A Weekend Puzzle at 7 Seventy: Why is a Doughnut a Doughnut?

Here’s one for you, 7 Seventy — why does your doughnut have a hole?

That’s what makes it a doughnut, of course. Without the hole it would be — what? A cake?

Most historians think that the doughnut was invented by Dutch sea captain Hanson Gregory in 1847. He was eating cake at his post when the seas got rough, so he stuck it on the ship’s wheel.

Yes, that’s right: the famous doughnut hole was born of necessity, so that a hungry sailor could return to his dinner once the waves died down.

For what it’s worth, bakers say that the hole also promotes even cooking. But we’ll stick with Captain Gregory. Think of him the next time you hit Shipley Donuts in Houston!

Hungry History: Donuts [A&E]
Why Do Doughnuts Have Holes? [TIFO]
Why Do Donuts Have Holes In The Middle? [Knows Why?]
The Story of the Doughnut [Social Studies for Kids]