Buzz
Oreo cookies are full of secrets, and one of the most intriguing is the structure of the wafer itself. For those of us who have engaged in the classic game of twisting an Oreo to see who claims more of the tasty cream filling, there’s always been one burning question: Is there a secret technique to ensure victory? Thanks to three Princeton University aerospace engineers, we now have the answer.
According to Gizmodo, in 2014, graduate students John Cannarella, Dan Quinn, and Joshua Spechler at Princeton University began pondering the mysteries of the Oreo cookie. After conducting some research and realizing no one had ever explored the question, they decided to dive in and find the solution.
"The Oreo is fascinating from an engineering perspective because its structure mirrors that of many modern composites: a strong, brittle outer layer (the wafer) for rigidity and a more malleable, softer inner layer (the cream) for flexibility," Cannarella explained to Quartz. "Shatterproof glass and batteries are other examples of material systems that share similarities with Oreos."
Sure, that makes sense, but it’s also crucial for winning schoolyard battles in the '90s.
To better understand the physics behind it, the research team subjected the Oreo to a series of rigorous tests, using both robotic and human participants. After analyzing thousands of cookies, they made a groundbreaking discovery that guarantees your victory in the Oreo twist game: The cream consistently ends up on the same side in every cookie in a given box.
In other words, before entering your Oreo battle, test a cookie from the box. If you twist it and find the cream on the side closest to the back of the box, you can rest assured that every other cookie will have the cream on the same side, no matter the row.
Though Nabisco has yet to reveal the specifics of their cookie-making process, Quartz points out that a 2010 episode of How It’s Made provides some insight into the production of Newman-O’s, which helps illuminate how Oreos are likely made. The process involves a machine that deposits a dollop of cream onto one wafer, then adds another wafer on top. The physicists believe the first wafer may have a stronger grip on the cream (though they can't confirm this), and that’s likely the cookie that will dominate in the twist game.
And that’s the secret! Go ahead and enjoy your cookie, but we’re not suggesting you use the test cookie trick to win—that would be cheating. We’re simply passing on the knowledge.
