals to produce individual pieces of cereal with the strands attached at each end. These then go into an oven, where they are baked until their moisture content is reduced to five percent.

In 1935, in order to better address consumer taste preferences, Triscuit crackers were sprayed with oil and lightly salted. The flavors remained the same until 1984 when popular tastes changed again. The public wanted nutritious wafers, but they also demanded more out of those wafers, including additional choices, “crunch” appeal, and flavor varieties. There are now eleven Triscuit varieties on store shelves.

Learn about the health benefits of Triscuits in the next section.

Health Benefits of Triscuits

Triscuits are a favorite snack and a great party food, but you could also call the cracker “health food.” Henry Perky, the inventor of Triscuits, once stated that [shredded wheat] was the "most perfect food that was ever devised for the nourishment of man."

Triscuits pack a lot of punch into a two-inch square.

Perky was not far off the mark -- one serving of those 2-inch squares is low in saturated fat, has 0 grams of trans fat, has 0 grams of cholesterol, and is sugar free.

Triscuits, made entirely of whole grains, are also a good source of dietary fiber, with 3 grams per serving. Most breads usually only contain 1-2 grams of fiber. So what does that really mean?

Boost Your Fiber

Triscuits are known for their high fiber content, so to boost your fiber, here are some ways you can go beyond the cheese and cracker stage:

Â Break up into bite-size pieces:
Âserve over soups and chilis;
use as you would croutons over salads;
make a snack mix with pretzels and peanuts
Coarsely chop the low sodium or original varieties in a food processor with toasted nuts, corn syrup, and cinnamon to use for a piecrust;
Crush and:
mix with your favorite meatloaf, meatballs, or casseroles instead of breadcrumbs
sprinkle on top of vegetables
Top with pizza sauce, a pepperoni slice, and a bit of cheese:
Microwave 45 seconds for quick and nutritious pizza squares.
Or, bake in 350 degree oven for 2-3 minutes
Or, broil until cheese melts (watching closely).

According to the American Institute of Cancer Research and other health organizations, the benefits of eating a diet high in fiber are substantial.

Diets high in fiber:

May help reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating more fiber-rich foods may protect you from some forms of cancer and may significantly reduce your risk of heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, and obesity.
Help many common conditions related to colon function, including constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis.
Slow down digestion. Whole grains are complex carbohydrates (and not simple ones, like refined sugar, white flour and white rice), so are digested more slowly.
Steady blood sugar levels to give a feeling of fullness. This helps in healthier weight control.
Satisfy hunger longer. Consuming three or more servings of whole grains daily, especially from high-fiber cereals, lowers risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease because there is less chance to develop insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Give eaters combined health protection. When a grain is refined, it loses fiber, nutrients, and other healthful compounds, including some vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting phytochemicals. Eating whole grains adds those protective elements back into your diet. The combination of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in other plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, and nuts multiplies their protective power.

AICR-funded research has shown high levels of potent antioxidants called polyphenols in whole grains. Antioxidants fight damage to cells that may lead to cancer and other diseases. Phenols and other antioxidants are mainly found in the outer layer of whole grains, the part that is removed when grains are refined.

How many servings of whole grains should we consume a day? The USDA's updated 2005 Dietary Guidelines advise Americans to eat at least three servings a day of whole grains as part of a healthy diet.

When looking for healthy choices in breads, cereals, and crackers, look at the fiber content. That’s the main area of concern. The higher the fiber, the better it is for you. Compare brands by simply glancing at the nutritional labels provided on the back of the package or box.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy S. Hughes has written nine cookbooks. She develops recipes for major corporations, organizations, and lifestyle magazines.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Triscuits FAQ

Are Triscuits or Wheat Thins better for you?

Despite good marketing, Wheat Thins aren't very healthy for you. Per serving, the original flavor contains 140 calories, 5 grams of fat, 200 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbs, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. In comparison, original Triscuits have fewer calories, less fat and carbs, lower sodium levels, more protein, and absolutely no sugar.

Are Triscuits vegan?

Most of the flavors are vegan, though a few of them have dairy products. In fact, a number of the flavors just contain whole grain wheat, canola oil, sea salt, and spices. If you're concerned, double check the ingredients list before you start snacking.

What kind of oil is in Triscuits?

Only plant oils are used to make Triscuits. All of the recipes use canola oil as one of the first three ingredients.

How many calories are in Triscuits?

Original Triscuits â€” and most of their other flavors as well â€” have only 120 calories per serving (seven crackers).

Are Triscuits healthy?

Yes. One serving of the whole grain crackers is low in saturated fat, has zero grams of trans fat, zero grams of cholesterol, and is sugar-free. It also has three grams of dietary fiber, which is more than most breads. The brand also recently switched to non-GMO ingredients, which is verified by the Non-GMO Project.