Why doughnuts have holes?
The origin of why doughnuts have holes is a bit unclear, and there are several different stories or theories.
One popular theory is that a man named Hanson Gregory, who was a sailor in the mid-nineteenth century was the first to create the hole in the doughnut. The story goes that Hanson wanted a better way to cook his doughnuts while on board a ship, so he used a round tin pepper container to punch a whole in the middle of the dough, which allowed the doughnut to cook more evenly and prevented the centre from being undercooked.
Another theory is that doughnuts were traditionally made as a twisted shape, and the hole was added to make them cook more evenly and quickly.
Yet another theory is that the hole was added for practical reasons, such as making it easier to carry several doughnuts at once on a stick or string.
Regardless of the exact reason, the hole in the centre of the doughnut has become a defining characteristic of this popular treat. Today doughnuts come in a wide variety of flavours and styles, from traditional glazed doughnuts to more modern creations like bacon maple bars or cronuts (a hybrid of a croissant and a doughnut)
