Pillsbury’s Toaster Strudels is a sweet-filled delicacy with a pack of icing that has been around for over 60 years. After all these years, it still creates excitement in both its young and adult consumers equally.
Are they healthy? Can they be eaten for breakfast? No, they are not healthy and are not fit to be eaten as breakfast. The toaster pastries do not contain essential nutrients like protein and fiber in adequate quantities to satisfy the morning energy needs. They also do not contain many vitamins and minerals that support proper bodily functioning. Allowing them to replace traditional breakfast is not advisable.
Table of Contents
What are Toaster Strudels made of?
All Toaster Strudels have the following main ingredients.
- Bleached flour
Bleaching the flour with chemicals removes its natural yellow color and lets the dough rise faster but also upsets the body and removes the micronutrients.
- Palm and soybean oil
The high-fat content of the oils can cause heart and coronary damage.
- Sugar, Dextrose, and high fructose corn syrup
These sweeteners can spike blood sugar levels and cause diabetes.
- Preservatives
Toaster Strudels contains preservative like TBHQ
- Artificial flavors and colors
The use of synthetic colors like Red-40 and Blue-1 are banned in some European countries.
The pastries also contain Whey, Barley flour, Gums, Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Baking soda, Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Fruit concentrates, Polysorbates, Glycerides, and Fortifications.
Nutritional facts of Toaster Strudels
Two Toaster Strudels provide 54 grams of carbohydrates out of which 20 grams come from sugar. The total fat content stands at 15 grams along with small amounts of protein and fiber at 5 and 1 gram each.
The fortifications added to the dough offer various micronutrients of which only Iron is found to be contributing about 2 milligrams.
The pastries serve 300 mg of Sodium which is more than 10% of the daily intake requirement. The breakfast replacement lacks to provide essential vitamins and minerals required by the body. The high sugar and low protein nature of the pastry can leave us hungry within moments of consumption
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Calories in Toaster Strudels
The average calorie count of two Toaster Strudels is 350 kcals including its icing. The pastries contain the same amount of energy as our typical breakfast. But, since most of these calories are delivered by sugar, they become empty calories without providing substantial nourishment.
Children usually eat the pastries in excess and end up with a lowered appetite for nutritious food. The calorie count could be overwhelming for people trying to get in shape or maintain a healthy lifestyle. At least half an hour of workout is required to burn such amounts of calories.
Do Toaster Strudels have gelatin?
No, Toaster Strudels do not contain gelatin. Gelatin is normally used to keep frostings on baked goods intact. The pastries are not frosted as they come with separately packed icing which can be spread out at the time of consumption.
As gelatins are made from beef or pork, they carry the risk of contamination. Toaster Strudels are safe to eat as they are completely free from gelatin of any kind.
Do Toaster Strudels have dairy?
Yes, Toaster Strudels do contain dairy in the form of milk, whey, and cream. Dairy is present in both the strudel and its icing; hence eating one without the other will not help much.
Despite including dairy, the pastries do not contain any nutrition linked to it. Although the brand comes in many alternating flavors, it does not produce a variant free from dairy for the lactose intolerant segment of the market.
Do Toaster Strudels have gluten?
Yes, the Strudels are not gluten-free as they are made from refined wheat and malted barley flour that are rich in gluten. The recipe also contains corn starch and Maltodextrin, worsening the situation.
While gluten is normally okay, people with gluten intolerance or those suffering from Celiac disease may want to avoid Toaster Strudels.
Do Toaster Strudels have pork?
No, Toaster Strudels are free from pork or any other meat derivatives. Processed meat is considered unhealthy as it may be carcinogenic. Going through the ingredient list shows the exclusion of pork and allows the buyers to proceed with the purchase confidently. The company makes a line of pork-filled toasters under an entirely different brand name called Toaster Scrambles, leaving no mist of confusion around Toaster Strudels and its ingredients.
Do Toaster Strudels have eggs?
Although Toaster Strudels do not contain eggs in its list of ingredients, the product comes with allergy information indicating that it may contain eggs. In its recipe, eggs are replaced by thickening agents like plant gums and cellulose. The pastries are produced with ingredients that are primarily vegetarian.
The warning is put up for a wholly different reason, though. Since the brand manufactures Toaster Strudels in the same factory as its other products that contain eggs like Toaster Scrambles, there may be a possibility of contamination. Forewarning the customers is mandatory as they can proceed with the purchase at their own discretion.
Are Pillsbury’s Toaster Strudels vegan or vegetarian?
Toaster Strudels are vegetarian, but not completely vegan. The presence of milk and milk products makes Strudels a no-go for vegans. As none of the ingredients contain meat, the pastry is fit to be part of a vegetarian meal. Consumers are still intimated of the fact that the pastries may contain eggs, owing to their nature of manufacture.
Are Pillsbury’s Toaster Strudels halal or kosher?
Yes, Toaster Strudels are completely kosher for consumption as they do not contain beef or pork. There is no gelatin or animal fat used to produce the pastry or its toppings.
Do frozen Toaster Strudels go bad?
Not necessarily. The Strudels are pre-cooked and deeply frozen to ensure their longevity. They can very well be placed on store shelves and refrigerators, as per the storage instructions, until the product reaches its expiration date. Until then, the strudel does not deteriorate in taste or quality and is deemed to be safe for consumption.
How long are Toaster Strudels good for?
When stored as per directions, Toaster Strudels can retain their production quality for as many as three months. Make sure your Strudels are refrigerated so they retain their integrity. It is advised to consume Strudels within six hours of toasting them. If you do not plan on consuming them right away, it’s a good idea to wrap them in aluminum foils and refrigerate them, so you can reheat them before consuming them later.
Do Toaster Strudels have to be frozen?
Yes, if not for deep freeze, the strudels must at least be refrigerated to get the best results. The pastry loses its flavor and the additives may start reacting differently when stored in warm conditions for too long. Freezing the pastry keeps its ingredients and taste intact, keeping the pastry fit for consumption.
Can Toaster Strudels be made in a microwave?
Yes, Toaster Strudels can be heated by using a microwave. Although the instructions do not include heating the product in a microwave, it still brings out the same result as the other options.
Microwaving involves the use of radio waves to heat up the water molecules present in the food. Since Toaster Strudels are frozen, it is recommended that you thaw the pastries at room temperature for a minute or two before placing them in the microwave. This way, the thawed water can absorb the heat and distribute them effectively. Make sure to flip the pastries in between microwaving to get both sides heated up uniformly.
Can Toaster Strudels be made in an air fryer?
Yes, Toaster Strudels can be prepped in an air fryer. Hot air is circulated evenly inside the fryer, getting the pastries cooked in 5-7 minutes. Make sure you do not keep them in the air fryer for long to avoid charring the Strudels. Flipping the pastry in the middle of heating can deliver the signature flaky crust with warm and moist filling.
Can Toaster Strudels be made in a toaster oven?
Yes, definitely. Toaster Strudels can be heated to perfection in a toaster oven. These ovens produce unvaried heat that makes the strudels ready for consumption faster. There is no need to flip the pastry as toaster ovens spread the heat fairly to all sides of the product. The time needed to cook the pastries vary from 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure you do not burn or overcook the pastries though.
Are Toaster Strudels good for breakfast?
No, Toaster Strudels are not good for breakfast. The main reason here is the excessive sugar content in the Strudels. Each pastry contains around 10 grams of sugar with only trace amounts of fiber and protein. This is not an ideal diet for the mornings.
Toaster Strudels also contain a number of chemicals like TBHQ, Polysorbates, Sodium Benzoates that are known to cause chronic health impairments. Synthetic food dyes are a significant concern for children as it impacts their cognitive abilities.
Some of the ingredients in Toaster Strudels are also found in soaps and toothpaste and are linked to respiratory illnesses. It must however be noted that these chemicals are present in significantly small quantities – so you are not in danger. However, overconsuming them can be a problem.
It is logical to consider these sweet treats as snacks rather than prime meal replacements. They make a delightful complement to a wholesome meal and fulfill our occasional cravings.
References:
- https://www.pillsbury.com/products/toaster-strudel
- https://www.ewg.org/foodscores/products/018000427420-PillsburyToasterStrudelPastriesStrawberry/
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