Roasting marshmallows over a campfire is one of the highlights of a camping trip or an outdoor gathering, especially to a state park area. No question.
You would think roasting a marshmallow over the coals and embers in that furnished fire ring may seem like the easiest thing to do, right? Not necessarily.
How many times have you seen someone pull their stick from the fire to reveal a perfectly roasted marshmallow? That’s right, not very often. What you normally see is somebody quickly removing their stick from the fire while waving it erratically to put out the flames of the sugary blob, at least the exterior of it.
The end result of that scenario is something that is completely charred or blackened on the outside but still hard and cold on the inside. Not my view of the perfectly roasted marshmallow. Would you agree?
Yeah, I know some of you may want to cook your marshmallows like that, but I find it hard to believe that you actually prefer them that way.
The mission with the sugar-based confection on a stick or skewer and carefully held over the radiant heat of campfire coals is to create a smoky, caramelized or charred outer texture with a liquid, molten layer underneath.
Look, it has often been said that that roasting a marshmallow over a fire is “the lowest common denominator of outdoor cooking.” But, that isn’t true.
Professional chefs and survival experts say it is a litmus test of your ability to cook any edible food over an open flame.
According to Paula Marcoux, the author of Cooking With Fire, roasting a marshmallow is a great learning tool when it comes to cooking campfire fare. She points out that toasting a marshmallow over the coals of a campfire is like roasting real food on fast-forward. “Experiencing that process attentively will allow you to approach roasting anything — a chicken, a hog, an eggplant, a fish (things you really don’t want carbonized on the outside and raw in the middle) — with a refreshed understanding of the task.”
Here are some helpful hints on how to effectively roast the perfect marshmallow.
The Marshmallows
Unlike some foods, the brand of marshmallows is important in outdoor cooking. Many cheaper brands of marshmallows burn too quickly when being roasted. Jet-Puffed and Campfire brands of original or larger sizes are recommended. Not only do these name-brand marshmallows taste much better than the less expensive store-brand marshmallows, they roast more evenly, and you can slide off the outer roasted shell to double-roast the marshmallows. There are now many different types of marshmallows on the market from sugar-free to gourmet to vegan. You could even sample green apple-flavored marshmallows or even bourbon-flavored ones.
The Fire
The Stick
The Technique and Result
The number one thing to remember when roasting a marshmallow is to be patient! Attaining the perfect consistency of gooey goodness takes a little time. Hold the marshmallow approximately five to eight inches from the coals on the edge of the fire. Rotate it around slowly, or go for a quarter turn at a time, somewhat like a slow rotisserie. You don’t have to change positions around a fire if you rotate the marshmallow. For added stability, rest the stick on a log or chair so that the marshmallow maintains the same distance from the fire as it rotates. This should take about four minutes or so. As the marshmallow turns a crisp, tawny color, it will sag on the skewer. A vertical slit may appear where the marshmallow and the skewer meet indicating that it is essentially done. Exercise caution, the marshmallow will be very hot! Wait at least 30-60 seconds after pulling it out of the fire before touching it or eating it. If your marshmallow catches fire, don’t freak out. Just blow on it until the flame goes out. The roasted marshmallow can either be eaten whole or the outer layer can be removed and consumed separately and the rest of the marshmallow can even be roasted again!
The Classic S’more
In a classic s’more, the perfectly roasted marshmallow is the star of the show. It provides additional flavor, a soft, sticky texture, and is the heat source that melts the chocolate just enough to be appetizing.
Camping season is here, so visit a Nebraska state park area soon. Enjoy a campfire in a fire ring, grate or grill with family and friends roasting the perfect marshmallows, making classic s’mores and creating memories. For more information, go to OutdoorNebraska.org
The post Roasting The Perfect Marshmallow At Your Campsite appeared first on NEBRASKALand Magazine.
