Bread with strong vinegar smell
I just bought a bread. It looks fresh, no mold or any other marks, but it has a strong smell of vinegar. I toasted and ate some, and it tastes totally fine... just the smell... Anyone know what this is and whether I can do something about it. Thanks!
Best Answer
I'm guessing this is sourdough bread, naturally leavened. The tastes can vary because the fermentation is natural and therefore a little bit random. The microbiome is different in every bakery so two loaves from different bakeries will always taste different even if they have the same starting flour and water. The sourness of the bread comes from the fermentation duration and the microbial culture of the starter.
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Bread giving off a vinegary odour is a common occurrence, and it's nothing to be concerned about. It's caused by over-fermentation of the dough or combining several acidic ingredients in a recipe.Why does my bread taste like vinegar?
Bread is uniquely made\u2014it typically has yeast. Yeast is an interesting additive that helps your rise but it ultimately falls into the fungus category. In short, when you get a whiff of an alcohol or vinegar smell from your bread, the yeast is most likely the culprit.Why does my loaf of bread smell sour?
Why does my bread dough smell sour? Over fermentation, too many acidic ingredients or an over-ripe sourdough starter can cause sour bread dough. After baking, the sour smell of bread dough will likely diminish. If your bread dough smells sour when it shouldn't, get it into the oven as soon as possible.Why does my bread smell fermented?
A: What you are smelling is yeast fermentation\u2014the conversion of sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. When dough overferments, it gives off a stale beer smell. Some of this alcohol will bake off, but some of it may remain in the finished bread.Why does my sourdough bread smell like vinegar?
If your sourdough starter stinks like alcohol, vinegar, or nail polish remover, it means that it's really hungry and has produced lots of acetic acid. The good bacteria have eaten up all the nutrients in the flour and are desperate to be fed.The 7 Most Common Breadmaking Mistakes You’re Probably Making
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Answer 2
This is the natural breakdown process of the white bread. It's not supposed to do this before expiration date, but it happens. You should contact the bakery and inform them (they will usually replace it). Mine was Mrs. Baird's Hamburger buns, smelled and tasted of strong vinegar on June 18th with an Expiration Date of Jun 21st. This is nature's way of saying Don't Eat me! It can cause illness, but nothing that lasts, unless you are allergic to mold.
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