Does dairy have sourdough bread? Types of sourdough without milk and their ingredients

Bread is so versatile, you'll find yourself having almost anything with it. Whether it's used as a dip for your delicious soup, or paired with a nice bowl of salad, what's not to love? But some ingredients used to make bread are not considered suitable for vegans, or those suffering from lactose intolerance, for example. Sourdough bread is a common favorite among vegans, due to its safe and simple ingredients. But does sourdough bread have dairy? Let's find out!

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Is sourdough bread vegan?

Although most vegans gravitate towards sourdough bread, it is not always considered a vegan-friendly bread. With the traditional method of making sourdough bread, we use wheat flour, water, as well as other ingredients, such as yeast, salt and sugar.

However, some bakers prefer to use lard or butter in the recipe. These two animal products make it non-vegan.

While there may be people who avoid certain animal products for medical reasons, most vegans avoid all animal products such as milk, butterhoney and more.

What makes sourdough bread sour?

Sourdough bread is made using a starter, which is a mixture of water and flour. The starter is allowed to ferment before the baker uses it as an ingredient in the bread recipe. The fermentation process makes sourdough bread more nutritious, and also gives it the distinctive flavor we all know and love.

The longer you let your starter ferment before using it, the higher its acid concentration will be.

If you're wondering if milk makes the dough sour, it doesn't! Sourdough does not need milk in its fermentation.

Is there milk in sourdough bread?

Mostly, the ingredients used to make sourdough bread are wheat flour and water, sometimes salt for added flavor. Anything else added will rely on the overall texture and particular flavoring of the sourdough bread.

Normally, bakers do not add dairy ingredients to sourdough. If they change the traditional recipe, they can add sugar, honey, milk or butter, creating a bread that is not dairy-free or suitable for vegans.

For more on the status of your sourdough bread and the difference between vegan and non-vegan dough, check out my blog It's Vegan Sourbough?

Vegan ingredients in sourdough bread

In general, the ingredients used in sourdough bread are considered suitable for vegans and include:

• flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

flour

Most bakers use all-purpose flour when making sourdough bread, which is a key ingredient in all types of bread, so it's important to use the right type. Bread flour has a higher protein content, resulting in a chewier bread.

Baking powder

Baking powder is literally baking soda with an acid added to it. This helps to give your dough a lift and texture, as well as adding that light tangy flavor to your bread.

Baking soda

Baking soda is used as a drying agent that reacts with the acids in the mixture to produce carbon dioxide bubbles, causing the dough to rise nicely during baking.

Salt

The ingredient salt brings out the flavors of the other ingredients, enhancing their flavor without overpowering its overall flavor. Salt also acts as a preservative inhibiting the growth of bacteria within food products containing salt or ionized water molecules, similar to those present in salt crystals.

But it is better not to add too much salt, otherwise the typical flavors of sourdough will change to a more salty taste.

Non-vegan ingredients in sourdough bread

Additionally, it's not entirely impossible to learn that there are non-vegan ingredients found in some sourdough breads. These may include:

• milky
• Casein
• Milk fat
• Butter
• Whey

milky

Milk is a nutrient-dense food that can be used in a variety of dishes. Dairy products are produced by mammals and contain high levels of protein, vitamins A and D, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B12. Milk contains calcium, but it is not as concentrated as other dairy products such as cheese or yogurt.

Because dairy cows are constantly pregnant or producing milk for their young calves, they are often treated with hormones to increase production (this is not required if you buy organic).

In addition to increasing hormone production in the cows themselves, many vegans choose not to consume milk because they believe it is unethical to use animals for human purposes.

Casein

Casein it is the protein that makes up most of milk, and is also the main ingredient in cheese. It's what gives dairy products their soft texture and elasticity, which is why casein is used to make everything from butter to ice cream.

Casein can be found in many sourdough recipes. It's always best to check with the baker before buying, especially if you're trying to avoid ingredients like these in your sourdough bread.

Milk fat

Milk fat is a common ingredient in many non-vegan sourdough breads. It is used to add flavor and moisture to bread, but it can also make bread taste a little too milky or greasy for some tastes.

There are several different ways that dairy fat gets into your food, and some of them are pretty sneaky.

Some examples of milk fat include:

• Ghee it can be added to bread, or used to make cookies
• Yogurt is a dairy product which makes it unsuitable for vegans
• Cream cheese is made with cream, or whey protein in a strictly non-vegan way
• Yogurt can also be non-vegan because it can sometimes contain gelatin

Butter

Butter is a milk product. It is made from milk and is a by-product of the dairy industry, so normally strict vegans tend to avoid this.

Whey

Whey is a by-product of cheese production. It is used as a thickener and has a high amount of protein. Whey can be found in bread, bread, biscuits, cakes and cookies. Whey is also added to ice cream, yogurt and other foods to thicken them.

Types of sourdough bread that are dairy-free

Looking for sourdough bread that won't take your guesswork out? Fear not, there are some delicious alternatives that are absolutely vegan-friendly, and dairy-free, so you can easily enjoy the soft, plush texture of your bread, the way you deserve it!

Here are some delicious options to choose from:

• Baguette bread
• Pumpernickel Bread or Other Rye Bread
• German sourdough bread
• Viennese sourdough
• San Francisco Style Sourdough

Baguette bread

or baguette is a type of bread made from wheat flour, water and salt. It takes several hours for the dough to rise and then it is baked in a wood-fired oven.

Baguettes are not sourdough bread, but they are similar to French bread including focaccia, as they use yeast and have a crusty exterior. The difference is that baguettes do not contain any dairy products or other additives, while focaccia usually does.

Pumpernickel Bread or Other Rye Bread

Pumernickel bread it is a type of dark rye bread that is made with many grains and has a very sour taste. It is also often used in German cuisine, especially at Christmas tables.

Rye bread is a type of sourdough bread made using rye flour instead of wheat flour. The difference between pumpernickel and rye is that pumpernickel contains molasses and caramelized sugar, which gives it its dark color, while plain rye contains no sweeteners or spices.

German sourdough bread

German sourdough bread is made with a mixture of wheat flour, rye flour and water. It is baked in a wood-fired oven and is a mixture of wild yeasts and bacteria. The sourdough is left to ferment for several days before it is used to make bread.

Viennese sourdough

Viennese dough is a type of bread that has a sour taste. It is made with a starter culture, which is kept alive by the addition of flour and water.

This bread can be made dairy-free by substituting margarine for butter, or using an oil-based spread.

San Francisco Style Sourdough

San Francisco Style Sourdough is a light and airy bread. It takes its name from the San Francisco Bay Area in California, where it was first created.

This type of sourdough is made with a starter, which is a mixture of flour and water that contains yeast and bacteria.

The starter will ferment over time, producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause the dough to rise. San Francisco-style sourdough is also known for its deep brown crust color and moist interior texture.

So is there any milk dough bread?

Ingredients such as milk or butter are not actively used in sourdough bread, unless the baker wants to soften the texture and improve the taste of the sourdough bread.

Normally, the only ingredients used in sourdough bread are wheat flour, water and salt.

Therefore vegans, and those suffering from a medical intolerance to dairy, can safely enjoy sourdough bread without fear of additional ingredients.

Be sure to check with your baker, just in case!

Frequently asked questions