white sandwich bread

A staple food prepared from a dough of flour and water, usually baked. The inclusion of leavening agents (like yeast or sourdough starter) traps carbon dioxide gases within a gluten network, transforming a dense paste into a light, aerated, and highly absorbent sponge. **Selection & Storage:** Fresh artisanal bread should have a hard, shatteringly crisp crust and a soft interior. Store fresh bread in a paper bag at room temperature for a day or two, or slice and freeze it; never refrigerate bread, as the cold accelerates the staling (retrogradation) process.