"Sourdough has more protein than the average white bread and more probiotics than typical breads. The fermentation process in sourdough starter breaks down gluten, making the bread easier to digest than other types, too. That doesn't mean it's gluten-free, mind you, but it may be a little easier on your stomach. All that makes sourdough sound like a real winner, right? Sort of. The catch is that not all sourdough is the same."
"Your fresh-baked sourdough at home is made with flour, water, salt, and your starter. The starter itself begins as just flour and water that have fermented. Starter becomes a living thing as it ferments. There's no commercial yeast in true sourdough bread. But store-bought sourdough can't always make that claim. Instead of allowing the bread to rise through fermentation, supplemental yeast may be added, essentially making it normal white bread again. That's why a lot of store-bought sourdough just isn't as good as homemade."
"These store-bought sourdough loaves likely use a starter, but there's less of it. The yeast makes up the difference, so the bread rises like a non-fermented loaf. The end result may look like sourdough with a crispy crust, but the taste won't be as sharp and the texture won't be as chewy. More significantly, the perceived health benefits of sourdough are diminished."
Sourdough offers more protein and probiotics than typical white bread, and fermentation in the starter breaks down gluten, often making it easier to digest though not gluten-free. True sourdough relies on a living starter of flour and water rather than commercial yeast. Many mass-market sourdough products add supplemental yeast and use smaller amounts of starter, causing loaves to rise like non-fermented bread. Those loaves can look similar but often lack the sharp flavor, chewy texture, and many of the perceived health advantages of properly fermented sourdough. Some branded store versions list added yeast and other ingredients and attract complaints about blandness.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]