Effect of ethanol concentration on bread flavor
What is the effect of ethanol concentration on bread flavor?
According to this stackexchange post the majority of the ethanol produced by yeast evaporates during baking, so in theory the ethanol shouldn't contribute to bread flavor at the end.
From my understanding, bread's flavor profile is primarily controlled by the bacteria that produce lactic and acetic acid, and the prominence of these acids can be controlled by the hydration percentage and temperature (The Science Behind Sourdough, How to make truly sour sourdough bread, Tartine - Chad Robertson pg. 72, Flour Water Salt Yeast - Ken Forkish (Ebook) pgs. 197-198).
Ethanol production increases due to oxygen restriction, as stated by OpenLearn Yeast Experiment and as I noted anecdotally when covering my starter with plastic wrap instead of a towel.
Therefore, does changing the yeast's ethanol production affect the bacteria which produce lactic and acetic acid, whereby influencing bread flavor?
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Does ethanol give bread flavor?
According to this stackexchange post the majority of the ethanol produced by yeast evaporates during baking, so in theory the ethanol shouldn't contribute to bread flavor at the end.What does ethanol do in bread?
Ethanol fermentation causes bread dough to rise. Yeast organisms consume sugars in the dough and produce ethanol and carbon dioxide as waste products. The carbon dioxide forms bubbles in the dough, expanding it to a foam.What affects the flavor of bread?
Flour contains many aroma precursors, which can be revealed through the natural enzymatic actions of yeast and bacteria. Therefore the flavors and aromas in bread will depend mainly on the type of flour used, and fermentation and baking techniques.What causes the strong alcohol flavor in yeast bread?
Don't worry, we're going to explain what happens. The smell specifically comes from the fermentation of the yeast that is used in the bread. It's a natural process that occurs when the yeast sets in the bread and converts the carbohydrates into alcohol and carbon dioxide.This is How Salt Affects Bread Dough | The Effects of Salt Explained
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Klaus Nielsen, Maria Orlova, Cats Coming, Rachel Claire