What Does Fermented Mean?

Rotting involves the fermentation process.

Fermentation is the breaking down of a substance by yeast, bacterium, mold or enzyme. This process is used for making some foods and beverages, as well as being part of the scientific realm.

Process

Gustav Embden and Otto Meyerhof discovered what sequence of reactions in fermentation was needed to produce ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Microorganisms cause fermentation by breaking down organic molecules. There are two stages classified as ethanolic and alcoholic fermentation. The chemical reactions cause starch to be converted to sucrose and glucose, which are simple sugars. Those two types of sugars are then turned into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Uses in Food and Drink

When the bread is set to rise, the fermentation process causes the dough to expand.

The fermentation process has been used by humans even before the discovery of how the process works. Alcoholic drinks such as wine, beer, mead and sake are made by using plant material that has been fermented. Making leavened bread also involves fermentation using sugar and yeast.

Scientific Uses

90% gasoline and 10% alcohol is mixed to make gasohol.

Scientists have applied the knowledge of fermentation to purposes other than cooking. The drug cortisone is made by fermentation of the plant steroid diosgenin. Ethyl alcohol, a product of the fermentation process, is added to gasoline to create gasohol. Aerobic bacteria is even used to ferment and break down solid waste.

References

• TheFreeDictionary: Fermented
• ScienceClarified: Fermentation