Bread Ingredients
Ideally, a piece of bread should be made with five ingredients: Water, Flour, Salt, Healthy Oil, and Yeast.
But commercially it is not limited to these five ingredients. Some unwanted ingredients bad for the health have taken a majority share in the ingredient list of the bread. Since now you are a part of our healthy bread universe, promise us that you will never buy any bread with these ingredients:
- Added Sugar
- Emulsifiers
- Added Colors
- Maida
These ingredients are used in commercial bread to increase its shelf life and make it more palatable, completely neglecting its negative health effects. Let us see the types of bread that will make it more clear.
Note: Before understanding different types of bread, click here if you want to learn about basic terms related to bread making.
Types of Bread
Yes! For the last time, bread is not just of one type that you eat regularly in your home. Bread is of multiple types and can be classified into many categories based upon:
Source: Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI)
1. Based on Fermentation – Yeasted Bread and Sourdough Bread
As we saw earlier, fermentation is the process through which the yeast or the leavening agent releases gase(s) (particularly CO2) that causes the dough to rise. This fermentation can be achieved via various means that becomes the basis of the classification of bread:
Yeast
If yeast is used in the fermentation process of the bread, then the bread is known as “Yeasted Bread.” Most of the bread available in the market is yeasted bread as it takes less time to make this bread.
Sourdough Starter
If the sourdough starter was used to ferment the dough then the bread is known as “Sourdough Bread.” It takes around 20-24 hours to make bread through sourdough starter. You can check out our range of sourdough bread from here.
Difference between Sourdough and Yeasted Bread
Sourdough Bread is arguably tastier and healthier than yeasted bread. Sourdough bread is comparatively more sour and hard than yeasted bread. If you are a bread- connoisseur then sourdough bread should be your choice as Sourdough bread itself comes in many varieties. But if you are looking for a more budget-friendly option then yeasted bread should be your choice.
2. Based on Chemical Additives- Commercial Bread and Natural Bread
Here’s one bitter fact:
We are in the 21st century where majorities of companies are focused on taking their revenue growth through the roof no matter what it takes.
Here’s the consequence:
Compromise with the quality of the Product
Here’s the explanation:
The simplest explanation is that there are some ingredients as mentioned before that can be used in the bread-making process to fasten the process or increase the shelf life of bread but are harmful to the human body. If the company/bakery manufacturing bread uses those ingredients then the bread is called “commercial bread.” If the company does not use those ingredients then the bread is “natural bread.”
Difference between Commercial and Natural Bread
C’mon does the words “commercial” and “natural” not ring a bell?
Ohhhk! Since you are now part of our Healthy Bread Universe, we have worked extra hard for you. To sum up the difference in one line, the main differentiating factor between natural and commercial bread is the ingredients used and their effect upon health. Commercial bread is more palatable and has increased shelf life but has a drastic effect on health. One immediate negative health effect is that it drastically raises the blood sugar level due to its high glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL). Therefore, when it comes to choosing bread, commercial bread should ALWAYS be avoided at any cost.
Note: Want to know more about Glycaemic Index (GI) and Glycaemic Load (GL)? Click here to LEARN more!
3. Based on Flour- Brown Bread, Whole Wheat Flour, Multigrain Bread, and Gluten-Free Bread
Whole Wheat-Flour Bread
Whole Wheat Flour is a type of bread in which the major ingredient is “whole-wheat.”
Now, why is this whole-wheat important?
The answer is that when whole-wheat is refined again and again it loses its fiber and gets converted into maida. And maida is harmful to our body. Therefore, whole-wheat bread is a good choice if you want to avoid maida. But companies always find a loophole in the process to make more money. Want to know about this loophole? Read this:
Here’s how bread companies are scamming you by selling unhealthy bread!
Multigrain Bread
Multigrain bread is a category of bread prepared using two or more grains or seeds. These grains/seeds include oats, barley, millet, wheat, flax, linseed, sunflower, soybean, sesame, and melon. This does not put an obligation on the companies to use whole grains. In fact, the bread will be still called a multigrain if it has many grains but none of those grains are whole grain but are refined grains.
Read this blog to understand better about Whole-grain flour and refined flour.
Brown Bread
We know this will break your heart but brown bread is no different than white bread. Brown bread is nothing but white bread, molasses, and caramel color. The ingredients of both white and brown bread are almost the same with a difference in the brown color.
Gluten-Free Bread
Bread made from wheat flour will never be gluten-free. Therefore, for the people craving gluten-free bread, flour other than wheat flour is used in the dough-making process. Some of the gluten-free bread:
- Jowar Ragi flour
- Buckwheat flour
- Almond flour
- Sorghum Flour
- Teff Flour
- Corn Flour
Related: Commercial Bread v/s Yeasted Bread v/s Sourdough Bread v/s Gluten-Free Bread
Concluding Note:
We know this is a lot to grasp at once, but who said it will be easy to enter our healthy bread universe? Take your time, read this blog again and let us know if you have any doubts. We will be more than happy to resolve your doubts. And don’t forget to read other blogs in this series to LEARN more on this topic. You can text us directly on WhatsApp if you have any doubts or any order-related queries.
Welcome to your Healthy Bread Universe!