Whether you are at a camp or just enjoying a warm fire in your yard, roasting a marshmallow comes to your mind.
Marshmallows are soft white balls made of sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin. They make a nice dessert, but before bringing this snack close to a fire, you must know what sticks to use for roasting marshmallows.
This article covers all you need to know about marshmallow sticks, including all the types of wood that can be used when roasting.
What Sticks To Use For Roasting Marshmallow
Not all sticks you pick from the ground are suitable for roasting marshmallows, even if there are clean. Some twigs or small branches may be poisonous or give your marshmallow a bitter taste.
1. Birch Branches
If you find any small branch from a birch tree lying around, you are lucky because it is great for roasting marshmallows. Birch is a deciduous hardwood that can be used for lumber work and furniture.
Small branches from this tree have been classified as edible, and they are known for making marshmallows tasty by adding some wintergreen flavor to them.
2. Hawthorn Branches
This is a species of shrub that may be common to your environment. Some of them have small white flowers while others have small red fruits called haws, this tree is known for its edible and sweet leaves, and while these sweet leaves don’t add to the taste of your marshmallows, they are great for roasting. Hawthorn is also known for some crucial health benefits.
These are the two main types of wood that can roast marshmallows. If you don’t find these two, others you can consider include maple, ash, dogwood, and elm.
What Sticks To Not Use For Roasting Marshmallows
Some branches are bad for roasting marshmallows because they are poisonous, have thorns, and add a bitter taste to your evening snack.
1. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel contains substances that constrict the body tissue, and it also contains substances that cure skin irritation problems like eczema. Eating marshmallows roasted with witch hazel is not harmful; it just causes your face to swell.
2. Black Cherry Branches
A black cherry bush may have tasty fruits, but its branch is not safe. The black cherry branch contains cyanogenic glycosides that contain nitrogen that can produce hydrogen cyanide when broken in the body.
Hydrogen cyanide is toxic to the human body; this implies that the branches of black cherry should not be used for roasting marshmallows.
3. Willow Branches
Willow branches contain chemicals known as salicylic acid, which is converted to aspirin, a strong painkiller in the human body.
In some branches, the amount of this acid may be high, and this means a high concentration of aspirin in the body; the acid may be transferred to your marshmallows when roasting.
Best Sticks For Marshmallows
This section has recommended some of the best sticks for roasting marshmallows. These sticks are durable and will not harm the human body as they contain no toxic chemicals.
1. MalloMe Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
This stick for roasting marshmallows is not completely wood. The top is made of stainless steel, non-toxic, and easy to use.
This stainless also makes the sticks easy to clean and store. This small equipment can be gotten from a store or an online shopping platform.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to use and clean
- Easy to store
- Affordable
Cons
- Under severe heat, this stick may be hard to clean
2. Ajmyonsp Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
This marshmallow stick has a wooden base and a top made of stainless steel. This is because stainless steel is heat resistant and will not melt easily, and it is also easy to clean and store because of its portable size.
Pros
- Easy to use
- It can be used for other food items like hotdogs and veggies
- Easy to store
Cons
- The axle may not rotate and will require you to turn it yourself
3. Marshmallows Smore Roasting Bamboo Sticks
Made from bamboo trees, this marshmallow smores are long enough to be used without causing harm to anyone, and it is environmentally friendly as it is biodegradable. This smores come in a family pack that contains 110 sticks, so there is more to go around.
Pros
- It has a length of 36” to ensure safety
- Easy to use
- Eco-friendly and biodegradable
Cons
- None
How To Make Sticks For Roasting Marshmallows
If you do not have access to marshmallow roasting sticks or none nearby, you can make your roasting stick. The steps below should assist you in making a proper wooden stick.
- Locate a stick from a good tree-like birch or hawthorn
- Ensure that the length of this stick is 30 to 37 inches
- Use a sharp blade to peel the skin off the stick and make a pointed top.
However, locating good sticks in a modern yard or campground may be a problem. When this is the case, you can find yourself a thin metal coat hanger.
You can straighten the hanger properly and use it to roast marshmallows. The only problem with this method is that the wire can get slippery and hot, and it isn’t easy to attain a straight wire.
Conclusion
When going for a camping trip or having a fire pit in your yard, you must roast some marshmallows. We have discussed some sticks suitable for roasting marshmallows and others that aren’t.
Always look for branches from birch and hawthorn trees and avoid branches from black cherry, willow, and witch hazel trees as they are toxic.
We have also recommended the best marshmallow sticks available in the market. If you do not have these sticks, you can use a suitable branch with a pointed top or straighten out a metal hanger and use it for this purpose.
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We trust this article helped you know the sticks to use for roasting marshmallows. You may also want to check out If it is Safe To Roast Marshmallows On a Propane Fire Pit?
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