The terrible TRUTH about American bread!

[Umbran]

There are Trader Joes in Georgia also.

And in Massachusetts - I know of three that I pass by regularly.

Looks like they're scattered around in many places.

 

[Arravis]

Ok confession time...

Today I'm a graphic designer for a to remain unnamed American space agency, but in my youth (while in college) I was the head baker at a grocery store in Louisiana (also remaining unnamed). There are some things we were never meant to know, this is one of them:

I think in my year as head baker, only once did I ever make bread in the traditional way.
Here is a important fact to remember: At grocery stores, the french bread all comes in as already kneaded and ready to go dough made out of bleached flour and who knows what else. The french bread dough comes in frozen, and is about the length of your forearm.

This dough is thawed out and stretched out to "french bread" size, then put in the proofer (a steamy oven that runs at a low temperature), once its nice and fluffy, it goes in the oven.

The awful truth is that 90% of what's baked is made out of french bread dough. You think you're getting italian bread? Its just french bread without getting stretched. You think you're getting four hoagies? Its just french bread cut in fours. You think you're getting dinner rolls? Its just french bread cut into 12 pieces. You think you're getting keiser rolls? Its just french bread cut into 8 pieces and they've added a "twist" on the dough. I could go and on.

My advice? Don't get bread from a grocery store.

 

[awayfarer]

But wait! America also has XTREME white bread!

I've never tried it, I don't know what makes it Xtreme! and I'm not sure if it's even available anymore.

I avoid white bread now. I started eating more grainy/wheaty breads a few years ago and my only regret is that PB&J's are better on white.

 

[kenobi65]

Today I'm a graphic designer for a to remain unnamed American space agency

Subtle.

 

[Umbran]

The awful truth is that 90% of what's baked is made out of french bread dough. You think you're getting italian bread? Its just french bread without getting stretched.

That isn't strange or awful - both Italian and French bread are basic white breads. All basic white breads use he same four ingredients - flour, yeast, salt, and water. The important differences are in process, not content.

 

[Arravis]

Yeah, I know .

Subtle.

 

[jaerdaph]

We even have Trader Joe's in Manhattan and Queens.

 

[Relique Hunter]

Thats atrocious.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

And in Massachusetts - I know of three that I pass by regularly.

Looks like they're scattered around in many places.

Yep. Arizona too.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Strange as it may sound Wal-Mart has good bread. It's usually baked in the last few hours and I've never seen anything approaching the condition of the bread in the video. Nice thick-crusted bread not papery stuff like pre-sliced bread.

EDIT: You got that bread from Kroger didn't you? Kroger bread really sucks.