Corn flakes

Breakfast cereal made from toasted corn

A bowl of Kellogg's Corn Flakes with milk

Corn flakes are a popular breakfast cereal made from toasted flakes of corn. They were originally created by John Harvey Kellogg in 1894 as a healthy food for patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan, United States.

History

1910 advertisement for Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes

The invention of corn flakes is attributed to the Kellogg brothers, John Harvey Kellogg and Will Keith Kellogg. The brothers were Seventh-day Adventists who ran the Battle Creek Sanitarium. In their quest to create a healthy vegetarian diet for their patients, they accidentally discovered the process of making corn flakes when boiled wheat was left out and became stale. When they rolled the stale wheat, it formed flakes, which they then toasted.

Will Kellogg later applied the same process to corn, creating the first corn flakes. In 1906, he founded the Kellogg Company to produce and market the cereal. Corn flakes quickly became popular and were marketed as a nutritious breakfast option.

Production

Corn flakes are made by cooking corn grits with sugar, vitamins, and minerals. The cooked grits are then rolled into flakes and toasted. This process gives corn flakes their distinctive crispy texture and golden color.

Culinary uses

1919 advertisement for Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes

Corn flakes are typically consumed with milk or yogurt and can be sweetened with sugar or honey. They are also used as an ingredient in various recipes, such as funeral potatoes, a popular dish in the United States.

A close-up of corn flakes

In addition to being a breakfast cereal, corn flakes can be used as a crunchy topping for casseroles or as a coating for fried foods. They are also used in desserts, such as lime sorbet with corn flakes.

Cultural impact

Corn flakes have had a significant impact on breakfast culture worldwide. They were one of the first ready-to-eat cereals and paved the way for the development of the breakfast cereal industry. The convenience and nutritional claims of corn flakes contributed to their widespread popularity.

Related pages

• Breakfast cereal
• Kellogg Company
• John Harvey Kellogg
• Will Keith Kellogg

Lime sorbet with corn flakes

Breakfast buffet featuring various cereals

Potato salad with corn flakes

Funeral potatoes topped with corn flakes