Saltine crackers — also called saltina or soda crackers — are a popular and versatile snack.
Made with white flour, a leavening agent like baking soda or yeast, shortening, and coarse salt, saltine crackers are noted for their dry texture, crispiness, and distinctive perforations that make them easy to snap and enjoy.
They make great accompaniments and are often paired with soup, nut butter, and jam or jelly.
In this article, we explain the benefits and downsides of saltine crackers to determine if they are a healthy snack.
However, they provide small amounts of folate — also called vitamin B9 — which plays an essential role in fetal development (4).
Per serving of 3–5 crackers (15 grams), here is the nutritional comparison of various saltine varieties (1, 2, 3):
The regular, low sodium, and whole wheat varieties of saltine crackers provide similar amounts of energy (calories), fiber, protein, folate, and sodium.
However, the low sodium and whole wheat varieties provide the same (or similar) levels of sodium for fewer crackers per serving compared to the regular saltine crackers.
By the 1870s, the addition of coarse salt to the top of crackers led to the name “saltine.” Now “soda cracker” is less commonly used than the term “saltine,” but a saltine is still a soda cracker,” Hastings said.
Saltine crackers and weight gain
Despite speculations that saltine crackers may contribute to weight gain, there’s no research to date that directly links their consumption to increasing body weight.
However, regularly consuming highly processed foods and foods high in sodium is associated with a higher body weight.
A randomized controlled trial demonstrated a higher calorie intake and weight gain of 1.4–2.6 pounds (0.6-1.2 kg) over a 2-week period in participants whose diets were rich in foods considered highly processed (5).
Furthermore, a study that included 7,629 participants found that a high salt intake is associated with a higher body weight (6).
No single food in moderation will directly affect your weight, including saltine crackers. However, because saltines are small, it’s easy to eat a lot of them at once. That could lead to over-consuming calories and sodium, which may contribute to weight gain.
Soda crackers and saltine crackers are different names for the same food. In the United States, they are most commonly called saltines, while they are called soda crackers in the United Kingdom. Saltines are thin, crunchy crackers that are square-shaped with a perforated surface and salt sprinkled on top.
Saltines are made from white flour, baking soda, shortening and yeast. This gives them their characteristic dry texture when baked. The crackers are similar to hardtack, a dry biscuit cracker made from water, salt and flour. The main difference between saltines and hardtack is that saltines contain yeast, allowing their texture to be slightly lighter. ADVERTISEMENT
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FAQ
What makes a cracker a saltine?
What’s the difference between saltines and club crackers?
Are saltines the same as cream crackers?
Why do saltines have 13 holes?
What is the difference between saltines and soda crackers?
The difference is that saltines, also known as soda crackers, use a touch of yeast (in addition to flour and baking soda). Some varieties have coarse salt crystals sprinkled on top; most have perforations on top. These trademark holes help prevent the cracker from pillowing as its gasses escape during the baking process.
Are Graham crackers healthy to eat?
Native graham crackers are made with whole grain flour, ground coarsely. Marshmallows, chocolate, milk are added to make new varieties. These are invented to reduce the consumption of animal fat. They are healthy as they are rich in B complex vitamins, protein, calcium, iron and fiber but consume occasionally as they also contain baking soda which will reduce B Complex vitamin absorption in the body.
What are saltine crackers?
A Dietitian’s Take Saltine crackers — also called saltina or soda crackers — are a popular and versatile snack. Made with white flour, a leavening agent like baking soda or yeast, shortening, and coarse salt, saltine crackers are noted for their dry texture, crispiness, and distinctive perforations that make them easy to snap and enjoy.
Are oyster crackers the same as saltines?
Hmm, not exactly. Even though most of us think of oyster crackers as tiny saltines, they aren’t quite the same thing. The main difference between oyster crackers and saltines, aside from the shape, are the ingredients used in each. Oyster crackers contain flour, yeast, higher amounts of shortening (or oils), sugar, salt, and baking powder.