I've heard that by coating bread with a solution of water and sugar can preserve it from mold. Is this true? If not, then my Science Fair Project will be a bust.
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Wouldn't measuring this / comparing coated (different water-sugar ratios!) and uncoated bread be the subject of the exercise?– Stephie ♦Jan 9, 2016 at 21:45
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Well, I suppose so. My question for the project is basically this: Which sugar preserves bread the longest? Originally, I was going to bake different sugars into the same bread, but I later realized that I didn't have enough time to do that. I had heard that a simpler way to complete that experiment was to coat each bread in a solution of water and sugar. I just wanted to make sure that it would work before I did it, waited the set time limit, and then found out that the solution had not affected the experiment.– JoyPatchJan 9, 2016 at 21:57
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Even if every solution ends up not preserving the bread, that is a reportable result! @Stephie background research is also part of the process, so it isn't totally inappropriate.– EricaJan 9, 2016 at 22:00
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@Erica, that's why I asked - unfortunately, we occasionally get some "geniuses" that want us to do their work. I appreciate and support background research very much!– Stephie ♦Jan 9, 2016 at 22:04
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There's no need to get in an argument. I appreciate both of your help.– JoyPatchJan 9, 2016 at 22:06
1 Answer
I'm fairly certain the prolonging effect of glazes on baked goods is simply due to the glaze forming a barrier between the pastry and the atmosphere, in effect "sealing" it and preventing the goods from going stale. Thus, the appropriate characteristics would be a glaze that coats the product evenly and thickly enough to prevent moisture loss and oxygenation.