Chemical Smell Pitta Bread

Dimey

Where can you buy pitta bread that hasn't got that horrible chemical smell when you open the packet?

I bought some organic pitta bread from Waitrose yesterday as I wanted some really nice pitta bread and thought Waitrose would be a good bet. But when I opened them last night they really stunk so bad of the chemicals I couldn't serve them and left them in the fridge.

When I went to try one just now there were a few green mould spots on them already. Yuk! I've thrown them out.

Does anyone know what that terrible chemical smell is?

Coopdivi

I can't say I've ever noticed a chemical smell from pittas.

According to their website, Waitrose organic brown pitta bread contains: Organic wholemeal wheat flour (40%), water, organic wheat flour, yeast, sea salt . The only thing there which could give off a smell is yeast.

You could try making your own. There's a recipe on the BBC website by Paul Hollywood which looks pretty easy although they'll take time to make.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pitta_bread_97296

Dimey

Thanks Coopdivi. Ah maybe its the yeast that I'm smelling.

I'll try the recipe.

meg72

Sometimes vacuum packed food gives off a chemical smell when opened but this goes away if left for a while. My DS once binned two packs of perfectly good bacon as he said it smelt off.

WantToBeSE

I was told (i cant remember where or when)that the chemicals are to preserve the food while it is packaged. Yuk!

I make my own too, as they cost pennies. I actually use this recipe http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/naan_86626 which is for nann bread, but i find that they puff up really nicely, so i use them as pitta bread and stuff them with all sorts of goodies

browneyedbazzi

The smell may be yeast or it may be a gas that is pumped into the packet to keep the breads fresh longer (for breads I think this is most commonly CO2 and N2). The only way to really avoid this is to make your own or find a bakery that makes them fresh every day and buy from there.

What's the BB date on the packet you bought? If the breads have got mould spots on them and are within their date then you should have taken them back to Waitrose - they'll refund you without any problems.

stephen77

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

The smell may be yeast or it may be a gas that is pumped into the packet to keep the breads fresh longer (for breads I think this is most commonly CO2 and N2). The only way to really avoid this is to make your own or find a bakery that makes them fresh every day and buy from there.

What's the BB date on the packet you bought? If the breads have got mould spots on them and are within their date then you should have taken them back to Waitrose - they'll refund you without any problems.

the pack may have a use by date.
However it may say use with in two of opening etc?
I have not checked, but if preserved by modified atmposhere once opened you have lost the protection. Even if unmodified atmposhere once opened and put in a warm damp (humid etc) environment will allow moulds to start growing.

Edwardia

If you're in N London there's a specialist pitta bakery called Eghoyans in Tottenham which has been going since 20s.

Dimey

Thanks for all that knowledge.

I binned the wrapper this morning but I recall the BB date was later this week. I know I could have taken them back to Waitrose but it wasn't worth the trip.

I'm enthused by the recipes to make your own and will definitely do that. Unfortunately I'm not near Tottenham although I was born there!