genetic energy
Kentaurus Webster
Ms. Mulvanny
8th Grade Science
December 13, 2012 What Causes Mold on bread?
The question I am trying to answer is what causes mold on bread. I think that mold is fungus. Mold spores are everywhere: in the air, on your kitchen counters, on your skin etc. Mold likes to grow in environments where they can find nutrients like bread. When mold spores find a nice environment, they "hatch" and then begin to eat and reproduce. This is when you see the lovely green and white fuzz growing on bread or on old food in your refrigerator.
Stale bread has nothing to do with mold. Bread will turn hard when it loses its moisture content. The term "stale" just means that the bread is becoming dry. Dry bread will not grow mold. As an experiment, leave a loaf of bread out in a warm kitchen. Leave it uncovered and out of its plastic bag. It will become dry within 2 or 3 days. Mold will not grow on it because of its lack of moisture content. Crackers are the same. Ever see mold on a cracker? Crackers are too dry for mold.
You can make mold on bread grow faster. Put the bread into a plastic bag. Once or twice a day, mist the bread with water. Mold will grow a lot quicker this way. I just checked out the article for mold on Wikipedia. It said mold grows best at lower temperatures. Try putting the moist loaf of bread in the fridge. The mold will probably grow faster.
Yeast is a form of fungus, too. When bread is made, yeast is added to the dough to make it rise. Yeast loves dough; it is the perfect place to eat, grow and multiply.
Ms. Mulvanny
8th Grade Science
December 13, 2012 What Causes Mold on bread?
The question I am trying to answer is what causes mold on bread. I think that mold is fungus. Mold spores are everywhere: in the air, on your kitchen counters, on your skin etc. Mold likes to grow in environments where they can find nutrients like bread. When mold spores find a nice environment, they "hatch" and then begin to eat and reproduce. This is when you see the lovely green and white fuzz growing on bread or on old food in your refrigerator.
Stale bread has nothing to do with mold. Bread will turn hard when it loses its moisture content. The term "stale" just means that the bread is becoming dry. Dry bread will not grow mold. As an experiment, leave a loaf of bread out in a warm kitchen. Leave it uncovered and out of its plastic bag. It will become dry within 2 or 3 days. Mold will not grow on it because of its lack of moisture content. Crackers are the same. Ever see mold on a cracker? Crackers are too dry for mold.
You can make mold on bread grow faster. Put the bread into a plastic bag. Once or twice a day, mist the bread with water. Mold will grow a lot quicker this way. I just checked out the article for mold on Wikipedia. It said mold grows best at lower temperatures. Try putting the moist loaf of bread in the fridge. The mold will probably grow faster.
Yeast is a form of fungus, too. When bread is made, yeast is added to the dough to make it rise. Yeast loves dough; it is the perfect place to eat, grow and multiply.