Quotation from: General Science

Written by: Bertha M. Clark


The grains, rye, corn, rice, wheat, from which meal is made, contain
only a small quantity of sugar, but, on the other hand, they contain a
large quantity of starch which is easily convertible into sugar. Upon
this the tiny yeast plants in the dough feed, and, as in the case of
the wines, ferment the sugar, producing carbon dioxide and alcohol.
The dough is thick and sticky and the gas bubbles expand it into a
spongy mass. The tiny yeast plants multiply and continue to make
alcohol and gas, and in consequence, the dough becomes lighter and
lighter. When it has risen sufficiently, it is kneaded and placed in
an oven; the heat of the oven soon kills the yeast plants and drives
the alcohol out of the bread; at the same time it expands the
imprisoned gas bubbles and causes them to lighten and swell the bread
still more. Meanwhile, the dough has become stiff enough to support
itself. The result of the fermentation is a light, spongy loaf.

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