Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 18/02/2009 18:37:50

Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: neilep on 18/02/2009 18:37:50
Hi All,
I'm Neil...how are ewe ?..My eye is all better now, how is your eye....well ?..perhaps your eye and my eye can do lunch one day ?


Erhmmm...see my cakey that I just whipped up ?

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Nice eh ?..want some ?...of course ewe do !!..ewe want it bad don't ewe ?


What about my Biccy ?

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Nice eh ?...........DOH !! [;D]



How come my biccy will go soft if left uneaten and exposed to the air and my cakey will go hard ?


Why's that then ?


I'm not going to wait long enough to find out as I 'm about to indulge in a cakey/bicccy get-together !!


Hope ewe can help though....I'll save ewe some !!




neil
I Hang Around Bakers !!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 18/02/2009 20:02:33
I would imagine that fresh biscuits have alot less moisture in them than fresh cake, so if the biscuit is dryer than the environment it will absorb moisture from it, causing it to go soft. But a cake is probably more moist than the environment, so it will lose moisture when it equalizes with the environment and go hard.

Is a hard cake harder than a soft biscuit?
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 19/02/2009 06:37:47
Must say that I haven't really noticed this.
That just shows my lack of biscuit/cake consuming [:)]
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: ...lets split up... on 19/02/2009 06:42:27
You should cross an adult cake with an adult biscuit, could be onto a new hybrid that doesn't go off.
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 19/02/2009 07:04:37
Eh? [???]
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: Don_1 on 19/02/2009 07:48:35
MS has hit the nail right on the head. The low moisture content of a biscuit means it will absorb moisture from the air, while the high moisture content of the cake means it will loose moisture.

McVities, manufacturers of the Jaffa Cake, had a prolonged argument with HM Customs on the cake/biscuit affair.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irelandclick.com%2Fblog%2Ffood_and_drink%2Fuploaded_images%2Fjaffa-cakes-771190.jpg&hash=f7bc08a413b7367dca8b66b20940ec1a)
McVities insisted that the Jaffa Cake is a cake and, therefore, not subject to VAT. HMC argued that the Jaffa Cake was a chocolate coated biscuit, therefore is subject to VAT.

Cakes are deemed to be a necessity, so they are free of VAT.
Biscuits are also deemed a necessity, so they too are VAT free, but chocolate coated biscuits are deemed to be a luxury, therefore they are subject to VAT.

After much wrangling in the UK courts, the matter was taken to the European courts. McVities took along a 12" Jaffa Cake and convinced the courts that it was a cake. The standard Jaffa Cake was thus adjudged to be a smaller version of this cake and should indeed be classified as a cake.

The criteria used in this judgement was McVities' claim that a biscuit would go soft when stale, while a cake would go hard. Jaffa Cakes go hard when stale.

I heard, a short while ago, that Nestle may make a similar representation over the VAT status of the Kit Kat.
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: blakestyger on 19/02/2009 09:40:13
I heard, a short while ago, that Nestle may make a similar representation over the VAT status of the Kit Kat.

I don't want to live in a world where a Kit Kat is considered a necessity.
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: neilep on 20/02/2009 19:14:27
I would imagine that fresh biscuits have alot less moisture in them than fresh cake, so if the biscuit is dryer than the environment it will absorb moisture from it, causing it to go soft. But a cake is probably more moist than the environment, so it will lose moisture when it equalizes with the environment and go hard.

Is a hard cake harder than a soft biscuit?

Now that sounds logical !!..nice !!..Thanks Madidus_Scientia
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: neilep on 20/02/2009 19:15:15
Must say that I haven't really noticed this.
That just shows my lack of biscuit/cake consuming [:)]

As a firm believer in empirical study I urge ewe to start noticing it !!  [;)]
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: neilep on 20/02/2009 19:16:56
You should cross an adult cake with an adult biscuit, could be onto a new hybrid that doesn't go off.


Kewl lets split up...what would ewe call the progeny ?  A B iscake or a Cakiscuit ?  [;)]
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: neilep on 20/02/2009 19:19:59
MS has hit the nail right on the head. The low moisture content of a biscuit means it will absorb moisture from the air, while the high moisture content of the cake means it will loose moisture.

McVities, manufacturers of the Jaffa Cake, had a prolonged argument with HM Customs on the cake/biscuit affair.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irelandclick.com%2Fblog%2Ffood_and_drink%2Fuploaded_images%2Fjaffa-cakes-771190.jpg&hash=f7bc08a413b7367dca8b66b20940ec1a)
McVities insisted that the Jaffa Cake is a cake and, therefore, not subject to VAT. HMC argued that the Jaffa Cake was a chocolate coated biscuit, therefore is subject to VAT.

Cakes are deemed to be a necessity, so they are free of VAT.
Biscuits are also deemed a necessity, so they too are VAT free, but chocolate coated biscuits are deemed to be a luxury, therefore they are subject to VAT.

After much wrangling in the UK courts, the matter was taken to the European courts. McVities took along a 12" Jaffa Cake and convinced the courts that it was a cake. The standard Jaffa Cake was thus adjudged to be a smaller version of this cake and should indeed be classified as a cake.

The criteria used in this judgement was McVities' claim that a biscuit would go soft when stale, while a cake would go hard. Jaffa Cakes go hard when stale.

I heard, a short while ago, that Nestle may make a similar representation over the VAT status of the Kit Kat.

Respek to the Don1 !

Next time I have a cake and biscuit orientated question I will email McVities !!

I remember that court case !...made me hungry !!
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: rosalind dna on 20/02/2009 20:55:45
Hi Neil it depends on the recipes of the cake and/or biscuits also just
how much liquid it contains.

The more liquid less chance of drying out then going stale as biscuits have
done when they go all soft, unless you've dunked them.
Title: Why Does Biscuit Go Soft But Cakey Go Hard ?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 20/02/2009 23:57:36
Aye? Biscuits go soft because they absorb moisture