Bread has long been a staple in our diet. If there was one thing that was never missing at the tables of our parents and grandparents, it was bread. Yet, despite how much we love it, its consumption has been falling.
Moreover, it remains one of the foods whose intake is most controversial, drawn by as many advocates as critics. The former argue its nutritional value, albeit always conditioned by the quality of the bread itself; while the latter insist it is a superfluous item that delivers too much sugar.
Without delving into whether it is a beneficial and advisable food for health, or a harmful option, it appears that, should it be beneficial, its effects could be mitigated. At least, so says Dr Karen Alarcón, a gastroenterologist and endoscopist, who in a video posted to her social media — which you can find further down — asserts that by following her guidance bread could be a healthier food.
How to improve the nutritional quality of bread?
Firstly, the bread must be of high quality. Most experts regard sourdough bread as the highest quality. With that in mind, the expert explains what needs to be done to improve the nutritional composition of bread, and ultimately to ensure its health effects are more positive.
The digestive-health expert explains in straightforward terms in a video published on her social channels that the method to boost the bread’s nutritional quality is to freeze it and then warm it up in a toaster or a frying pan.
But why does this process make the bread a healthier option? The doctor explains: “If you freeze the bread and then slice a piece and heat it or toast it in a toaster or frying pan, much of its carbohydrate content will be converted into prebiotic fibre, which will not only benefit your microbiota but will also help regulate your blood glucose. Additionally, the starch, under heat, will aid digestion, so you’re likely to experience fewer bloating and gas issues.”
How to freeze and defrost bread correctly?
The best way to freeze bread is to wrap it in cling film or in freezer bags with an airtight seal, and to do so as soon as you buy it, without waiting for a day to pass.
By protecting the bread with cling film or the zip bag, you isolate the bread from the freezer’s aromas and prevent the storage temperatures from essentially “burning” the product.
As far as the maximum storage time for this kind of preservation is concerned, experts advise no more than three months. Furthermore, there seems to be no difference between freezing bread in slices, in chunks, or whole.
On the other hand, defrosting should be done by allowing it to thaw at room temperature and covered with a cloth.
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