Bread is one of the oldest types of food known to mankind, dating back possibly as far as 30,000 BC. The earliest type of bread would most likely have been flatbread. Bread has been a staple food in many cultures for centuries and has represented symbols of fertility, prosperity as well finding use in various religious ceremonies and offerings. These traditions have passed down the generations until the present day, whereby bread is still an integral part of our diet.
Some people believe that bread was first created when a group of nomadic shepherds in Mesopotamia left their camp and baked barley on hot stones and ate it with sheep and goat’s milk. The earliest documented evidence of bread can be found in ancient Egypt, where they would grind wheat into flour and then bake it into loaves or flatbreads. Archaeological digs have revealed bakeries dating back to around 3000 B.C. that were making a type of bread called sun bread. Amazingly, this type of bread is still made today in Southern Egypt.
The ancient Greeks were also known to eat bread, which was typically baked with olive oil. Olives were used as currency at the time for trading with other countries. In Europe, bread was considered a sacred part of life because it was at the center of trade routes and culture for centuries. Bread has been used during religious ceremonies throughout history, from communion with Jesus Christ to giving thanks to God for a bountiful harvest.
In olden times, bread was an essential component of people’s diets and knowing how to make it was a life skill necessary for survival. However, in today’s world, most people have easy access to a wide choice of food and because of modern work practises, most people find it more convenient to buy bread from a store, supermarket or local bakery. As a result, the act of baking bread at home as faded into folklore for most families.
However, in the last decade, there has been a resurgence of interest in baking your own bread. We list here 10 reasons why you should learn to bake your own bread:
1. Take Control of What You Eat
There is growing awareness that just because something is popular, cheap and convenient, it doesn’t mean that it is good for your health. Increasing numbers of consumers are worried about the health implications of consuming commercial bread on a daily basis that is ladened with chemicals.
Commercial bread production operates on an industrial scale. The bread produced can be loaded with unhealthy preservatives, emulsifiers, synthetic sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and other chemicals, additives and ‘E’ numbers that traditional bread does not have to contain. Some of these chemicals have been linked to weight gain, high cholesterol levels, and even cancer.
Also, marketing terms associated with commercial bread can sometimes be very misleading. For example, in some places caramel coloured white bread has been marketed and sold at a premium as being healthy, nutritious, wholemeal bread.
Another issue is that shop made bread can contain unhealthy amounts of salt or possibly genetically modified flour.
The point is, you may not know exactly what is inside a loaf of bread purchased from a shop or supermarket.
By contrast, you take control of the ingredients and nutritional value of homemade bread when you make it from scratch. There are no hidden dangers. What goes into the mix is precisely what goes into your body.
One will also be able to select the flour to use, and for a more healthy loaf, you could consider choosing an organic flour. Many types of bread making flour are available, including gluten-free.
You can control the salt/sodium levels and even choose to use low-salt alternatives. This is not only useful for those with specific health issues, e.g. hypertension (high blood pressure), but a lower salt diet is beneficial in general.
Furthermore, homemade bread made with the right recipe can be enjoyed by even those on a diet or who are trying to maintain a healthy weight.
To ready mix or not, that is the question!
If you decide to go with a ready-made bread mix, you will have to do due diligence to check the labelling on the product and decide whether it is healthy. It is important to know that some ready-made bread mixes can be as unhealthy, or even worse, than regular supermarket bought bread.
Therefore, although you might start your bread making journey using a ready mix, with a little extra effort, you can gain many more advantages by learning to make bread from scratch.
2. One of Life’s Great Pleasures
Every morning, people across the world take time to make fresh homemade bread for themselves and their loved ones. It is simply one of the most delicious and satisfying foods to eat. Although a staple food, it can also be a great snack or dessert on its own.
A significant advantage is that if you choose to bake daily or every few days, you won’t need to use any preservatives. Unlike bland shop bread, delicious homemade bread won’t stay around long enough to get moldy. Preservatives are added by manufacturers to lengthen the shelf life of their products.
The sight and mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread coming out of your own oven is one of life’s great pleasures. The taste of melted butter on your fresh homemade loaf is simply heaven!
3. Better Taste – Better Nutition
Homemade bread not only tastes better than commercial bread, but it is normally more nutritious and filling. It’s a great option for those with either a sensitivity to certain chemicals in mass produced bread or those who find the taste of them offputting.
Although you may prefer to bake just a straightforward loaf, if you are feeling slightly more adventurous, you may add various ingredients to customise both the taste and appearance of the loaf. For example, some people add different herbs, others include chopped banana, blueberries, olives or raisins. With a bit of experience, the only limit is your imagination.
4. Save Money
A major advantage of making your own bread is saving money compared to buying breads, rolls, bagels, etc. There is usually a significant difference in cost between shop bread and what you pay to make it yourself.
There are various ways to make bread at home. The cheapest and most satisfying method is to make it from scratch. In the long run, you will save money by buying the ingredients from a supermarket separately and in bulk, rather than by buying shop bread or mixes. For example, a single bag of flour can make between 4 to 6 loaves and is far cheaper than a box of bread mix or a single shop loaf.
You don’t have to buy expensive ingredients to start and, at in its simplest form, you only need flour, yeast and possibly some sugar or salt. Aside from yeast, these ingredients can be found in most kitchens. The baking tools and equipment required can be minimal to get started. You will need a large bowl for kneading and a baking pan or sheet tray for baking the dough. There are many recipes for simple style bread available online and, as you gain experience and skill, you can become more adventurous and bake different styles of bread containing a variety of ingredients.
This is the case even if you choose to go the route of using ready-made bread mixes or buying a bread-making machine. First, making bread from a mix still works out cheaper than buying bread from a store. Second, the cost of one of these machines starts from as little as $60/£60; more expensive machines typically have more options and can make larger volumes of bread per cycle. Of course, if you buy a machine, it will take a while to recoup the cost of it, but a good machine will serve you faithfully for many years.
5. Therapeutic
There are many health benefits to baking bread aside from knowing what ingredients are going into the dough.
One example is that kneading dough can be a good workout for the arms and hands, especially if you are making a lot of loaves at one go.
Also, the act of kneading dough is a relaxing, sensual activity which can help lower stress chemicals in the body. These chemicals contribute to heightened anxiety and other negative feelings. Understanding what these stress chemicals are and how they work in the body can help people better manage their well-being. An important stress chemical is the hormone cortisol. When a person is under constant stress, the body’s natural production of cortisol becomes disrupted and as a result, they will have trouble fighting off illness or disease.
6. Family Bonding
Making bread collectively is a great way to improve bonding between family members, especially for children. It’s an inexpensive and fun way to pass time.
7. Educational
The act of bread making can be a very educational experience. You can try recipes from many countries around the world and learn something about other cultures.
Also, it makes children more connected and appreciative of what they eat. Going from raw ingredients, preparation, anticipation of the bread baking to actually experiencing the fruits of their labour is very educational for children. It’s something that they will carry for the rest of their life.
8. Creative
Once you gain experience, you realise that baking bread can be a very creative process. There are many types of breads you can make, many ingredients you can use, and many types of shapes and textures possible. For example, fruit loaves are very popular, especially banana bread. You can find many recipes for this style of bread online and these range from very simple to more advanced options.
9. Social Gatherings
Baking your own bread can be great for social gatherings. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. For example, invite some relatives or friends over at the weekend and have breakfast together. Baking your own bread will impress many people, and may even encourage them to make their own.
10. Side Business
In many places around the world, it is possible to sell your own baked bread. You need to check on local regulations whether this is possible in your country.
Some people start out selling to friends and relatives and, through word of mouth, begin to create a small business selling fresh, homemade produce. Obviously, if sales were to pick up, it might be worth considering buying a bread-making machine.
Summary
As we have shown, there are many reasons why you should learn to bake bread instead of buying pre-packaged bread at the store. It’s a win-win situation, and these reasons apply whether you choose to roll up your sleeves and make bread by hand, or go the route of investing in a bread-making machine.
If you choose the bread machine route, not only does it make the process easier, but most machines come with a timer. This means you can wake up to the smell of freshly baked, golden brown and healthy bread every day. This is truly one of life’s great pleasures!