White vs. Wheat Bread

White bread and wheat bread are both made from wheat flour. However, the flour used to make white bread has been heavily processed and bleached, whereas the flour used to make wheat bread is less processed and therefore more nutritious.

Features

White bread is blander, lighter and less dense than wheat bread. Wheat bread is light brown in color and has a nuttier flavor than white bread.

Types

Wheat flour is made from wheat berries. Wheat berries have three distinct parts: the bran, the germ and the endosperm. Wheat bread flour is made from all three of these parts, but white bread flour is made only from the endosperm.

Benefits

Because wheat bread contains all three parts of the wheat berry, it is higher in nutrients and fiber than white bread. However, some people prefer the more delicate texture and flavor of white bread.

History

White bread has been more popular than wheat bread throughout history. The Greeks and Romans often debated the merits of wheat bread vs. white bread, with most preferring white bread.

Considerations

White bread and wheat bread both contain high amounts of gluten, which some people are allergic to.

References

• Practically Edible
• Bread
• Whole Wheat vs. White Flour

Resources

• A Guide to Bread
• Bread FAQs
• Cooking Bread.com