How to tell apart mold and flour on sourdough bread?

How to tell apart mold and flour on sourdough bread? - Person Making a Christmas Tree Shaped Bread With Fillings

I bought some sourdough bread from a bakery three days ago, and put it (still in its brown bag) in a ziploc bag. Now, I know these loafs are covered in flour, but the bottom looks slightly different than flour.

Top of bread

Bottom of bread

Are there any tricks to tell if it's mold or not?



Best Answer

Scrape at it with your fingernail. Flour will come off in a... floury manner, revealing the cranny it was stuck in. Mold won't be limited to the crannies. Also, it'll appear on the cut surface before it appears on the crust. Additionally, it'll be different from the color of the flour (in the same area of the loaf).

FWIW, that's definitely flour on most of the bottom, though I do see a couple of lighter spots that could be mold.




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How to tell apart mold and flour on sourdough bread? - Person Molding a Bread With Fillings
How to tell apart mold and flour on sourdough bread? - Close-up Photo of Sourdough
How to tell apart mold and flour on sourdough bread? - Baker with cut loaf on plate



Quick Answer about "How to tell apart mold and flour on sourdough bread?"

Mold won't be limited to the crannies. Also, it'll appear on the cut surface before it appears on the crust. Additionally, it'll be different from the color of the flour (in the same area of the loaf). FWIW, that's definitely flour on most of the bottom, though I do see a couple of lighter spots that could be mold.

How can you tell the difference between bread flour and mold?

How to Tell if It's Mold or Flour
  • Try to flake it off. The flour will have a powdery texture that will brush off of the bread with ease. ...
  • Look at the color. Yes, flour and mold are both white, but they're not the same \u201cshade\u201d. ...
  • Wait for growth. ...
  • Check the smell.


  • How do I know if my sourdough bread is moldy?

    Mold takes on many texture and colors depending on the temperature, humidity, the type of bread, and how long the mold has been left to grow; if you see fuzzy growth of any color on your sourdough bread, it has most likely gone moldy, it can not be saved and you should discard the bread.

    Can mold on bread look like flour?

    Flour, as it is fresh, tends to be a bright, clean white color. On the other hand, mold is usually a dull, dirtier shade of white and can appear slightly greyer. Eventually this white color turns into a greenish-blue color and at this point it is a lot easier to determine that these white spots on your bread are mold.

    What does mold on sourdough look like?

    Mold can appear in various colors and is typically fuzzy in appearance. Bad bacteria is generally indicated by an orange or pink tinge or streak. Once your starter has lost its natural ability to ward off intruders, it's time to start over.



    How To Fix A Sourdough Starter Gone Mouldy




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