If you use vinegar to preserve a piece of bread by pouring it over, will the vinegar affect the bread's taste?
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2I am not clear about what you are asking. So, unless you rephrase this, it will likely get closed. Further, your question implies that pouring vinegar onto bread will act as a preservative. It will not...and you will taste it.– moscafjMar 27, 2018 at 15:32
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2I think if that was possible there would be ample recipes for "pickled bread". Alas, all you find is rather savoury puns and jokes.– rackandbonemanMar 27, 2018 at 16:20
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I can’t actually answer this question, but I can tell you what I’ve heard. Ascorbic acid (vitamin c) added to the bread ingredients can increase its shelf life. This is just a comment, though, because I don’t know A) if it’s true, and B) if it is true, I don’t know how to incorporate it, or how much, or in what form.– Just JoelMar 27, 2018 at 18:19
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1Also, a starter known as tangzhan can help the loaf retain freshness longer, although it won’t prevent spoiling.– Just JoelMar 27, 2018 at 18:21
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@Just Joel is that the boiled-flour dough used for some chinese breads?– rackandbonemanMar 27, 2018 at 23:02
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2 Answers
Yes, most varieties of vinegar (all the ones you would use for preservation, at any rate) have an acidic taste, which is imparted to the foods preserved with them. Additionally, if the vinegar has a flavor (e.g. red wine, sherry, ...), it will also affect the taste.
It's sort of inevitable, given that vinegar is a diluted acid. You can mitigate this by adding salt, or further diluting the vinegar with water (though the latter affects the preservative properties of the vinegar).
In any case, I would not recommend using a liquid-based method to preserve bread, as it'll probably promote mold growth more than inhibit it, or ruin the texture of the bread. You usually want to use dry preservation methods (e.g. wrapped freezing), or incorporate the preservatives (such as a sourdough starter or vinegar) into the recipe prior to baking.
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1What vinegar isn't acidic (unless we interpret it containing a lot of sweetness or being very dilute as non-acidic)? Vinegar is based on naturally generated acetic acid, which is an acid any way you flavour it... Mar 27, 2018 at 22:55
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Note that I did not say there are non-acidic vinegars, but rather that there are non-acidic-tasting vinegars, such as (in my personal experience) certain balsamic vinegars (which would make for poor preserving liquids, I'm guessing). I agree that a vinegar must have acetic acid in it by definition, but it does not follow that you must necessarily be able to taste it.– mechMar 27, 2018 at 23:31
Are you trying to extend the shelf life of your bread? or are you doing a scientific experiment?
Salt is the traditional ingredient added to bread to extend shelf life. Today there are modern preservatives, but bread artisans shun it.
Vinegar is acetic acid, and you could use it as an ingredient when baking. It will slow down the yeast, but if you don't add too much you should be fine. If you want to try a different acid you might go with milk. It has lactose sugar, and if you use a sourdough starter the lactobacillus bacteria will convert lactose into lactic acid giving it a tangy sour taste as well as extending shelf life a few days from mold growing on the bread.
If by chance you are using a chemical leavener instead of using yeast you'll need to adjust your recipe to account for the acid and alkaline balance. Baking powder is ph neutral when activated. If you are adding acid you may need to switch to baking soda instead of baking powder during the leavening process as you figure out your CO2 gas vs desired acidic taste balance.
