Bread & Baking Science: 10 Explained Questions

Check your knowledge of fermentation, gluten networks, baking soda, baking powder and oven heat in 10 explained questions.

Choose one answer per question. There’s no timer. You can skip a question; unanswered questions count as incorrect.

QUESTION 01What kind of organism is the baker’s yeast used to raise many breads?

A single-celled fungusA grain seedA mineral powderA type of salt

QUESTION 02Which gas released by fermenting yeast helps a bread dough expand?

OxygenCarbon dioxideNitrogenHelium

QUESTION 03Which wheat proteins are associated with forming gluten when flour meets water?

Casein and wheyKeratin and collagenGlutenin and gliadinAlbumin and myosin

QUESTION 04Where does the gluten in a conventional wheat loaf mainly come from?

The yeast cellsThe baking trayThe oven airThe wheat flour

QUESTION 05What is the chemical name of ordinary baking soda?

Sodium bicarbonateSodium chlorideCalcium carbonatePotassium nitrate

QUESTION 06What gas can baking soda release when it reacts with an acid in a moist batter?

HeliumCarbon dioxidePure oxygenNeon

QUESTION 07What distinguishes baking powder from plain baking soda?

It is always a living fungusIt contains no bicarbonateIt includes a formulated acid componentIt needs sunlight to activate

QUESTION 08Why is common baking powder described as double acting?

It contains two different yeastsIt makes bread rise twice as fast in every recipeIt always needs two separate ovensIt can generate leavening during mixing and heating

QUESTION 09Which statement about yeast and gluten is accurate?

Yeast creates gas while gluten helps retain itGluten itself is a living yeastYeast forms all wheat flour proteinsOnly gluten creates carbon dioxide

QUESTION 10Why might an old container of baking powder cause poor cake rise?

The powder turned into live yeastIts leavening activity may have declinedThe mixture acquired extra glutenIts chemical formula became table salt

← Explore Bread & Baking Science

Bread & Baking Science: 10 Explained Questions

There’s more to the story.