What ingredients in bread stop mold from forming?

Answer 1

There are a number of preservatives that can be used in bread. Proprionates, sulfites and benzoates are probably the more familiar ones.

On the more natural side, Vitamin C, honey and even dried plums seem to have some benefit.

Answer 2

Most molds grow best at warmer temperatures, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Bread kept at room temperature instead of in the refrigerator is more likely to grow mold quickly.

Bread that is exposed to mold spores in the air or on people's hands develops mold sooner than bread that is not. Keeping the bread in an airtight container and washing hands before handling the loaf can help delay mold growth.

Mold thrives in a moist environment, so breads with high moisture content may grow mold sooner. If bread is freshly baked, it should be allowed to cool and dry out at room temperature before being placed in a container. Otherwise, the moisture and condensation in the container creates an environment conducive to mold growth.

Answer 3

You should store different types of bread differently. Most sliced sandwich breads (usually comes in plastic bags and are full of preservatives) should be left in the bag and stored at room temperature for best flavor and texture. If you want to slow down the molding process (especially if you live in a humid area), you might want to consider freezing the bread, but this requires you to thaw or heat the bread before consumption. Refrigeration of bread causes it to go through retrogradation much more quickly, which makes the bread very stale, but it does slow down the growth of mold. Other types of breads, such as crusty kinds, do best in the paper bags they usually come in. If left at room temperature, they most likely will harden to the point of being inedible before mold can get to it. You can put them in a plastic bag at some point, but they will lose their usually desired crispy crust and will eventually mold. Finally, you can always invest in a breadbox, which is supposed to keep bread at a desirable state and free of mold for as long as possible by keeping it at room temperature, preventing condensation, and keeping out pests.

Answer 4

Vinegar has been shown to slow down mold growth.