What makes bread mold grow; light, air or both?

I'm building a breadbox that will hold multiple loaves of bread. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to put a gasket around the lid to reduce air infiltration but I don't know what is more important. So is the key to keep out light or air or both?

bread

Best Answer

Mold grows best in warm, moist conditions. It's a fungus, not a plant; light has nothing to do with it. Fresh air doesn't really make it grow either, but circulating air does help reduce condensation, depriving mold of moisture. So you really don't want to seal a breadbox - that'll just help create a nice moist environment for the mold to grow in.

Breadboxes are really just about keeping other pests away from your bread, while still being able to keep it at room temperature. (It goes stale faster in the fridge.) If you're worried about mold growth, you probably just want to freeze some of the bread.

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What makes bread mold grow; light, air or both? - Person Making a Christmas Tree Shaped Bread With Fillings

What makes bread mold grow; light, air or both? - Person Molding a Bread With Fillings

What makes bread mold grow; light, air or both? - Person Slicing a Christmas Tree Shaped Bread With Fillings

Quick Answer about "What makes bread mold grow; light, air or both?"

Mold grows best in warm, moist conditions. It's a fungus, not a plant; light has nothing to do with it. Fresh air doesn't really make it grow either, but circulating air does help reduce condensation, depriving mold of moisture.

Does bread mold faster with air?

Moisture Level of BreadWet bread molds more quickly than dry bread because mold thrives in damp environments.

Does bread mold grow faster in light or dark?

Does Mold Need Light? Light is not one of the key resources mold needs to grow. This is because, unlike plants, mold is not photosynthetic and doesn't use light to generate energy. In fact, light from the sun can inhibit mold growth and even kill it, so many molds thrive and grow better in dark environments.

Does bread mold need light to grow?

Unlike lettuce or grass, molds need no light. In fact, light can retard the growth of mold. Mold on bread grows fastest in dark places.

What causes bread to mold quickly?

As bread mold is a living organism, it requires moisture and oxygen to grow. The moisture trapped in the bag is absorbed by the fungus and it grows at a faster rate.

Never Eat The ‘Clean’ Part Of Moldy Bread

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Andy Kuzma, Nicole Michalou, Nicole Michalou, Nicole Michalou