The ‘sourdough bread’ you’re eating could very well be fake, and experts have dished out easy ways to spot the faux.
On top of being a delicious savoury pairing, real sourdough bread is great for your gut.
It contains prebiotics that can be thought of as food substances for the gut microbes to munch on.
Unfortunately ‘sourfaux’ does not have any of the same benefits.
The Real Bread Campaign recently exposed over 20 examples of ‘sourfaux’ being marketed as ‘sourdough’ and being sold at premium prices, despite being manufactured by a completely different process using baker’s yeast, chemical raising agents and additives.
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So to avoid falling victim to the marketing ploy, experts have suggested easy ways to be able to tell if what you’re buying is the real deal.
Firstly, any ultra-processed bread is probably not sourdough, which traditionally has a very short ingredient list.
Real Bread Campaign coordinator, Chris Young, said: “Real sourdough has a short, simple list of all-natural ingredients: flour, water, salt. No artificial preservatives. No additives.
“That’s a real sourdough recipe. If you check the ingredients list on your ‘sourdough’ and spot E numbers, other additives, or the word yeast, it’s sourfaux.”
Bread generally freezes well and can be enjoyed later. However, real sourdough freezes particularly well – in comparison to other loaves – and lasts up to three months, maintaining superior taste and texture when toasted from frozen.
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Anamorel Ogen, Executive Head Baker at Bertinet Bakery said: “It all comes down to how it’s made to begin with. If you start with well-made bread, it’ll taste better for longer after freezing.
“Real sourdough is naturally superior to other breads because it’s made with better quality ingredients and more robust production methods that really ‘put the dough first’.
“This means it holds moisture better than other loaves too. The meticulous care and attention that goes into making the loaves ensures great taste and texture stays intact when toasted from frozen.”
Despite this, if left out, real sourdough bread does not last very long at all.
Fresh sourdough, made with good quality ingredients, only lasts a few days.
The Real Bread Campaign reiterated: “If bread lasts for 10 days, for instance, it’s because it’s packed with preservatives. Real sourdough, made with good quality ingredients, lasts a few days but maintains superior taste and texture for much longer than other breads, if frozen.”
