Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: neilep on 13/03/2009 13:21:29

Title: What Does Yeast Do To Bread ?
Post by: neilep on 13/03/2009 13:21:29

Dearest Bakers and Breadologists !

yesterday I made this bread, it's a Herby onion loaf ...

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Nice eh ?..Boy was it nice whilst still hot and dripping in butter !!

To make it I had to add this stuff !!


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Yeast ! (looks like a small sandpit to me)

Why did I have to add just a teaspoon of this stuff ?..what is yeast ?..what does it to to my bread ?..Could I have made the bread without the yeast ?

I want to know NOW..Not Yeasterday !!


hugs & Shmishes



mwah mwah mwah mwah



Neil
Consumer Of Bread & Bread Related Produce
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Title: What Does Yeast Do To Bread ?
Post by: rosalind dna on 13/03/2009 14:15:54

Quote from: neilep on 13/03/2009 13:21:29

Dearest Bakers and Breadologists !

yesterday I made this bread, it's a Herby onion loaf ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

Nice eh ?..Boy was it nice whilst still hot and dripping in butter !!

To make it I had to add this stuff !!


 [ Invalid Attachment ]

Yeast ! (looks like a small sandpit to me)

Why did I have to add just a teaspoon of this stuff ?..what is yeast ?..what does it to to my bread ?..Could I have made the bread without the yeast ?

I want to know NOW..Not Yeasterday !!


hugs & Shmishes



mwah mwah mwah mwah



Neil
Consumer Of Bread & Bread Related Produce
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Neil that's a lovely HomeMade loaf of bread Congrats !!!
I think that the yeast is a molecule which reacts when being "proofed" with the sugar and warm water to make
the bread rise as a natural chemical reaction, also as you might know that is before
you've put it into your oven to bake and that should make it rise even more.

Unless TNS' sheepy used his bread-maker.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast

Title: What Does Yeast Do To Bread ?
Post by: lightarrow on 13/03/2009 14:28:14

Quote from: neilep on 13/03/2009 13:21:29

Why did I have to add just a teaspoon of this stuff ?..what is yeast ?..what does it to to my bread ?..Could I have made the bread without the yeast ?

Yeast cells "eat" flour's molecules producing (among other things) CO₂ gas during fermentation. This gas, slowly and very intimately generated, expands the pastry making it bigger and softer. Without yeast (or any other kind of ferment or chemicals generating gas) you would have a smaller, denser, harder "cake".

Title: What Does Yeast Do To Bread ?
Post by: blakestyger on 13/03/2009 15:10:29

Yeasts are living single-celled creatures Saccharomyces cerevisiae found naturally. They break down sugars to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. The CO₂ is what gives the bread its 'rise'.

Nice looking loaf. When I used to make bread, onion loaves were among my favourite but the best ones were those made with the yeast left over from when we made beer - they had a lovely beery flavour with a bit of hoppiness too.