The Fresh Loaf

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White mould growing on sourdough bread

bicbocbex's picture
bicbocbex

White mould growing on sourdough bread

A few times during this winter in Australia I've had white mould growing on my sourdough bread (which is usually around150g wholemeal, 100-150g khorasan, 250g bakers flour with 470-515g water). The mould is usually on the cut edge and sometimes the surface but starts to penetrate the whole loaf.
I have a dry bag (photo below) that the bread is stored in after a day or so once it's cooled. This usually stays out on the bench for a few days before going into the fridge. The mould has grown both in the bag on the bench, possibly due to high hydration and warm conditions but it's also happened in the fridge after maybe 7 days - perhaps it's just due to the length of time in the fridge. I just had a thought that I could try putting a cloth or something in the dry bag to absorb any excess moisture, so I'll give that a go and see if that helps.
Does anyone know what kind of mould this is and how harmful it is?
I recently read Maurizo's post about storing bread and I've found that leaving it out on the bench with just a tea towel or face down on a board dries out the bread and that it goes stale faster than if it's stored in the fridge, where it usually stays fresher.

Thanks,

Bec

 

 

Sabina's picture
Sabina

I'm not an expert at all, but your bread seems to be going moldy a bit faster than I'm used to. Do you wash the bag between loaves? If you don't, the mold spores will stay in it and cause growth on each new loaf.

bicbocbex's picture
bicbocbex

I think we haven't been washing the bag enough, so that's probably the problem, or part of it. I've started washing them more reguarly now so hopefully that does it.

Mr Immortal's picture
Mr Immortal

I agree with Sabina.  If the mold spores have infected the bag, you will need to bleach the bag to get rid of the mold.

 

Also...  is that one of those bags designed to keep your stuff dry while camping/hiking/kayaking?  If so, anything that can keep moisture out, will also keep moisture in.  You might have better luck with something that is at least a little more breathable.

bicbocbex's picture
bicbocbex

Yeah, it's one of those bags. I'm washing them more reguarly so hopefully that does the trick. Perhaps you're right that it needs more air in there and it's more breathable. It would be worth doing a comparison with a loaf in a more breathable bag and see how that goes. I know people think that tea towels are sufficient but I'm sure the bread dried out too fast this way.

phaz's picture
phaz

A brown paper bag always worked for me. Keeps out the nasties and let's in/out the air. And they are cheap - something happens to it - toss it and get another (or let the cat play with it, my cat loves paper bags!). Enjoy!

bicbocbex's picture
bicbocbex

haha, I always thought it dried the bread out but I haven't left it out in a bag for the life of the bread for a long time now so I'll give it a go.