We often have high hopes in life. Roman, a professional eater, saw world records for saltine crackers and marshmallows and thought: “Easy!”–World Records Editor Jake Sonderman
By Roman Rickwood
The Saltine Cracker
When I started to research records I thought I could break, I searched for a very specific record–something to do with food.
When I first saw that the world record for most saltine crackers eaten in a minute was 12, I immediately assumed that I could beat that. I said to myself: “I eat saltine crackers all the time; this is going to be a breeze.” Well, it was not, I underestimated the power of the saltine cracker. As many know, saltine crackers are incredibly dry and salty. Most of the time, when someone eats them, they are eating them to calm their stomach. I like to eat them as a snack, and for that reason I thought it would be easy to eat 12, 13, or even 14 in a minute. It wasn’t, the fine print in this challenge was that water was not allowed. Without water, a build up of saltine crackers got stuck in my mouth, and I could not swallow them. I was shocked at this sensation, and at this point I knew that the saltine had won.
So, I moved on to . . .
The Marshmallow
The second record that I believed I could easily break was the record for most marshmallows eaten in a minute. The current record is 26. This record seemed average to me. It was one of those niche records where at first glance the number does not appear to be very impressive. Again, no water was allowed. When water is allowed, I have seen numbers thrown out as high as 80 marshmallows in a minute. I am a person who enjoys food. I also am considered a fast eater. I went into both challenges expecting to easily shatter the record; however, both times I was sorely mistaken. As you will see, the marshmallows went down much easier than the saltine crackers; however, because of the density and tension that the marshmallow has, it too created a build up, and I only ended up eating 18. I was 8 shy of the record.
Would I attempt this again?
No, plain and simple. I enjoy food. And, while I am a fast eater, I am not a speed eater. I am not cut out for it. The effects of attempting these challenges included me not eating dinner that night–a travesty, I know. However, in all seriousness, the saltine cracker challenge did leave little cuts in the roof off my mouth, and, because of that, it made eating not so enjoyable for about a day. Now, knowing what I know, I have respect for every world record, no matter how specific or crazy it might be. They are world records for a reason.
World Record Editor: Jake Sonderman
Have you seen the annual Hot Dog contest in Coney Island! Thats’s insane. As kids one pf the summer camp contests was eating as many crackers and trying to see who can whistle first. This should be a lesson all of us, food is meant to be savored and eating slowly is better for digestion.
Nice try!