Vitamin C and Bread

KatrinaC_2

Dear All,

My bread maker advises that for wholemeal bread I should add a crushed vitamin C tablet to make it rise better but it gives no advice as to what dose vitamin tablet is right. I've got some vitamin C powder from Holland and Barrett but I'm not having any luck working out how much to add to the mix - the bread always ends up unrisen or it rises too quickly, bursts and turns into biscuits. How much is the right amount?

Also, can you use the vitamin C in white bread too?

Thanks,

Kat

demented_2

Hi Yes you can use Vitamin C tablets in White bread. I used to use it when i made HM bread by hand didn't have a breadmaker then. My bread maker instructions say By adding 1 x 100mg improves the rise. Crush the Vit C tablet and add to the liquid in the breadmaker before adding the flour. I have modified the wording so not to get into trouble.
Hope that helps demented

That was for making wholemeal bread

Swan_2

my jar of Holland & Barrett Vit C powder says 1 teaspoon = 5000 mg, which would make a 100mg dose just a tiny pinch (1/50th of a teaspoon!)
but for years I've been adding between 1/8 & 1/4 of a teaspoon to my bread depending on whether it's white or wholemeal flour, & hand-made or BM, it turns out fine

Quasar

Also, Vitamin C powder works out a lot cheaper than the same mg value in tablets, as tablets contains "binders", ie. substances that hold them together. They are not harmful, but have to be paid for as well as the tablet manufacture.

It's also worth noting that vitamin C is a good natural preservative and antioxidant, and not all of it will be destroyed during baking so your bread will provide some of this vitamin in the daily food intake.

Kazonline

My pani BM book said 1/4 a tsp of vit c powder.
I forgot to add it the other night (I'm crushing cheap vit tabs) and it turned out fine, so did again last night- still fine.
Before I had vit c I added crushed vit c and selenium tabs - what a healthy loaf eh? Again, worked fine - but I did sift the crushed tabs to get rid of the waxy type coating.
'Biscuits' in the bread maker sounds very interesting - bet you couldn't do it again if you tried!!! Hope the dosage above helps (it's for a 'medium' loaf - 500mg flour)
Kaz x

Swan_2

Quasar wrote:

Also, Vitamin C powder works out a lot cheaper than the same mg value in tablets, as tablets contains "binders", ie. substances that hold them together. They are not harmful, but have to be paid for as well as the tablet manufacture

It's also worth noting that vitamin C is a good natural preservative and antioxidant, and not all of it will be destroyed during baking so your bread will provide some of this vitamin in the daily food intake.

very good points Quasar

although a jar of the powder seems expensive as an initial outlay, it'll last you for ever! I keep mine in the fridge by the yeast tin
I've no idea how many teaspoons are in the jar I have (170g weight) but each teaspoon = 50 tablets (if you could be bothered to measure out 1/50th that is :rolleyes:) so there must be 1000's of doses in it

and following on from Quasar's second point, for anyone who checks their E numbers, not all of them are bad things ... Vit C = ascorbic acid = E300

The_Biff

I seem to be paying an awful lot for this bread conditioner - nearly 40p a small loaf. The small tub contains 50grams of Vit c powder & costs £3.99 from local health food store.

If anyone knows cheaper source let me know. I dont mind getting larger quantities.

Fruball

I saw someone on here used Tesco Value Vit C tablets - she used half per loaf

I have never tried it but I intend to

Penelope_Penguin

I used to use vitamin C for brown loaves. Ran out one day and haven't used it since, with no discernable effect.

Have you tried doing without?

Penny. x

The_Biff

Just googled vitamin c powder & ordered 500grams for £13.46.(vs £39.99 @ local health food store), From HealthPlus UK.

Gingernutmeg

Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid (which is used as a bread improver) and you can buy tubs of this online and sometimes from pharmacists. However it might be hard to get hold of as chemists have got a bit funny about selling citric/ascorbic acid because it's used in the drug trade. Worth asking though, as you only need a little bit.