Here’s How to Eat an Oreo the RIGHT Way, According to the Oreo Team

The construction of an Oreo isn’t rocket science—two layers of a crunchy cocoa cookie and a thick layer of cream follow the “sandwich” model perfectly. And, along with the classic black-and-white cookie, the brand is always filling grocery store shelves with innovative flavors—think a cookie-dough-and-brownie-stuffed Brookie-O.

The making of an Oreo isn’t the center of debate, though. Favorite flavors aside, here’s the real question: Is there a right way to eat these layered cookies? If you’re wondering how to eat an Oreo the right way, keep reading, because we’ve got answers.

Here’s How to Eat an Oreo

Similar to the famous KitKat dispute on whether you break or bite the candy bar, people are divided on the proper way to eat an Oreo. Some dunk the cookies in a glass of milk with their fingers or a fork, and some just take a bite, plain and simple. Really, the timeless snack could honestly be eaten any way you choose and taste just as heavenly. But there is in fact a correct way to enjoy an Oreo, says Oreo’s U.S. marketing director, Marion Delgutte Saenen, in a Yahoo News article.

Here’s the answer: The “twist, lick and dunk” method is the Oreo team’s tried-and-true approach. While fans might add their own steps to the process, twisting the cookie halves apart, trying the layer of cream and then dunking the Oreo into some milk is what the brand swears by. We tested off-brand Oreos to find which ones are best compared to your favorite dunkable cookies.

What other foods are you eating wrong? Here’s how to eat a cupcake and how to eat mac and cheese.

It’s Backed by Science

People eat Oreos every which way, but this is the official Oreo-eating procedure for a reason. While the flavors don’t change drastically between dunking, biting or licking, science shares that enjoying these cookies the best way possible comes down to “congruence,” or the specific combinations that please our senses.

Sugar and fat are big contributors to the cookies’ taste. Scientists from Philadelphia’s Monell Chemical Senses Center note that the combination of the two creates a certain “synergy” that results in a “super yummy” product. Flavor-wise, the chocolatey crunch and smooth, sweet vanilla creme are an effortless combination that pairs well with any method, but their aromas of earthy cocoa and sugar also appeal to our senses.

If you enjoy your own method of eating Oreos, no problem! But the “twist, lick and dunk” process allows for the best experience, getting the perfect portions and combinations every time. Either way, it’s hard not to enjoy “America’s favorite cookie.”

Don’t forget to grab the new Oreos out this year!