How does commercial whole grain bread stay fresh for so long?
Every recipe for whole grain bread I have tried has the end result that the bread turns very hard within an hour of baking. I'd like something I could eat over the course of a couple days (breakfast toast and such). The 100% whole wheat bread from the store lasts two weeks - how do they do it?
Best Answer
Industrial breads use 'dough conditioners' that soften the dough and make working with it easier. You can buy such mixes online, here for instance, and I've seen them for sale in natural food stores and the like. Other things that might work are adding a starch or a fat, or heat treating some of your flour in the microwave (a minute for a cup, don't do this to all the flour, it destroys some of the gluten). Guar gum or xanthan gum will help to keep things moist as well.
I've never used these techniques, so some experimentation might be necessary. Store bread in plastic bags as soon as it cools, and don't slice right away.
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Quick Answer about "How does commercial whole grain bread stay fresh for so long?"
Commercial bread that keeps for a long time has more barley flour. In addition, some bakeries add a little vinegar to the dough after proving, which also makes the bread keep longer.Why does commercial bread stay fresh for so long?
Sandwich, loaf, or bakery breads available at the store often contain preservatives to prevent mold and increase shelf life. Without preservatives, bread lasts 3\u20134 days at room temperature ( 1 ). Some common bread preservatives include calcium propionate, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sorbic acid.What keeps commercial bread fresh?
Commercial bakeries use two types of ingredients to slow spoilage \u2014 emulsifiers and enzymes. Emulsifiers keep bread from going stale by preventing oil and water from separating. Adding emulsifiers sometimes goes by the names \u201ccrumb softening\u201d or \u201cdough conditioning\u201d because it works to preserve texture.What makes store-bought bread longer?
To save bread so it stays fresh longer, you can store it in plastic wrap, a reusable zip-top plastic bag, or a bread box. Avoid storing bread in damp, airy locations, which can speed up molding. If you're not going to eat the loaf in two or three days, the best option is to freeze it for later.Why does multigrain bread last longer?
The Shelf Life of Your Bread Multigrain, whole grain and white store-bought loaves will last about 5 to 7 days in the pantry, while homemade bread will typically last 2 to 5 days. Most sliced and store-bought loaves, except those from local bakeries, contain preservatives to help them last longer.\
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Answer 2
They do it via liberal use of sugar, mainly, as well as a host of industrial techniques that are simply not replicable in the home kitchen. Bear in mind that such breads are made for longevity and not flavour.
If your bread is going that hard an hour after baking, you may well be overcooking it.
Answer 3
Most bread is made from wheat and / or barley flour. A "hard" flour contains more wheat.
The higher the proportion of wheat flour, the better it tastes (especially the crust) but the poorer its keeping qualities.
Commercial bread that keeps for a long time has more barley flour. In addition, some bakeries add a little vinegar to the dough after proving, which also makes the bread keep longer.
Answer 4
Another trick is to add more fat. I have been told that harder fats (butter, lard) are better this way, but I normally use olive or rape oil. (About 5% or flour weight.) It impedes the rise a little bit, but not too bad. (I think it interferes with the gluten formation, but I'm not 100% sure how.)
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