How to Mold Bread
Most people know the feeling of opening a bag of sandwich bread, only to be met with pieces covered in mold. Although moldy bread is not fit for human consumption, growing mold on bread can be an interesting experiment for students. Bread mold is a type of fungus that feeds on grains. Mold spores float through the air until they settle on a food source like bread and grow into a living fungus. Students may enjoy performing a science experiment in which they vary growing conditions to determine which is ideal for bread mold growth.
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Instructions
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Select a slice of sandwich bread. Check the surface of the bread for existing mold.
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Spray the piece of bread with a water spray bottle. Use only one or two sprays of water to moisten the bread without soaking it. Ensure that the water spreads evenly across the surface of the bread.
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Place the slice of bread in a brown paper bag. Close the top of the bag to prevent the bread from being exposed to light.
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Place the paper bag in a warm place, such as a sunny place in your kitchen or on a windowsill.
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Open the bag and observe the bread after waiting 7 to 10 days. Look for fuzzy spots of gray, white, black or green mold. Allow the bread to sit in a warm, dark place for several more days until mold covers its entire surface.
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Tips & Warnings
Inoculating the bread with mold spores speeds the process of growing bread mold. If you have a piece of moldy bread, wipe some of the mold on a fresh slice of bread to accelerate the growing process.
Do not put your face close to the moldy bread. Certain types of mold may cause respiratory problems or an allergic reaction. Observe the mold from a distance or use a magnifying glass to view it.
References
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