All About Bread

Let's learn all about bread. Bread is a staple in most everyone's kitchen. Bread is among one the oldest prepared foods in the world, dating back hundreds of years. The smell of homemade bread baking in the oven always brings me back to fond memories of my beloved grandmother and long lazy days on our family farm. My grandmother taught me how to bake bread. We all know what bread is so let us explore how the ingredients that are mixed together end up on our table as what we call bread. 

Today, bread comes in many different flavors, forms and loaf sizes. The different ways of making bread will contribute to the end product you will get when it comes out of the oven. Knowing the different kinds of bread there are will help you understand how the ingredients you use will change the characteristics and style of the finished product.

What is Bread?

Bread is that yummy food we fill with other stuff before eating. We toast bread or cut a slice from the loaf while it is warm right out of the oven slathered with melted butter and jam.  Bread starts by combining water and flour to make a dough. Additional ingredients are usually added but a liquid and flour are where we start in bread making. In our culture dough is usually baked in an oven. It is sometimes fried in oil, as we do when making donuts. Bread can also be steamed or baked in a hot skillet on the stove or over an open flame. 

Bread may be unleavened which results in what we call a flat bread. A leavening agent such as baking soda or yeast is commonly used to make the dough rise and baks into the kinds of bread that are fluffy, light and delicious.  Other ingredients that are added to our dough mixture can be salt, eggs, milk, melted butter, chopped nuts, raisins and spices such as cinnamon.  If you want to create a savory bread look for recipes that contain onions and poppy or sesame seeds added to the batter or sprinkled on top.

More About Bread

Fresh bread is enjoyed by everyone. The aroma of bread baking is distinct and smells wonderful. The texture and taste of bread can vary widely, depending on the ingredients used. Maintaining its freshness is important. If bread is left out, unwrapped, it will dry out and no longer edible. This is what we refer to as stale bread. The bread we buy from the grocery store or bakery is usually wrapped in a plastic bag that is closed with a twist tie to keep the loaf from drying out. Bread kept in the cupboard or in a bread box is the perfect environment for mold to begin to grow if bread is not eaten in a timely fashion. Because mold grows easily on bread consider keeping out only the amount of bread you'll use in a day or two sealed in a plastic bag. Wrap the rest of the leaf in a freezer bag and store it in the freezer. Thaw slices in a sealed plastic bag as they are needed. Dispose of any bread you find that has begun to mold and wipe down the area it was stored in. Freezing bread is the best method to store bread. Storing bread in the refrigerator speeds up the process of bread drying out or going stale faster and is not recommended.

The Crust

The outside surface of a loaf of bread is referred to as the crust. The outside of the dough becomes harder or crusts over the loaf during the heating process. The outside surface also browns as the proteins and sugars begin to caramelize from the high heat. The texture of the crust can vary depending on the kind of bread and how the bread is baked. Sometimes the crust is cut off entirely as some people and young children find the crust unappetizing and difficult to eat.

 Serving Bread

Serving bread is as easy as opening the  bread bag and stacking slices on a plate. Hours can be spent creating delicate tea sandwiches made with thinly sliced bread spread with a thin layer of sweet or savory filling. Served on an elegant serving tray and, voila, bread instantly becomes very upscale. 

There are endless ways to serve bread which is what makes it such a versatile food source. As soon as it is baked bread can be sliced and served. You can be hero during football season. Simply make an entire meal of 2 slices of your favorite bread slathered with mayo. Stacked in between your slices just pile on your favorite meats, cheeses, lettuce and veggies.  

Bread is an important staple across the world. Is it any wonder it remains the staff of life?