Bread Is One of Mold’s Favorite Foods

7/18/2022 (Permalink)

One of Mold's Favorite Foods Is Bread

Virtually everyone has experienced bread mold. It won’t take long for a loaf of bread sitting in a pantry to develop mold, especially in warm and humid environments. There are some good, scientific reasons why bread is so attractive to mold:

• It has a near-ideal moisture level for mold development
• The basic ingredients of bread are perfect for mold growth
• Most bread is kept in a warmer location, like a cabinet, which favors mold growth.
  
  

Mold Is a Form of Fungus

Fungus is essential to the functioning of the world. It’s actually neither a plant nor an animal, but instead is in its own biological classification, called a kingdom. These life forms can’t produce their own food like plants or go hunting for it, like animals. Instead, they live on other forms of life, leeching their nutrients directly from whatever it’s living on. Without fungi, virtually nothing in nature would ever decompose.

Fungus Growth Can Be Slowed But At A Cost

There are some steps you can take to prevent bread mold, but they will impact the flavor somewhat. Most commercial bakeries use calcium propionate as a preservative. It retards the growth of mold and other microorganisms, extending the shelf life of food products. The FDA says it’s “generally safe to eat,” which is good because it’s used a lot. However, some studies have indicated that it may cause irritation in a small number of children. It may also cause headaches for some individuals, and some people say it affects the flavor of food.
To slow the growth of bread mold in homemade baked goods, you can store leftovers in the refrigerator. Inside the fridge, mold growth will be substantially slowed. However, it also tends to dry out the bread and reduce the natural flavor. Like many things in life, it’s a trade-off, but at least it’s a reasonable option.
If you have mold damage in your home, talk to a local mold remediation company in West Warwick, RI, about getting an inspection and starting the cleanup process. Once mold starts growing on building materials, you’ll really need an expert to determine the scope of the infestation.